EDINBURGH MUMSNETTERS - HELP!!

[Raptorrethy]

A few months ago I started a thread about living near Edinburgh - specifically within 30 mins of the airport. Moving to that area was on the cards and it is again - but the thread, of course, has disappeared as it was in Chat!! It was over 100 posts of great, friendly advice and I NEED IT AGAIN!! You lot were soooo lovely and I hope you will perhaps take a minute or two to post your advice again as a move is even more imminent now. THANK YOU in advance.

So - we would like to be semi-rural, preferably in a village, but must be 30-40 mins from Edinburgh Airport. Schools are a crucial factor - we have DD8 and DS6. We want, as does everyone, a lovely and successful primary school and then caring and thriving secondary - good state or private. DD very academic, DS more into being as noisy as possible as befits a 6yo boy . I am a teacher so would be looking for a job, too, but not crucial straight away. I'm also interested in the weather and midges - are they a nightmare?!

Let's go - can we make over 100 posts from unbelievably brilliant Scottish people again???

and here's a for good measure.

[BeaWheesht]

South queens ferry is nice but not what I'd describe as rural really. Also is right under the bridges which can be a plus or minus depending on how you view these things...

[theoldtrout01876]

Broxburn,Uphall,Winchburgh ,kirkliston,ecclesmachan,Newbridge,Ratho station. All west Lothian. They all used to be nice but Ive been gone a long time so not sure how they are now BUT all are close to the airport

[BuntyCollocks]

We're hoping to move home soon, which is right where you're looking to move to. Our home towns are Bathgate and Armadale, both of which are being extensively re-developed at the moment. 30 mins to Glasgow or Edinburgh - both towns are smack in the middle of the two cities.

I'm very biased, but I love where I grew up, it has a nice, villagey feel, the primary and secondary schools are good, as far as I'm concerned, no idea on their league table position. However, given that between dh and I both have 2:1 honours degrees in competitive fields, and I have two merit postgraduate qualifications in my field, they can't be particularly shit.

[TeacakeEater]

It does depend on OP's previous experience of villages though. (I once visited the South Downs and went to a pub in what felt to me like the village of Dibley! It was a world away from the industrial villages and small towns of Central Scotland.) Perhaps East Lothian has the more rural feel OP is after.

OP needs to get up and visit and visit schools so she can see what suits her and the family.

[Raptorrethy]

Teacake, we lived for seven years in a semi-rural village in North Oxfordshire...two pubs, village shop, small primary school and that was about it. We loved it.

I agree we need to scope the area first but we live abroad currently and it's not so easy to get up to Scotland...hence wanting as many tips from locals as possible.

[kaumana]

I would suggest renting first in Edinburgh and then spend some time getting a feel for the areas mentioned above.

You can't register for a school until you have an address in the catchment area. A lot of "popular" schools may not have places in your childrens' years. So, I would be contacting the schools to see what places are available.

If you go down the independent route your address does not come into it. Many runs buses from outwith Edinburgh but you would still have to contact them replaces.

I have a friend who is moving to Edinburgh grom London with children the same ages as yours and it has been a huge headache

[Raptorrethy]

Why has it been a headache, kaumana? Because of schools/catchment?

[cloutiedumpling]

North Berwick is lovely but more than 30 mins from airport, particularly at the wrong time of day.

[BadgersNadgers]

I wouldn't live in West Lothian or Penicuik. I go to Penicuik to use the library or get stuff fom Tesco if I can't be bothered to go to sainsburys but the town centre is mainly charity shops, Greggs, Farmfoods and Lidl. Edinburgh is lovely but expensive and not rural.

Wouldn't go for South Queensferry or over the bridge because commuter traffic is shocking.

This is 15 minutes from the Edinburgh bypass in a village with a great primary school that has just (2 weeks ago) moved into a brand new building. Local secondary is in Peebles, but close to private schools in Morningside if you want to go that route.

[barmybunting]

Linlithgow would be my choice in your situation. It's a lovely small town, but enough going on and close to Edin. I lived there for a while. I'm a teacher (primary though) and would love to go and teach in some of the schools in Linlithgow - you hear good things! A friend teaches at Linlithgow Academy and from that, it sounds like a good school to me. A focus on achievement, positive behaviours and supporting the children to strive for their best.

[ScoutJemAndBoo]

Linlithgow and surrounding areas, definitely - and my DD is old enough to be your babysitter too!

[ScoutJemAndBoo]

well within budget

[kaumana]

Trying to match properties to schools with places in the year groups primarily. Friend hasnow gone down the independent route but only one school had places and it is some distance away from the area she has bought in. However there is a school bus which does a pick up nearby BUT not a drop off.

[Raptorrethy]

Bumping just in case...

Does anyone have experience of (good or bad!) or can recommend specific secondary schools? Private or state? Apart from Linlithgow Academy which has been mentioned already.

to everyone for their posts!

[awakemysoull]

Peebles is a lovely town. It's 30 mins from Edinburgh in the Scottish Borders. I grew up there and the memories I have are positive. The primary schools are fantastic (especially priorsford) but the secondary school is awful. I had to leave in 3rd year because the bullying was so bad I couldn't even go to my classes without being hit or called on. The teachers turned a blind eye and the management refused to acknowledge the problem. I wasn't the only one with this issue. This was 10 years ago so I'm not sure how much it's changed now.

Penicuik (where I live now) is alright but some areas are really rough. The main street is charity shops and farm foods and just awful some days.

They have started to build new houses just outside Penicuik on the way to edinburgh. Cameron gardens next to pentland plants. If you Google that it will show you what it's about. Really nice area, 5 mins from the city bypass and 20 mins from city centre.

West Linton is stunning but very rural. The primary school is fantastic but peebles high would be the high school unless you chose private. It's not too far from Edinburgh, about a 25 min journey

Eddleston is another place with a great primary school

Hth feel free to pm me if you want any more information

[Raptorrethy]

Thank you awakemysoull for such detailed info! Brilliant.

[LELoupee]

Hello awake I'm in Penicuik too. Only living here sure to DH job, and don't think I would choose it as a place to live. The high street is dire, but think that's becoming fairly standard of towns this size.
Some of the surrounding villages are really nice tho, and your not far from an ok retail park, and can do the airport in around 30 minutes.
Not much use regarding schools, DS is only 15 months.

[awakemysoull]

LELoupee I agree, there are some nice parts (Maurice wood, cornbank) but the high street is awful and the area I'm in is like the gaza strip some nights.

[kaumana]

Edinburgh Evening News article

The above is in todays paper thought it might of be some interest to you.

[Raptorrethy]

Interesting, thank you!

[Weegiemum]

I lived in Edinburgh years ago (uni) so little advice there and in Glasgow now so too far away.

I have a good friend who lives in Bo'ness - very happy with both primary and secondary schools for her boys (Bo'ness Academy) and property is affordable, easy-as-it-comes commute to Edinburgh.

[ScoutJemAndBoo]

I's happily have this one in Bo'ness

Catchment area for Deanburn, which is a good primary, and right opposite a lovely country estate.

[ScoutJemAndBoo]

been on the market a while, bet you could haggle

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Balerno. Or Currie. Balerno High has a fantastic rep.

[chateauferret]

Be warned that the roads for about ten miles in every direction from the airport are totally bonkers in the rush hour. Based on the last couple of weeks half an hour's drive might cover everything between Costorphine and Newbridge.

When the trams start you could more easily get a train from some quarters to Edinburgh Park and then a tram back the way.

I stay in Airdrie and work just past Hermison Gait. 32 miles M8 virtually all the way. At least an hour, more often 90 minutes oh and it's a cowp.