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.

[Raptorrethy]

What's a cowp chateau?? I'm guessing it's some Scottish word with something to do with traffic??

Scout I cannot believe the price of that second house...shame we are not in a position to do anything right this moment! (Plus the small matter of actually going and looking at all these different areas of course.)

Thank you again to all - so much good info.

[BuntyCollocks]

A cowp is a mess. Ie - my house is a cowp.

[ScoutJemAndBoo]

I know. pparently the second house was the old school house. It was done up by a developer last year, but hasn't sold yet.

If you come this way for a visit, and fancy a tour guise, give me a shout!

[Raptorrethy]

Thank you Scout I may well do that one day - this thread is being printed and kept this time! Plus I have a potential babysitter in your DD too

A cowp - love it. My DD's room is always a cowp. I keep wanting to write 'cowpat' instead.

[dementedma]

Kinross High School is excellent.'perhaps a bit further north than you want bit great motorway links, lots of outdoorsy rural stuff.
30 minutes to airport on a clear run but longer in the rush hour.

[Whybeige]

Bigger is lovely and very central! Lovely community. Wish I lived there

[cazzyg]

I work near Hermiston Gait too. My journey is along the M9 and it's not too bad 40 mins door to door from Falkirk.

[Raptorrethy]

Oooh some late contributions - fabulous! I will have a whole database in the end. Thank you and keep them coming, especially naming particular schools!

I can see I will have to use HIGHLIGHTERS and colour-coding when I print this thread out. Or maybe a corkboard, Carrie from Homeland-esque

[Whybeige]

BiggAR - bloody IPAD

[starving]

I think one or two suggestions are considerably more than 30 minutes from the airport. During rush hour you will be amazed at how far you don't travel in the west of Edinburgh!

[lurkingfromhome]

Cramond? Very close to airport but manages to be a semi-rural idyll and still part of Edinburgh. Good schools close by at Barnton.

[Raptorrethy]

One last question (honest ). I'm a little confused at to which year groups my DCs would be going into as I know the Scottish system does not use Sept-Sept birthdays.
DD born February 2005, DS march 2007...8 and 6 respectively. Which Scottish year groups would they be in for sept 2014?

[Topsymummy]

I would say cramond too - very pretty and by the sea. Handy for the airport and still definitely part of Edinburgh. The state schools are good and its not far from a few private schools either. Your children would be p2 and p4. Or you could put your eldest in p5 but she'd be the youngest. If they are born in jan ir feb you can choose if they start at 4.5 or 5.5 yrs old.

[TeacakeEater]

Think about secondary and beyond with the Feb birthday child. If they are the youngest in the older class they would be starting Uni the autumn after their 17th birthday.

[Raptorrethy]

She is 1st feb. I'd rather she was not the youngest...how do I avoid this? Can I?

[FannyFifer]

So she will be 9 in Feb?y DS will be 9 on April. Going into P5 next year.

Try Fife. Dunfermline?

[TeacakeEater]

Speak to the school about where they have spaces.

At the start of primary schooling the children with Jan and Feb birthdays can usually defer without any problem and can go in the following year when they are 5.5.

[FannyFifer]

My Feb child will be deferring. Most jan/feb birthdays do.

[Raptorrethy]

So currently they are P2 and P4 but next August 2014 would go into P3 and P5? I'm confused!

[TeacakeEater]

Yes for August 2014 your children would be P3 and P5.

From what you say you don't want your eldest to go into P6 which she would be eligible for.

[dementedma]

Well bugger me. I live in Scotland and never knew Jan birthdays could defer!
Ds was 4.5 when he started P1 and is now the youngest child in his entire secondary school! He won't be 12 until the end of January, when some of his peers will be turning 13! He could well be going to uni at only 17 and a half. Poor baby

[Raptorrethy]

Ok, thank you for clarifying. I'd rather she has an extra year of schooling if she can...especially if, as FF says, most parents of jan/feb children defer.

[TeacakeEater]

Ok what's confusing you? It took me some time to get my head round the different years - I went to school in England.

(Oh I'd just got to grips with family doing Standard Grades when they went and changed the exam system!)

[Raptorrethy]

Cross posts tea cake - I think I'm clear now! Thank you. I was schooled in England plus DCs now at school in a different country where the cut off months are different again - hence my earlier confusion!

[Raptorrethy]

Demented isn't it strange? They'd go to uni and not even be able to drink alcohol
Hope your DS is doing ok anyway!