Primary schools/family areas in Edinburgh?

[ocelot41]

Absurdly excited - am in with a good shot at a job in Edinburgh, but last lived there many moons ago when was pre- DC. If I was successful, once I had stopped dancing, what would I do about a primary school transfer for DS? He has just turned 6 and is currently in Year 1 in an English state school. Which are more family oriented areas to live in?. OK, OK I know I am getting a bit ahead of myself here - just so excited!!!!

I'd be up for that! Glad to hear you had a good weekend.

First off ocelot congrats on the job!

Please don't be nervous about moving up with an English accent - I have an obviously English accent and have had not one moment of bother - and for some of the time I lived on a rough council estate. One of the things I love most about Edinburgh is it's such a great melting pot type of place.

Schools wise (and property wise) Juniper Green, Currie and Balerno are lovely. My DS attends Currie Primary (feeds into Currie High) and has absolutely flourished there it's a wonderful school. Property wise you should be able to get something nice for £220k - depending on what you want of course. A word of warning though - property goes very quickly.

Thanks flippinada. We have got a place at S Morningside school and I am lucky enough to have been able to let a friend of a friends flat in the area that we can move into in Sept. Then we can try and sell our London terrace and could maybe afford a double upper, something like that? Lots of emotional ups and downs this weekend - DS realises that this is Really Real now and the worries have kicked in. Poor sausage.

And thanks Statistically. I have often been on the same threads as you and thought you sounded a truly lovely viper

Wow, that's great - South Morningside is lovely. Good luck!

I am glad you think so - I nearly had kittens when they told me how many children were in each class! But I tried all the schools within cycling distance to campus and that's where the place came up! People seem to be saying good things about it, so fingers crossed

South Morningside has been very full for a very long time and has managed to sustain really good results and reputation in spite of it so I think they've obviously mastered it. They're supposed to be building an extra school up that way to cope with the demand cos it's not getting any better buy god knows when edinburgh council will actually do it

Ach well, the good (actually, make that GREAT) news is that my commute is going to shrink from 1 hr 20 (on a good day) to 20 mins. So I will have plenty more time to support DS with his school work if he needs it. But knowing him, what he will mainly need is a good run after school! Is there a play park somewhere like the one on the Newington side of the Meadows? He LOVED that!

More good news - DH has job interviews this week!

The Meadows play park is the best I've come across on that side, but there is an okay park not far from South Morningside School on Morningside Drive which might fit in with your route to and from school

sorry - meant to add link www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory_record/18631/morningside_park

Thanks cool!

What a great thread! Ocelot I'm also moving up from England (south west) to start a job at Edinburgh Uni in mid August. I'm originally from the west coast of Scotland but husband is an English west country boy and very excited about the move.
We have a 4 year old who will start school in 2017 and we're looking the the Bruntsfield/Newington/Liberton area. I know a grand total of 0 people in the city so it would be good to meet up with a few friendly mumsnetters :)

You are on Tercear! Look forward to meeting you

More good news- DH has a job! So we are all going to be able to move together in Sept! Now I just have to finish building/redec work here, sell or let our current house, and find some after school care in Morningside... What's the property market doing? We are thinking of a double upper?

Well done mr ocelot!

Sorry pressed send too soon.

I'm not an expert but I AFAIK property in morningside is very expensive .i think 3 bed flats are around £300k .

Are you looking for a flat or a house and what's your budget ? Wouldn't you considered a cheaper part of the city ?

Hi Kristina, the school place came up in S Morningside (we are moving mid year so need to take what we can get). Fortunately, we have a London house to sell so can afford a double upper there - we recognise how lucky we are to have that budget. Also our DS is an only so we would like him to be able to live close to the children he will be at school with, to help him make friends. But also open to meeting other MNetters in other areas of the city!

Mr Ocelot also says thank you very much vipers for the congratulations. He is a very pleased large wildcat indeed to have a shiny new job.

After school care - there is a shortage of after school clubs all over Edinburgh, so it would be worth looking in to childminders too. If you go to the Care Inspectorate website, then "find a service" you can search by postcode. Put in the school postcode as the closer they are, the more likely that they pick up from South Morningside.

As DS is an only at least you don't have to be inside the catchment area when it comes to buying which might open your options up a little. Assuming you want DS to go to Boroughmuir High School then you could also search within the catchments for Buckstone and Bruntsfield primaries without being too far away from his friends.

Congratulations to all the ocelots and good luck with your house hunting. I take it you know all about ESPC?

We do indeed know about ESPC, Mornington and are perusing with interest. Thanks SO much Statistically for advice on how to find a childminder - that's next on the list. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Congrats too! We moved up from London four years ago and although it hasn't been as easy as I expected to make good friends working full-time (think we were a bit spoilt having lived in London for 10 years each), we've got there. Selling a London property is a bit of an advantage, but remember that you need to factor in the Scottish stamp duty rates (LBTT) rather then the English ones - not sure if that will mean you will pay more or less though.

We should definitely try and organise an Edinburgh meet-up. If I can manage it, I'll set up a thread later and link from the Edinburgh local site too.

Wowzers Always, LBTT lots higher than UK stamp duty - like, nearly double! Good to be forewarned... Thanks! And pls do pass on details of meets - that'd be great.

So exciting! I keep veering between excitement and angst as I start my new job on early August and I don't actually have a place to stay arranged yet! Husband and son will be staying at my mum's place on the West coast for a couple of weeks whilst we arrange somewhere and I'm currently looking for a room to rent mon - Fri for a couple of weeks. I've managed to find somewhere for the first week (I think), if anyone knows somewhere please do let me know!
Looking forward to hearing about meet ups !