Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

so if you were moving to edinburgh

56 replies

TheSteveMilliband · 22/04/2016 13:24

...and most likely working at Royal infirmary, where would you suggest living with good schools, good links to city / bypass?

OP posts:
weebarra · 23/04/2016 12:41

Really not Penicuik. High street is pretty desolate and I didn't find much sense of community when I lived there for three years. Now living in Eskbank, nice house (plenty within your budget), good school, easy to get to the ERI. New train line into town too.

LunaLoveg00d · 23/04/2016 12:42

Is there are requirement to be within a certain driving distance of the hospital? (I know a doctor friend who is often on call who has to live within 20 minutes drive of her hospital, no more).

Currie/Barnton is great, but don't know how long it would take to get to the hospital round the bypass on a busy morning. Knox Academy in Haddington is supposed to be good, or further out Dunbar and North Berwick.

Siolence · 23/04/2016 13:22

How old are your children? The school age intake is from 1st March so yours may end up in a different year from the one they are in now.

If it's a long term move I'd aim for comfortably within catchment for a good high school.

Royal High gets lauded. It also depends what you are considering for a daily commute, it can take 45 minutes to get across the city.

Siolence · 23/04/2016 13:24

Also, if you are going to be commuting out with peak times it changes the boundaries. 7:45-9 and 4:15- 5:30 are hellish times to be driving anywhere!

Roonerspism · 23/04/2016 13:28

What's up with Penicuik Eddie?

We are contemplating a move out as we are very outdoorsy/mountain biking but don't want the nightmare commute of, say, west Linton or the Borders.

The High Street does indeed look grim but I got the impression it was great for kids?

Original poster
TheSteveMilliband · 23/04/2016 13:35

Thanks. Yes,would probably need to be within 30 mins off hospital (but usually at off peak times when less traffic). Don't fancy the bypass though Currie looks lovely. Also probably a bit far. Same with north. Catchments really seem to mean being in town (hence no/ v small garden) which is a shame. Good advice re senior school, but similar issues (on south side, gillespies seems to be main one, or squeeze into royal high catchment via duddingston...). Haddington is nice, and right side of bypass I think... Will look at eskbank, did notice some lovely houses but is more rural than was thinking of. Kids are 6&8 so need to be thinking of secondary school too. Youngest very outgoing, eldest more reserved and tbh its him I worry more about with fitting in so reassuring to hear accent unlikely to be an issue. Great to get all these ideas and thoughts.
How is liberton high thought of as a school? Happy times in liberton, and nice houses / gardens.

OP posts:
Roonerspism · 23/04/2016 13:41

steve Haddington could be a good bet as an easy commute to the Royal. North Berwick too.

Eskbank lovely but high school isn't quite as good as others. Same with liberton but don't let exam grades be the sole driver.

If you were happy in a nice town I would go for Haddington. Currie would be a tough commute.

Don't rule out the Borders either.

Bumply · 23/04/2016 13:49

A mention of Duddingston!
I like living on the edge of holyrood park and the schools have done my two boys ok. Brand new Portobello High School due to open next year.

Original poster
TheSteveMilliband · 23/04/2016 13:59

Rooney, Haddington looks lovely. Always liked being in a city but space is appealing. And has nice cafes / restaurants. Was thinking of duddingston bumpy - maybe the compromise between close to town, space, decent schools? Is that Holy rood high?

OP posts:
Corabell · 23/04/2016 14:04

Duddingston is portobello or if you want RC education it's holyrood. Liberton high school isn't great to be honest.

Siolence · 23/04/2016 14:48

Your other option is live where you like and go private later. P6 is a big intake year, and then S1. Just a thought. The house prices are obscene in good high school catchments.

EddieStobbart · 23/04/2016 16:19

Royal High catchment is Barnton, Cammo, Cramond - other side of town to ERI.

I'd be happy with any of these schools:
Gillespie's
Boroughmuir
Firhill
Royal High
Currie
Craigmount
Balerno

Some have room for out of catchment placements (most kids from my local primary go to two of the above rather than our catchment school) but for Gillespie's and Boroughmuir there will be a lot of names on the list.

OneMagnumisneverenough · 23/04/2016 16:22

If googling, Firrhill has two "r"s for some reason probably a mistake

weebarra · 23/04/2016 16:41

Firrhill does have two r's.

weebarra · 23/04/2016 16:46

Boroughmuir will be moving from Brunstfield where it is now, to a new site at Fountainbridge. To find out more about high schools try the Education Scotland website (our Ofsted equivalent).
I think Firrhill is probably the best without being in a extortionate catchment. Portobello is probably the best in terms of those nearest to the hospital. Liberton and Gracemount are nearer but exam results/school leaver destinations not as good.

OneMagnumisneverenough · 23/04/2016 16:47

I know barra, I went there :)

weebarra · 23/04/2016 16:52

Sorry!

SauvignonPlonker · 23/04/2016 17:31

Royal High catchment (Cramond, Barnton, Cammo, Blackhall & D Mains) is do-able along the bypass if it's non-peak hours. At peak time, the Gyle/Maybury/bypass are really busy.

However, like many Edinburgh primary schools, the class roles are at capacity in p1 onwards & it's a case of waiting for a child to move on before a place can be made available.

OneMagnumisneverenough · 23/04/2016 17:44

np barra :)

Groovee · 23/04/2016 17:50

I live in Corstorphine. Dh uses the bypass daily but at 7am for work when it's quiet and gets home in about 20 mins at night.

I wouldn't want to use the bypass later. I have found if work send me that way, it's quicker to go through colinton and over by Gilmerton. But the bypass has taken me an hour in the past and by the time I arrive, I have steam pouring out of my ears.

EddieStobbart · 23/04/2016 18:56

ESPC (prop website though I assume you know this!) allows search by school catchment now. Not all the agents are on it though so it's worth a quick look at Rightmove as well - I've noticed that some who advertise on the ESPC don't seem to feature on Rightmove.

EddieStobbart · 23/04/2016 19:02

I wouldn't worry about accents. My DCs were both born in Edinburgh but have pretty much English accents - no issue. I had a quick count of the different nationalities that are/have been in my DCs classes over the years and stopped when I got to 15.

dotdotdotmustdash · 23/04/2016 21:52

Craigentinny/Portobello ? Porty is pretty smart these day, the prom is busy and quite mediterranean in feel on a nice evening. Craigentinny has lots of wide streets of 1930s bungalows, many of which have been extended and still have decent gardens. The new school opens this year and you can get to the ERI pretty quickly.

Original poster
TheSteveMilliband · 24/04/2016 08:06

Thanks for all the ideas. Think unfortunately travelling rules out most of the north / west of the city. Portobello looks interesting, school seems to have mixed opinions - thread from a while back suggested good if outgoing, not so good for quieter kids?
Will take a look at firrhill catchment too.
Fun looking at property sites, and thanks for the heads up, had been looking at espc not rightmove and have found a few more now on rightmove

OP posts:
weebarra · 24/04/2016 08:21

I think I'd agree with that re Porty. It is a big school and quieter personalities can get lost.