Where to live in Edinburgh / Lothians?

[howmanyleftfeet]

Please can you help me narrow the areas we're looking at?

We're planning on moving to Edinburgh this summer. DH is Scottish and lived in Edinburgh for many years as a young man but has never lived there as a child or as a parent, so I need some help with choosing good areas to live in as a family.

Our budget is "only" £325k (seems a lot to me but I know it's not much for Edinburgh). So we're looking at areas on the edge of town, or possibly out of town but a small commute in.

We've been looking, online, at Musselburgh, Linlithgow, Portobello when the occasional one comes up, Leith, Juniper Green / Currie / Balerno, Ratho, Gorebridge and lots of villages.

We're spending Easter visiting places with fresh "do we want to live here" eyes.

If we could choose anywhere I'd chose the centre and DH would choose totally rural! But we're both open to compromise.

Our eldest will be going to secondary soon.

Have I missed any places off the list? Where would you choose?

Thanks :)

I think you need to think about the type of property you want. Do you want new build detached? Size this will all factor in what you can get and where. Train links to Edinburgh from East Lothian are good if you want to get into town quickly.

Gorebridge has lots of new build properties recently built and still more being built. In fact, there is a lot of new housing throughout Midlothian. The popularity of the area is partly due to the Borders Railway (stations at Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge).

I think you need to decide the kind of housing you would like, older or newer will decide where you should look. I have lived, with children, in Midlothian but if I was going back now (DC are grown and left home) I think I'd look at somewhere more within Edinburgh - an area with local shops and facilities but close to green space. Public transport, mostly buses, is cheap and heads into the city centre. Are you planning to use state or private schooling (lots of private schools in Edinburgh)? If you are looking at coastal areas include Joppa?

No, not new build!

If money was no object, I'd buy a lovely old place with high ceilings, period features and a massive garden in town.

Back in the real world....

We need at least 3 beds, 4 would be great but I know not likely.

It doesn't need to be detached or even semi detached. (I grew up in a terrace, it was fine).

I'm not keen on new builds. I'd rather live somewhere there's an established community. And I'm just not keen on modern developments.

Thanks! In my ignorance I would have called considered Joppa Portobello. Added to the list.

Definitely state not private.

Schools are important, particularly secondary. My eldest is very bright, with high functioning autism. He thrives in classes where the teacher appreciates his intelligence but that he has difficulties in doing things some other kids find easy and they can adapt to work with his SEN.

Classes where the teacher just wants him to do with what the other kids are doing and isn't bothered about his intelligence or adapting to his needs are a disaster for him.

an area with local shops and facilities but close to green space

That sounds good.

Try Roslin - some period places there and very historic. Great school and a good community.

I wouldn't dismiss new builds on the basis of lack of community. I n my experience it's been far easier to get to know people, make friends etc and most new build estates are built as part of existing communities anyway.

There isn't a school in the land where you can guarantee that they will pick out your son for his intellect and make sure that's developed. Some teachers will, some wont. There are lots of bright kids, some with sen, some without. Most will do well enough but do all kids (of any intellect) always get the best stimulation and fully reach their potential? I'd say most don't.

In terms of areas, what about kirknewton? Have you tried looking at the schools you'd be interested in and searching the catchment? Would you consider a flat as you'd get further into town for that money in a flat and still have access to green space albeit probably not your own garden.

There isn't a school in the land where you can guarantee that they will pick out your son for his intellect and make sure that's developed. Some teachers will, some wont. There are lots of bright kids, some with sen, some without. Most will do well enough but do all kids (of any intellect) always get the best stimulation and fully reach their potential? I'd say most don't.

Yes I totally agree. But some schools are better at supporting SEN than others and some are better at supporting bright DC than others. The English school DS is in at the moment had a terrible OFSTED after a change in head and the report specifically criticised the SEN support and supporting bright DC. He had a great teacher the year of the report so we didn't recognise the picture it painted. Now he has a teacher who's not so brilliant, we can really see what it means. She is failing him but more than that there just isn' t the support in place the school to help her support him. He's miserable and learning nothing. If we weren't moving I'd pull him out today. I don't want to make this mistake again.

It's really tough dealing with these things as often the schools that have the most experience of dealing with sen are not necessarily the most academically stretching and vice versa. It really is the luck of the draw sometimes, and as you've experienced, things can change quite quickly too. I think that during primary you tend to get at least one or two years where the teaching isn't great or doesn't suit your child. In high school it's different as they have so many teachers at the same time there is usually one that they find inspiring and one that they don't gel with. Good luck with the move and I think you will be better starting with a few schools in mind and looking from there as I think that's one of your top factors.

In high school it's different as they have so many teachers at the same time there is usually one that they find inspiring and one that they don't gel with

That's a really good point, thanks.

I think you will be better starting with a few schools in mind and looking from there as I think that's one of your top factors

Yes, I think you're right. Do you have any tips for how I can do this?

Our friends in the area with kids almost all have younger kids. or much older. I only know two families with DC currently at secondary in Edinburgh and surrounds - one feels their school is "OK" and the other is in an area we can't possibly afford!

Currie High school looks great and I've been trying to follow the plans for changes to schools in the SW but I'm a bit confused about that! I know they chose the "status quo" option but I'm not sure what the catchment is now, and I wonder if moving to a new school site will be great as they get new facilities or massively disruptive?

I went to Currie High, it is a really good school and the area is nice and has good public transport including a train station. I would love to live in Currie again. Maybe look at Balerno aswell.

I'm originally from Edinburgh but too much out the loop now but sure people here will be able to help. If you want Stirlingshire instead let me know

We did look at Stirling for a while as it happens. I was tempted by the beautiful houses!

But - we need to be near Edinburgh for jobs and to be close to friends and family and the commute to Edinburgh isn't great as a regular thing, is it?

why1stheRumgon3 that's good to hear! Balerno's definitely on the list :)

Is it easy to get into town from Currie / Balerno on public transport?

Hello. We’re in a very similar situation (except DC are much younger and just about to start P1). I have been looking at the Currie/Balerno area too as schools and transport connections sound good. We had a look round new builds in Musselburgh (off Pinkie Road I think) but I wasn’t so keen on the area. You can find secondary catchments here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/175/secondary_school_catchment_maps

Buses every 10/15mins and takes roughly half an hour to get to Princes Street.

Thanks, do you know if that's the catchment for 2018 or 2019? The catchments are due to change a bit.

I know the council voted for option 1, which (I think) includes this:

• Cherry Trees/Newmills area of Currie High School catchment is realignedwith Balerno High School.
• Kinleith Mill area moves from Currie Primary School’s catchment area to Nether Currie Primary School’s catchment area.

And I've found this map of proposed new catchments although I'm not sure if this is what they voted for or not: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/10149/proposed_school_catchments_and_locations

These are the existing catchment areas: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/10150/current_school_catchments_and_locations

I guess I should probably call the council!

Does anyone know - what's Balerno High like?

why1stheRumgon3 that's good to know, thanks! :)

Lorelaithe1st what's your rough timescale - I wonder if we may bump into each other at open house days!

Good luck with your move :)

As far as commuting to Edinburgh goes, loads do it and the trains are apparently meant to be getting better. I think it depends on whether it's just a stroll to and from the station as it can be a pain if you have to go outside the city centre unless you are handy for Edinburgh Park

Balerno is a good school. Baberton is also catchment for Currie high and would suit your budget. Regarding transport its longer than half an hour going into town during peak rush hour especially from balerno. The Lanark road is very congested these days. Try Bonaly, Colinton, corstorphine, broomhall too.

Stockbridge, trinity ,cramond , ravelston

South queensferry or kirkliston

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