Moving to Glasgow from NZ with 16yo

[Tinofcurses]

I posted something similar in Education, but someone suggested I might get more info here.

I have tons of questions...

We're planning on moving to Glasgow from NZ at the end of 2020. ds will be 16.5 by then. He will have completed year 11 in early Dec 2020, with 2 more years of school to go if we stayed here. I'm thinking he should probably go into S4 in January, and then carry on from there.

Does that sound right/possible? Will he be super old compared to the rest of his year? If so, does it matter? How does the secondary school system work anyway? I went to school in England about 500 years ago, and ds has only been in the NZ system so far, so I'm clueless.

Also, any thoughts about which parts of Glasgow to look at? We're looking for an inclusive, mixed, non-catholic school, and plenty of shops, cafes and places to walk a dog. Ideally fairly central, or at least with great public transport (no car).

We'll be renting initially, and then wanting to buy a 2 bed flat or house with a budget of around 200-220,000 (is this realistic? I have no idea).

Actually, another property related thing...Do flats for sale in Scotland have rules about pets? I know it can be difficult to find a place to rent with a dog, but is it generally ok if you buy? We will be bringing our dog, but she will stay with my parents at first if we can't find a rental property with her.

Sorry, I did warn you I have tons of questions!

No actually @rhubarbcrumbles because our exam system has changed.
Thanks for trying though.

Could he complete his schooling in the NZ system by distance/online learning?

We also don't have GCSEs, and there is no such thing as 6th Form!

Which is why I said 'the equivalent of GCSEs' and most people know what 6th form means.

At least I was trying to be helpful with the link to schools article and so on. I won't bother in future.

This thread is bonkers OP but I see you've had plenty decent advice further on. Being from Edinburgh, I'm not a fan of Glasgow but I can appreciate that it's like any other city and you could settle very well there. If you'd like any help looking over at the other coast nearer your parents, I'm sure we could also help with that. Bear in mind that it's a fair old drive across the country if your parents become infirm. I found even the travel from Stirling to the far side of Edinburgh a bit much when my mum was in hospital long term and we were working full time and worried about her.

Obviously it's not as far as NZ but if employment in Glasgow is not the driving force, I'd maybe be thinking about being closer to your parents than Glasgow.

You obviously don't understand that almost all schools in Scotland go all the way through to S6 - the only exception(s) being very rural one(s). So there is no need to worry about "getting into 6th form"

So not at all helpful for someone asking about the Scottish education system.

This thread is bonkers shawlands is definitely a good shout.

Can't believe some of the comments in this thread...just wanted to add proximity to rest of Europe in terms of travel, culture, languages exposure and opportunities is something that kiwi and Oz friends always envious of - something to enjoy when he spreads his wings.

Some stats to put your mind at rest.
Latest figures- 92 per cent young people leaving school in Glasgow city area go onto positive destinations (not perfect but perfectly acceptable).
Most of the best schools in the country (results wise) are in Glasgow city area/ adjoining councils. You're making a good decision education wise.
Edinburgh will have some great schools but overall doesn't perform as well as it should has and latest figures showed Dundee has overtaken the city in terms of schools reaching their results benchmark so don't worry about thinking Edinburgh over Glasgow, at least from an educational point of view. It is beautiful (originally from Edinburgh now living and raising my child in Glasgow area!)

To be fair, Edinburgh school results are skewed because of the massive percentage (25%) of dc in private schools. Therefore you can't really compare.

Ah well, if we are going to talk private schools, the best school in Scotland was just declared to be Glasgow High School!

Both cities are lovely and great places to live. Both have some fantastic state schools (and some not so good). Glasgow is much more affordable than Edinburgh and has a more multicultural feel, and has easier access to wilderness than Edinburgh. That’s my main reason for choosing Glasgow as a place to live. I’m sure I would be happy in Edinburgh too although I’d have to live in a smaller house.

“has easier access to wilderness than Edinburgh.”

It does?... I mean, I like Glasgow and it’s definitely cheaper, but I’m not convinced it’s easier to get to wilderness from the middle of it...

Massively easier! You can get to Loch Lomond and the beginning of the Highlands so quickly!

I love this thread, it's just so insane.
Public schools are bad, Glasgow is all druggies, the wilderness is nearer Glasgow than Edinburgh.
Tbf, I've never tried to get to the wilderness, when I drive over the hill to Loch Lomond it's because I'm going to Aldi!

Massively easier! You can get to Loch Lomond and the beginning of the Highlands so quickly!

Granted Glasgow is closer to Loch lomond but Edinburgh is closer to other areas of countryside and it's not full of glaswegians :o

But not Wilderness, I'd say.

Well I wouldn’t class Loch Lomond as ‘wilderness’ it’s usually full of day trippers from Glasgow

What a strange thread!! Can only presume that given a lot of the odd responses a few folk were celebrating Christmas a bit early

Listen to the sensible posters OP. They've provided lots of good suggestions.

Yes to starting in S4 to allow S5 & S6 for Nationals and/or Highers.
Glasgow doesn't have a huge drug problem and most of us are able to function adequately without the need to take any.
It has pockets of poverty like many other other cities and unless he's very unlucky your son won't require to fight off others kids in school.
Oh and 200-220 will get you a 2 bed easily in decent areas.
Good luck (keep ignoring the strange posters)

I'll bow to your expertise then... but I wouldn't describe Loch lomond as wilderness. Edinburgh has the pentlands and borders/east lothian countryside on it's doorstep.

I wouldn't contemplate Edinburgh on a 220K budget.

That would get you a 1-bed generally.

You might get a 2-bed in one of the commuter towns eg Livingston, Dalgety Bay, Dalkeith. But the schools aren't as good as East Ren/Dumbartonshire.

Hahahahahahaaa a..... This thread has given me a right laugh. Ffs.. How do you lot function in life? All state schools are rough... No pets in flats.... 220k will buy you a sleeping bag and a empty coffee cup with which to beg.???? Have any of you ever actually been to Scotland?

So I am Glasgow born and bred. Shawlands would defo be your best bet. It is where I lived in my twenties and early thirties and I didn't drive. There is both a train station and million buses. There are lots of great shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. The public realm is being developed at the moment and it is looking good. It is a multicultural area and the high school reflects this. The school does fairly well, I have several friends and aquaintenances who have gone to Shawlands and gone on to very successful careers. Property wise, you will almost definitely get a flat for your budget. Pollokshaws Road is the main drag so avoid that if you can because its noisy and more polluted. Further back you have streets like Tantallon Road, Bellwood Street and Grantley Gardens that are a bit quieter but walkable to the main drag. Be careful with catchment areas if you go farther out. Although to be honest none of the schools in that area are truly awful. Most of my friends who have pets live in flats. Queens Park is massive and slap bang in the centre of Shawlands. And Pollok Park is within walking distance and is an amazing old country estate with wooded areas and fields - dogs and their walkers love it. It also has a forest bike track if your soon likes cycling.

The west end is desirable and you will pay a premium to live there but it won't meet your needs any better than Shawlands IMHO. It has a park (Kelvin Grove), transport, OK schools (depends on where in west end) and a bustling shop, cafe scene but you get all of that in the southside for a hundred grand less.

Please let me know if I can be of any help to you or if you have any questions please pm me.

Shawlands

West End

Same price but Shawlands flat is Much bigger.

And in case I missed it in previous threads.... Remember the offers over system means your looking at flats at least 20/30k lower than your top budget.

You wouldn't describe Loch Lomond and the Highlands as wilderness?? Goodness...

OK!

Anyway.

Scottish schools league tables

Thanks everyone. A little bit overwhelmed but it's good to hear some positive responses to the idea.

I think my main question now is whether ds will be able to go into S4 given his age. His birthday's June, so he'd be 17 a few weeks before the end of the S4 school year.