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!

There are a few jobs being advertised at the SQA - the Scottish exam board - at the moment, these are education related, but full time permanent not term time only. There's even a home based one!

jobs.sqa.org.uk

Good luck with the move. We moved from NZ to London with an eye to move back to Scotland in about a year. Please keep me updated to how you get on

Quick question... What is this area like? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77471995.html

My parents are doing weekly visits to Glasgow at the moment, and I was going to ask them to check this out. We're having a few issues because we have very different levels of tolerance for noise, rubbish, anti-social behaviour etc and I've sent them to a few places that have put them off the entire south side of Glasgow. Will this flat trigger them again?

That’s right by Mount Florida station and the New Vic. Some of my colleagues live there and really like it. I’ve mainly been there for cafes and there are some great ones. Someone else will be along who knows the area better I’m sure.

Just been reading some of the earlier negative responses and I’m shocked! We sold our lovely 2 bed flat in Finnieston for 200k so your budget is more than enough. Now live in East Renfrewshire as my DP is from here. I’m not Glaswegian but the state schools here are fine!

I totally understand OP, I can't help at all with what the area is like, but if i remember correctly, your parents are east coasters like me and i'm probably somewhere between their generation and yours. I have very little tolerance for the same as they do and since I no longer even live in a big city, I can't see past it.

I know that there are nice areas and lovely people and that many people are happy in Glasgow but I personally can't find anything to like or love so would also struggle in their shoes. That doesn't mean it's not the place for you and I'm not spreading doom and gloom like some of the initial posters, just maybe saying that I can understand how they are struggling and also how that doesn't really help you.

I know the area & it's not a busy street - buses go along the main roads eg Holmlea Rd/Battlefield Rd.

The flat looks lovely & on a side street with access to the main strip in Battlefield.

I think this one is nicer though; better location & your own front door (that counts for a lot):

19 Bellwood Street, Shawlands, G41 3EU
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-89390696.html

Or this one:

Waverley Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G41
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68345400.html

Or this:

Bellwood Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G41
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77204722.html

These would be my top choices of what's available on Rightmove.

I know the area very well & Shawlands or Langside are nicer than Battlefield.

That first Bellwood Street one is already on my list - looks ideal.

I've just discovered my cousin has bought a place about 50m from the Battlefield flat, so that might convince my parents it's safe to go take a look!

OP

Ignore anything about GCSEs and A Levels, those are not Scottish exams.

You need to think really carefully about moving a 16 year old. I understand your reasoning on fees but that won't do him any good if he doesn't get into uni because of a disrupted education. And I understand it is quite normal for Scottish students to enter uni age 17.

Additionally if the SAAS (the people who decide which feesm if any you pay) consider your ds to have moved for full time education and otherwise would not be n Scotland they may still charge overseas fees.

Don't forget the school year is also totally different, Scottish schools years start in August.

What sort of uni course is your ds considering? If it is not offered at a Scottish university then he may have to find the £9000 per year fee (but may also be eligible for a student loan).

It is also relevant to his future, does he see that in Scotland? NZ? Somewhere else? Eg if he studies Law in Scotland he will learn Scottish law.

I'm not in Scotland but there are loads of people on MN who are and can give advice.

However I have got a lot of experience with teaching teenagers. We have quite a few students in the UK who have arrived from EU countries in their teens and have then gone in to the English system, this system doesn't take account of that move. This means their uni application is based on their UK results and they can be turned down because they got a low grade in English GCSE, it doesn't matter that they were only in the UK for 6 months when they sat the exam, they are expected to get the same grade as someone who has been in the system from age 5.

I've booked flights for the end of April, put my house on the market, and resigned from my job, so it's going to be quite tricky not to move now!

Battlefield is great - good local restaurants, short walk to hipster land, queens park, great transport links, nice library. A vibrant place to be. (I may be biased - I live there.)

We used to live in Bellwood Street (but the upper level not the lower one) and it's a great location: close to the "centre" of Shawlands, Queens Park and public transport. Parking is a nightmare though

Bellwood Street is "split level" with a row of trees and shrubbery on the slope between the two levels which makes it even more attractive. Plus the tenements there, unusually, have bay windows on both sides. We just had a one bedroom flat, but when we did up the kitchen, we turned the bay window into the dining area (which got the morning sun) and put the "kitchen bit" in the inside half of the (large) room. Meant a bit more plumbing but worked really well.

Me again, with more questions...

It looks like a lot of schools are full, or have space but not for all options. Eg, one school doesn't have room in Nat 5 maths, which is pretty essential.

Could anyone explain the enrolment system? What happens if the local school has no space?

As a plan B (and apologies to people who've already covered this, I need it spelled out again because I am confused/panicking slightly) - could ds enrol in S5, sit Nat 5s, then do Highers in S6? And if so, would this affect his chances of getting into whatever uni course he decides on (currently focused on either engineering or classics, so who knows what he'll want to do by the time he finishes school)

If a school is full, then the LA will place your ds into the next closest school (and provide transport/a travel card if it is beyond a certain distance). As/when a place becomes available in the catchment school, he would have the option of going there (and I think the travel card/transport would be removed if he doesn't move).

Going into S5 wouldn't help if the Nat 5 classes are full. But Nat 5s aren't compulsory in order to sit Highers. So, he could in theory begin studying for his Highers but possibly choose not to sit them until S6.

I think the key thing that Unis are looking for are the number and result of Highers sat in a single sitting - so delaying sitting them until S6 might be an option.

Have you got somewhere to rent yet and therefore know which is your catchment school? If so, it's worth going in person and talking to them about options.

I would ask about movement in numbers for options. DD moved school albeit within Scotland at the same stage as your DS. Her preferred school said they couldn't accommodate 2 of her options. One she didn't care about so switched to another similar subject but one was pretty fundamental (English). We decided to gamble by enrolling her in the June. By the August, there was movement in numbers and she got a spot (helped by her old English teacher emailing new school's head of department). I definitely felt a bit of a frostiness from the new school on taking new students mid-year (particularly since it is a high performing school). However once they got to know DD, this disappeared. No frostiness from the kids though. She made a lovely group of new friends.

Good to hear it worked for your dd ClerkMaxwell. I think ds will be fine, it's just very stressful not knowing where he'll be at school. Or where we'll be living, because I haven't got a flat yet...

I've had an offer on my house, and set the closing date for this Thursday, so once it has sold I'll have a bit of extra cash to rent somewhere while still paying my bills here.

Once we have an address maybe schools will be a bit more helpful. So far they all just say they probably don't have space, but they can't tell me anything definite until we're there.

Bellahouston academy has been more helpful, lots of nice emails from the headteacher, but again they probably don't have space. Also, I think the school doesn't have the greatest reputation? Anyway, they're the school which definitely has no room in Nat 5 maths.

How is everyone doing? My parents (a GP and a teacher, so they should both know better) are not taking the coronavirus situation particularly seriously, but maybe they will start to this week.

Our plans are a bit up in the air at the moment. I've sold my house and have to move out at the end of April, but I'm not sure whether we'll be able to get to Scotland. We'll wait and see I guess...

I hope you're all washing your hands constantly and trying not to cough on each other.

It's funny, I was thinking of you and the others that have been on various threads looking to arrive in Scotland and wondering if you'd make it in to the country (or if you'd want to at the moment!).

My friends parents are similar but it's finally kicked in for them this week and they've started behaving themselves better. It must be a worry when you are so far away.

My hands are raw and painful due to the extra washing and sanitisers but I still got it. Getting a bit better now I'm at home and just using plain soap and water.

I hope things start to get a bit clearer and you are able to properly plan. At least the worry about school for this coming term is no longer valid as there isn't likely to be any school to go to until August.

I don't particularly want to be in Scotland right now, but on the other hand it's hard being so far away from family when this kind of thing is happening.

I was wondering about you tinofcurses

I hope your parents stay well.

In one respect, it does mean that there is no longer a need for you to get over here as soon as possible to allow your ds to get a few weeks in school before the summer holidays, as there is no school

Ive been lurking on your thread tinofcurses but hadnt posted before but just wanted to see how you were getting on hope all is as well as can be in nz

Everything is ok here. The number of covid cases is very low and it seems like people are mostly feeling good about the government response and coping with lockdown.

I was able to withdraw my resignation, so I have a job, and my house sale is on hold until we get completely out of lockdown. I've changed our flights to the first week of August, and we'll probably have to find somewhere to rent here for a while.

Fingers crossed we don't have to postpone again. Although it sounds pretty awful over there. I'm slightly questioning whether we're making the right decision.

I'm sorry Op but I'd be worried about your DS's mental health tbh.
We're very likely to have another lockdown in winter, you'd be stuck in a flat with awful weather outside, getting dark early, not be able to visit your parents and he wouldn't have had the chance to make any solid friendships.
He'd be spending a lot of time gaming I would guess.
Not what you want to hear but might be better to move in a couple of years, he's at a crucial stage for well-being and at 18yrs will be so much more confident and mature.

We have to move now (before September) or wait until ds finishes uni. We're both pretty ok with the fact that this year will suck, and next year will probably be a bit weird too, but it's the best plan in the long term.

But first we have to get through the next couple of months...We're moving to a 1 bedroom flat next week. No heating and leaky windows, just in time for winter. Also we'll have no furniture, since that's getting shipped this week. Should be interesting. But at least it's cheap and the landlord is ok with us having our dog. And it's walking distance to ds's school - they started back in the classroom today.

good to hear that your DS has started back at school. It is likely to be August before they start here, and it is not clear yet what that might look like when they do go back. I have been impressed though with how our eldest school has adapted to online learning in only a few weeks.

Ds's school has been amazing. They've been running the usual timetable, with the teachers available to chat online for each lesson. I don't know how well it has worked for families with limited computer access though. It'll be interesting to see how the school deals with the different amounts of work kids have been able to get done over the last couple of months.