East Dunbartonshire secondary catchment maps

[randomsabreuse]

DH has a new job at Glasgow Uni. So we'll be moving up from England at Easter.

Glasgow City and East Renfrewshire both have nice online maps of school catchments on the local council website but East Dunbartonshire doesn't- and we'd like to try to buy in catchment for one of the "good" schools if we can... does something like this exist??

DH's job means East Dunbartonshire is easily the most convenient place to live - he'll need to get in to Garscube and out to the countryside to the north and East mostly..

Not too worried about catchment primaries at this point although the fact that ED has early entry to P1 as a possibility could be handy as DC1 will have completed 2 terms of reception in England but would strictly speaking need to join P1 next year - she is very keen on school so far.

Also, are there any non-rightmove websites for property?

Thanks!

[LizzieMacQueen]

Have a look at S1homes too for property.

[LizzieMacQueen]

There's also GSPC for houses advertised through solicitors than estate agents.

[MakeMineALargeProsecco]

Didn't GSPC go under?

[LizzieMacQueen]

(GSPC) Oh wow, so it did, August 2018.

[FREEM]

early primary on Scotland is much less structured than in England is is more child based .. not class based

[ICouldHaveTinsillitis]

OP, you mentioned up-thread that placing requests into ED would be "unlikely". Not sure what you mean?

My 2 went to Boclair Academy, which has 4 feeder primaries. In 1st year, there were children from over 20 different primaries, so placing requests were in fact very common, as the ED schools are seen as desirable.

That was 10+ years ago. Maybe someone with more recent experience can comment?

[PineappleDanish]

It's getting increasingly less common, especially in Bearsden/Milngavie. It used to be that placing requests from all over the place were accepted, but no longer. It's down to a combination of the new Bearsden and Douglas Academies having less capacity than the schools they replaced, and the vast amount of new houses which have been built. My kids' primary has gone from a role of about 300 in 2008 to almost 400 this year.

Three years when DD started secondary, 90 placing requests were turned down for Bearsden Academy, from people living both elsewhere in East Dunbartonshire and across the county borders into Glasgow, Sirlingshire, West Dunbartonshire. Now, it's getting to the stage that if you don't live in catchment, even having a sibling in a school is no guarantee. Boclair is scheduled to be replaced with a new (smaller) school too, and that will be exactly the same story.

[cazzyg]

DH was based at Garscube until very recently. Most of his colleagues with families live in Bearsden or Milngavie. A few more of the younger ones tended to be in the west end.

We’re further out because I’m Edinburgh based.

One thing to be aware of is that getting there by public transport is tricky. You need to drive really. Bishopbriggs and Lennie are commutable

[randomsabreuse]

We're currently in a small market town with basically zero usable public transport to anywhere! Nearest train station 30 minutes drive or 1 hour bus! From what I've seen Glasgow will feel amazingly accessible in comparison to everywhere we have ever lived!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

One thing to be aware of is that getting there by public transport is tricky

A public bus stops at the gates every 15mins (60 / 60A) (Maryhill Road side), I'm sure there are buses along the Switchback side too. Also a short walk from Maryhill train station and a shortish walk from Westerton train station.

[randomsabreuse]

DH will need to drive in some of the time (work vehicle needed overnight for on call) but is also considering bike/walk when possible depending where we are/time of year/weather.

He's quite keen on Torrance but we'll have a look around in February half term and have a better idea by then.

My career plans are flexible/on hold but until the kids have spent some time sharing germs in the new area! Even after a year in nursery my 4yo has brought home all the germs last term!

[cazzyg]

The drive from Torrance is fine - DH drove that route in most days to avoid the M8. Occasionally the road was closed in winter but that’s only happened once or twice in 14 years. Cycling is definitely an option from there.

Yes there’s a 15 bus that stops on Switchback road but it’s only an hourly service and AFAIK that the only direct bus route between the Garscube campus and the main campus. It’s about a 20 minute walk from either station.

[Isawthathaggis]

As a Scot currently negotiating the primary school system in England I can echo the pp’s and tell you that there are huge cultural differences between the two countries attitudes to early education.

I was somewhat stunned to find English people gesturing towards their tiny children and declaring them ready for school. I put my foot in it many times .

I’d be careful if your thinking about Bishopbriggs as the high school shot way up in the league tables in the last few years. Apparently last year they accepted no placing requests at all.
Great train service but due to all the building of new houses if you’re not well in catchment you could find yourself being shifted out to another school.

Strathblane and Blanefield’s catchment is to Balfron high in Stirlingshire. It’s a great school. Their primary is a composite one which may not be to your taste.

[Shenanagins]

Anywhere from Lenzie/Kirkintilloch and along the valley, so including bishopbriggs, Torrance and lennoxtown are easy commuting distance to Garscube.

I think that when you are up in February you can familiarise yourself with these areas and then start to think of schools.

The primary schools in theses areas are mostly fine so you shouldn’t need to worry about catchment at the moment.

If your catchment school is full, and a lot are in those parts, then the council will place your child in another and ensure transport where necessary.

Where catchment starts to become a much bigger consideration is when it comes to secondary school, but you are a long way off from that!

[randomsabreuse]

What is Torrance like? Been following traffic on Google maps and looks like Lenzie is an awkward commute to Garscube (by car). Similar issues with Kilsyth. West Kirkintilloch looks fine for DH's commute, South Eastern side problematic queues at relevant time.

Obviously Bearsden, Milgnavie and Bishopsbrigg would be ideal but would need luck to get a suitable house in budget.

Don't really want to unsettle 4 yo with excessive school moves - she's not been great at listening and obeying instructions!

[Isawthathaggis]

Torrence is nice OP, couple of pubs, a school and a shop.
Have you also considered Milton of Campsie?
Or Lennoxtoun?
(There is a old saying that the Emergancy services live in Milton but work in Lennoxtoun. I’m not sure with all the new houses that’s been built.
We were a heartbeat away from buying a house in Lennoxtoun a few years ago, I like where is sits beneath the Campsies.)
We also almost bought in Strathblane. Would you re-consider it?
The Primary School is small with composite classes, but it’s rural and within easy reach of milngavie. It has just lost its pub but has a lovely community vibe.

Nothing on earth would make me move to Kirkintilloch- for one thing the public transport is awful. In order to leave by car you need to plow through traffic in Lenzie, or Bishopbriggs.

[PineappleDanish]

Lennoxtown/Milton of Campsie/Lenzie is a bit far out if the DH needs to be at the Switchback campus for the vet school quickly. Same with Killearn/Balfron.

Torrance is small, close to Bishopbriggs though and the catchment school from there is Boclair for high school.

[randomsabreuse]

Out of hours it's more a case of getting out to the client rather than in I think. Just morning commute into the office then out again for work. Trying to avoid disaster commute to Garscube but also allow a realistic, ideally public transport route into the city centre to maximise my employment options (working on the assumption city centre parking is £££ and in short supply).

I'd also rather DC aren't hopelessly bored once they get older.

DH likes the idea of being close to the Campsie Falls, I'm trying to be practical about stuff and take into account budget and possible commutes for me because I don't like being a SAHM.

[prettybird]

Torrance is not brilliant for public transport.

If you really don't think that the south side is accessible enough (and you really should come up here and try some of the commuting for yourself: what we think is "bad" or "a traffic jam" is piffling compared to what people down south endure), then if you're wanting easily accessible public transport, then you're pretty much confined to Bearsden, Milngavie, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie (all of which have decent train links as well as regular bus services).

[randomsabreuse]

@prettybird

Issue with Southside is that all the clients are planned to be out North and East and DH doesn't really fancy the extra 10 minutes or so at night/early hours of the morning. He might need to work out what to compromise on however...

DH has never lived in a proper city - while I spent 3 years in Birmingham and 2 in London and Bristol.

I'm happy to drive/cycle to public transport if parking is possible - ideally in the same direction as an eventual secondary school if driving. Or I could end up not needing to get "in" but around or out. It's all so up in the air and I want to plan but can't!!

[EL0ISE]

With all due respect to PrettyBird, if I worked in Garscube, Shawlands ( lovely though it is ! ) wouldn’t be my first choice of places to stay,

[Bartlet]

Agree with Eloise. There’s no way that I’d live on the south side and commute to Garscube unless I had an overwhelming reason to be there - free childcare, existing child’s school. It’s not worth the extra time and hassle.

The areas that you are looking at are sensible and should work for you all.

[randomsabreuse]

Having spent last week dodging weather and boring the pants off the DC we've settled on Kirkintilloch as best balance of budget/convenience...

Also had an adequate flat to rent - top floor, no lift but will do until we find something to buy.

School situation seems pretty sensible as they keep places for people moving into the area. Very refreshing after the English system!