Moving from Southern England to Scottish Borders

[LouRock]

Hi, having read lots of helpful posts I’d like to ask your views on where to focus our house search for a move from southern England to the borders.
We’ve got two boys in what would be P5 and P7, the younger one very sporty and the older one quite techy and not sporty!
I’ve been considering Peebles, thinking it’s a lovely town with great countryside on your doorstep, a good school? Although the latest league table position wasn’t so great... Also reasonable access to Edinburgh. My husband would be working from home but I would need to find a job.
What is it like for clubs, activities for kids of high school age?
We are a very outdoorsy family, avid cyclists, hill walkers etc. and I’d love to find other likeminded families and feel part of the community.
Would my kids stick out as the English kids? What’s Peebles like for non-Scots? Hopefully I’m worrying unnecessarily!
Pre kids we lived in Edinburgh and visited the area loads but everything changes when you start looking at it as a potential home!

I’d love to hear your thoughts as everything is on hold here whilst we are unable to travel due to covid restrictions.
Thanks!

Peebles is lovely and very outdoorsy. I know the high school burnt down though, so I don't know if it's been rebuilt yet.
The high street is full of independent shops. I have a couple of friends who've moved there and seem very happy.

You’d love Peebles as cyclists. There’s a weeks long festival called Tweedlove with races and family events.

Primary schools (3) are all good. High school was badly damaged in a fire but the schools been very resilient and worked around it. Great community spirit too. The school will be rebuilt with a new purpose built building that will also be for community use.

Most young professionals commute to Edinburgh (or did pre-Covid. It takes about an hour door-to-door but it’s an easy and pleasant drive.

There are plenty of other English kids (and French, Spanish, Polish, Italian).

There are dozens and dozens of clubs, mostly focussed around the schools. Kids could do 2-3 different things after school each day if they wanted to.

Really appreciate these replies, thank you - sounds very positive!

No problem . Happy to provide any more info, or PM me if you prefer.

Peebles is fab, I have friends and family there who love it.

The high school burnt down last year, that with Covid on top has meant a very disrupted year for students, however that's not something that anyone can have foreseen. I believe it's generally a good school and was 20th in the league table for the whole country last year. (You may not be aware of this but the only factor Scottish schools 'rank' on is exam passes so it's a fairly blunt instrument).

The one thing I would say though is that I'd hate to commute to Edinburgh for work. Plenty of people do, but I imagine it would be a serious ball ache.

Thank you so much @LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett, I’m still getting my head around the differences in the school systems! Great to have some reassurance that it would be a good place to be, thank you.

Peebles sounds perfect for you. My DC are at school in Peebles. Both of the large primaries are good, as is the high school.

Glentress is on your doorstep for mountain biking. Plenty of hills to walk up. Loads of out of school activities for all different interests.

You also wouldn't stick out being English in Peebles, Plenty of children with English accents around here.