Advice on moving within Scotland

[Sherrypie]

Hi- I’m in the process of moving from Fife and have got 3 teenagers. I have been looking at the East Kilbride, Cumbernauld areas. We are an African family and are looking to settle down in an area where bullying is not predominant and education is great ( for the kids). Where we can find Catholic schools. I and my husband both work from home and so are quite flexible. Can someone please point us in the right directions? Or suggest safe areas? We have seen some affordable homes in StoneHouse but would like a second opinion. Thank you in advance

Have you considered Newton Mearns area? Or elsewhere in East Ren?

I don't know about the areas you have mentioned to. But we live in NE Fife and very happy here. Is it definitely a move out with Fife you seek?

Lenzie/ Kirkintilloch areas have good Catholic schools. www.st-ninians.e-dunbarton.sch.uk/
I personally don’t like Cumbernauld , but not for any clear reason.
Its very easy to get to either Edinburgh or Glasgow from Lenzie

you'll generally find more catholic schools in the west coast. difficult to measure bullying if you are a black african family - my mixed-race kids have had very little overt bullying at school but my son in particular has had to deal with quite a bit of "othering" in terms of his hair (kids touching it, coming up to comment on it, etc). so if that kind of thing would bother you/your kids then you would probably be better to look more into Glasgow where there will be greater ethnic diversity.

we are looking at new builds and they are quite expensive in that area but will look again

It’s a move out of Fife

Thanks 🙏🏽, will take a look at those areas

Thanks for the advice

Why not much more north? Inverness or Dundee?

we are looking at new homes, Newtons Mearns/ East ren’s quite expensive. But will look again and probably reduce the number of bedrooms- thanks so much

Ds really noticed, when he moved rugby clubs for a while ("his" local club didn't have a team at god age group) to Allan Glen's (Kirkintilloch) that the team (and the local feeder schools) was much less diverse than he was used to (inner city rugby club).

Having said that, his secondary school (Shawlands Academy) was/is one of the most ethnically diverse schools in the whole country, so that wasn't difficult

There are a lot of new build homes being put up near Silverburn and there's a catholic school (St Paul's?) just over the road, so is it worth looking there?

Have you thought of Aberdeen? There's a RC primary school and quite a diverse ethnic makeup in both schools and church. Because of the connections with Oil and Gas, the city has a good mix of Nigerian and other ethnic minority professionals. Westhill, in Aberdeenshire, has a good Secondary School and a history of many different nationalities living there. If you're interested in public school, there's Robert Gordon's, St Margaret and Albyn in Aberdeen and the state Grammar School is also very high performing.

Sorry, just noticed that you said your dc are teenagers.

Cumbernauld has its issues.
If you do look there I’d look mostly north of the M80 - Balloch, Eastfield, Westfield, Smithstone. Maybe even Condorrat on the outskirts.
Avoid North Carbrain, South Carbrain, parts of Kildrum and Abronhill.

There are two catholic secondary schools - Our Lady’s and St Maurices. The latter has good sport facilities. OL is a building that is showing it’s age now.

Thanks so much for this. Never thought of Dundee, will take a look at it

Thanks a lot for this- you make a good point with Aberdeen. It’s also very diverse

Agree with all of this. I live nearby, on the Balloch/Smithstone end of Cumbernauld. Here it’s very quiet, handy for the train, no trouble really. I read on FB groups about some of the goings on in Carbrain/around the town centre of Cumbernauld, and I’d avoid it if at all possible.

DS goes to St Maurice’s, it’s a good school with nice teachers. He hasn’t had any trouble.

Think that’s a bit unfair on AG’s to be honest Prettybird, would say Bishopbriggs (not Kirkintilloch) where they’re based is more ethnically diverse than most places in Scotland and those kids are fairly represented in the youth set up.

I’ve been involved in Rugby for a long time and really the only club I know of in the west that has a diverse membership at first team level is GHA, but again to be fair it’s only them, Cartha, Whitecraigs and West that are based in areas that have a sizeable diverse population.

Think that’s a bit unfair on AG’s to be honest Prettybird, would say Bishopbriggs (not Kirkintilloch) where they’re based is more ethnically diverse than most places in Scotland and those kids are fairly represented in the youth set up.

I’ve been involved in Rugby for a long time and really the only club I know of in the west that has a diverse membership at first team level is GHA, but again to be fair it’s only them, Cartha, Whitecraigs and West that are based in areas that have a sizeable diverse population.

I'd agree with Prettybird. Bishopbriggs is much less diverse.

I wasn't having a pop at AGs @Meeplemakeglasgow - ds really enjoyed his time there and it's a great club - I was making more an observation on the demographic it serves, which was relèvent to the discussion.

As an Aberdonian I wouldn’t say the city is particularly diverse…

There is an African community in Dundee. Some good schooling, many Catholic churches and excellent transport links for other major cities. Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and Invergowrie are lovely! As is around Ninewells. The city is hugely up and coming and I work with many Nigerian and South Africans who love the area.

St Francis RC church in Aberdeen has a very diverse congregation.