Possible move to Glasgow, not a clue

[Year6dramallama]

Hello,

My DH and I are considering leaving London, where we've lived for over 20 years. Main drivers are cost of living and quality of life/work life balance. Ideally we'd buy somewhere cash, which would enable me to stop work or take a part time role. Our sons both have some additional needs and we're all struggling to manage at the moment with both working full time in very high pressured roles.

DH earns more than me, and his role has better benefits so would make sense for him to keep his job. He could enable a transfer to Glasgow very easily as his employer has a large office there. It could be a good move for his career, or at the least be low-risk to his job security. In terms of budget we could afford a property up to around 600k.

I know very little about Glasgow, but DH spent time there growing up as his mum grew up there until she was a teen, and there are still a few uncles and cousins around there.

Of course before making any decision we'd need to visit a few times and check it out, but I'd be interested to hear from people living in and around Glasgow, what are the pros and cons of living there, what is the lifestyle and culture like? How is it for primary and teenage kids? Especially those moving from England.

You wouldn’t need to live in the city, my mum lives in Strathaven in lanarkshire which is lovely, or eaglesham is also nice I’ve lived in Edinburgh but wouldn’t want to live in either big city with kids but there are some lovely areas around Glasgow with a short commute

600k you could get somewhere nice in catchment for a decent school. I grew up in Bearsden but I wouldn’t go back to live there now if you paid me. I think Giffnock area is way nicer, sadly I can’t afford to live there lol but I have family who do.

As for kids/teens…it’s fine? It’s not London but it’s got everything you’d expect from a biggish city. Not much more to add really!

I was going to suggest Bearsden or Milngavie.

Curious why @TooOldForThisNonsense would not recommend?

Jordanhill would also be a good option. Nice period houses for around the £600k mark and in Jordanhill school catchment.

Thanks both. Commute wise, Dh would probs still.WFH for 2-3 days per week. Ideally he'd not have to commute longer than an hour on days in the office. What is the public transport like? Also, completely separate issue, but is it likely my kids would be teased or bullied for having English accents? I moved from London to Cheshire when I was 8 and I got slaughtered for having a southern 'posh' accent, the memories still make me shudder. I guess I'm thinking being in a city might help as more people from different areas may be there?

i lived there until recently, it’s very rough with druggies everywhere

OK making notes, Jordanhill, Strathaven, Eaglesham. Do schools operate on catchment or furthest distance? And do you have a system like Ofsted to look at school reports? I'd want a school with good SEND for ADHD/autism (in a mainstream setting).

My daughter moved from London to Glasgow last year. She's really enjoyed the city, it certainly has a buzz and parts of it and the surrounding countryside are beautiful. However, the weather really has been a big shock and a negative factor and has made her decide not to make the move permanent.

Catchment apart from Jordanhill which is in a unique situation being central govt funded (historic - used to be for teacher training). You have to have lived in their catchment a long time usually for kids to get in - places offered in date order to when moved into catchment. I think it’s way too stressful to even consider!!
but the area is lovely.
Glasgow city council website has a map showing school catchments.
west end has lots of internaltionsl / European families due to the university. Southside around shawlands also lovely. For a more suburban /rural feel try east dun or east Renfrewshire. These are the most in demand areas considered to have best schools and house prices to match but you have a really high budget for Glasgow.

Catchment.

Generally the best schools are East Dunbartonshire (Bearsden / Boclair / Douglas Acadmey / Bishopbriggs / Lenzie) and East Renfrewshire (Mearns Castle / Williamwood / Gryffe). And Jordanhill.

They are most of the highest achieving state schools, however, in reality they are simply the schools within the most affluent catchments. They are suburban neighbourhoods generally, lots of families.

They are probably your best bets in terms of areas to live and school catchments, unless you want to go private.

If you go private, you could get a lovely property in the West End, and attend one of the private schools (Glasgow Academy / Kelvinside / Glasgow High). Fees would be in the region of £15k per year.

Although if you were keen to live in the West End, Hyndland and Hillhead are state schools are pretty good. The west end is great, more of a mixed demographic (ie not as many families / kids as the suburban neighbourhoods of East Ren and East Dunb. mentioned above).

reports are on education Scotland.
we don’t do official league tables but the newspapers make one up each year, you’ll find it online

Thank you all. I don't think we could afford private unless I kept my current job and that would slightly defeat the object. Also DS2 is struggling and would be very unlikely to get into a selective school.

Where abouts is his office and how is he planning to travel in? That will determine which part of Glasgow would be easier.

@Marchmount great point as often 'Glasgow' branches are not, in fact, based in Glasgow.

What are the rough areas to be aware of and avoid? We currently live in South East London in an ok ish area, but in London you are always cheek by jowl to rough bit. My boys go to a standard inner city comp so I'm not too worried but I'd like to avoid places where schools and surrounding areas are likely to have gang/drug related violence.

I just don’t like it any more really. Dull, soulless place that thinks it’s better than it is.

Milngavie isn’t quite as bad as Bearsden but the town centre is quite ugly

Office is in Tradeston

I think with £600k you can easily avoid the shithole areas. As for schools E Dun and E Rens big themselves up but my son has had stellar higher results in a school not in these areas.

I think Giffnock etc is a good suggestion then, Bearsden etc is further away and on the other side of the river

I might be wary of some of the schools mentioned with children with additional needs. Inclusive schools tend to be the ones that are less focused on results.

Yes, I would say this is a good point.

If he works in the big blue bank building in Tradeston he will be able to get in from most outskirt areas by bus or train. If you are spending £600k on a house then you will not be in a rough area per se. Jordanhill giffnock areas are good as other people have suggested. Also consider the southside like shawlands as this is a very diverse area so the English accent won't be a big deal. If you then find yourself in a position to send them to private then you have options there.

My Dad has an English accent and has lived in Scotland for 35 years and it never has been an issue for what it's worth.

A previous poster has said Glasgow is full of druggies. There are drug users in Glasgow but they don't hang about the streets where houses cost £600k.

I'm guessing DH works for Barclays? Tradeston doesn't have great public transport. You want to look at places on the train line into Glasgow Central if you're working south of the Clyde, unless.you are happy getting a bus or driving but parking in Tradeston is not easy. So probably East Renfrewshire (Clarkston, Giffnock, Newton Mearns) for the good schools or Southside (Shawlands, Newlands) but with a private school. Day schools are around £12000 per year per child and would be much smaller class sizes. The Curriculum for Excellence is a bag of shite imo and unless you're in a top 20 state school then you're taking your chances. There's no Ofsted but you can look up exam results and a quasi league table is piblished in the papers once a year.

East Dunbartonshire is an easier commute if you're working north/west/city centre as the trains go to Queen St station (which doesn't connect to the south of the city)

Just to add the bank building in Tradeston is a 10ish minute walk from Glasgow Central station so lots of options there.

Thanks @Washingandironing this is a very good point. I'm not so focused on a very academic school. DS1 started at secondary last year at a 'requires improvement' school with average results and very high levels of kids in poverty. He's doing well because he is naturally.academic and the school also is well set up to support him emotionally/socially, which is where he struggles. DS2 struggles academically and would do poorly at a school which was results focused.