Possible move to Glasgow from London

[banhmi]

Over two years ago, I started a thread in Property/DIY on whether to move to Leeds, Newcastle or Glasgow from London (Leeds, Newcastle or Glasgow? | Mumsnet). I received some really good advice and got most excited about the idea of a move to Glasgow. For various reasons, particularly a slow but steady increase in pressure to return to our offices, a move didn't happen and we were starting to resign ourselves to staying in London at least until the kids finished secondary school. However, I have just been offered a good job based in Glasgow (near the airport) and I need to decide whether to accept it in the next week or so. Argh! I'm negotiating on pay and we also need to decide whether we think DH will manage to get his work to agree to a remote contract. So not in the bag by any means.

In the meantime I'm not sure what I'm asking, really - some general words of encouragement about family life in Glasgow?! Because obviously I am now freaking out about throwing everything up in the air. And maybe some specific advice on potential areas and schools....

We'd be looking to rent, at least initially, possibly long-term (two years) if we decide to let our London house rather than sell up, to give ourselves a back-out plan if we need one. But the rental market looks a bit insane in Glasgow - worried we wouldn't find anything nice where we wanted. So maybe we would just decide to be brave and rent only as long as it takes us to sell up in London!

There was a lot of debate on the thread I started a while back about West End v East Renfrewshire/East Dunbartonshire, especially re schools. I think my instinct, coming from SE London, is still that we would feel most at home in the West End and like the idea of a good comprehensive with a broad socio-economic mix. We would have a very decent budget (£1m) if/when it came to buying thanks to a lucky buy in an up-and-coming area a decade ago, not sure about rental though. Where would people recommend? We live very near two good parks and a small high street with all the essentials in SE London, as well as good public transport so would be looking for as many of these things as possible.

Schools-wise, where would you recommend starting a search in the West End? Are local (state) primaries much of a muchness? Is it a nightmare to get in-year spaces? I don't even know what years my children would be going into - DS is 8 (born December 2015) so I think we'd have a choice (spaces dependant) about whether he went into a year full of mainly older children or mainly younger ones? DD is nearly 6 (born April 2018) so a bit more straightforward for her I think?

Both kids are bright, happy and settled and doing the usual roster of activities (DS - football, cubs, taekwondo; DD - dance, singing, gymnastics, they both do swimming and junior parkrun). Is it relatively easy to get new kids into activities and after-school care or are there masses of waiting lists etc? Are newcomers welcomed or will they find it difficult to fit in with their south London accents?! (they call everyone 'bro' at the moment....).

And when it came to secondaries, what are the main differences between Hyndland and Hillhead? (I think these are the two main state options that aren't Catholic?). And overall, how worried should I be about moving to the Scottish education system at seemingly not a great time: Scottish schools have tumbled from top of the class. This is what went wrong | Sonia Sodha | The Guardian Are there redeeming features compared to England?!

Sorry for the ramble, thanks so much for any advice!

Youd get a lot for £1 mill outside Glasgow. In fact you'd get a lot & a lot of change 😀

I stay in Renfrewshire & prefer it, having lived, in the city, but obviously that's just me.

Houston/Bridge of Weir are lovely. While they don't have the buzz of the city they're incredibly central

Glasgow Airport - 10 minutes
Glasgow City Centre - 25 mins
Loch Lomond - 40 mins
Ayrshire coast - 30 mins

The state schools here are excellent. Gryffe High is consistently high in the tables & has won numerous awards. The 2 primary schools are excellent too. Because its so central it's very popular & house prices reflect that but again because its central there are a number of not so local accents (I had one when we moved here) & it doesn't seem to be a problem

The school system here is different you get a space if you live in the catchment area.

Not sure about West End primary schools but Jordanhill High is again one of the top in the tables

The West End has 2 large parks, Victoria Park & Kelvingrove, and there's the art gallery museum & transport museum. There are a lot of independent shops & High St names so in those respects the West End probably is more like where you are. You will pay a premium for properties but you've got a very healthy budget.

Schools start mid August in Scotland, and the intake is for children who turn 4 by 29 February that same year. So, those whose birthdays are from 1 March to school starting date will be 5, the others will turn 5 during the course of primary 1. Only February birthdays can be deferred to the next year, a December birthday would not be considered. If joining this academic year, your DS would be in primary 4 and DD in primary 1.

I agree that the west end would suit you best.

I'd say Hyndland and hillhead are both very good options, so I'd just look at some properties and see where you prefer.

£1m would get you something beautiful in Kirklee, v close to Kelvinside academy, if you decided to go private.

But somewhere in Hyndland / Dowanhill would be lovely and very handy for Hyndland school.

I'll have a look for some links....

Jordanhill would be great - lovely houses and in the catchment for Jordanhill school which is top of the league tables.

Unfortunately not much on the market right now though.

Broomhill is also lovely.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145535069

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144935693

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145408667

Love all these, especially the first. I thought Jordan Hill was almost impossible to get into though unless you'd lived there since before your child was born etc? I'd completely discounted it on that basis.

For that money pay for private education. It's a lot cheaper in Glasgow than London. State primaries can be good but the state secondaries are much worse than the decent London ones.

Read the threads on curriculum for excellence. You wouldn't want to inflict that on your DCs when you have the money to opt out.

Yep. No chance of getting into Jordanhill. You move into catchment whilst still pregnant and get your partner to put their name on the waiting list before you get home from hospital. I knew someone who moved into catchment when their child was 14 months and everyone was shocked they got a place - it was a quiet year.

Thanks for the clarification re years, v useful. With the mid-August start, that must mean the autumn term is very long? Are there more breaks than in England?

Not ruling out private completely but would prefer to go state for a variety of reasons.

Only February birthdays can be deferred to the next year, a December birthday would not be considered.

You have always (since 1980) been able to defer any child turning 5 after the school commencement date in August - so been able to defer children with late August/September/October/November/December/January and February birthdays. Until recently you would only have got funding for an extra year of preschool and space in a council nursery for February and January, and exceptionally December, birthdays. This changed in the last couple of years and now anyone entitled to defer (late August onwards) can get funding and a space.

If you join after the start of school you would probably find it difficult to place them in a lower year (effectively defer) though. Deferred children can still leave school at the same age they would have been able to if not deferred.

It is long I guess but half term is earlier in October (just a week in Glasgow, some areas get 2 weeks) plus a long weekend in September.

The summer term is shorter, most of Scotland is aligned in having the first 2 weeks of April off for Easter holidays, then finish at the end of June for summer. Once in high school, the new school year (in terms of curriculum) starts at the beginning of June once exams have finished.

https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17024

I have no idea what the school terms are in England. If you search for the council area you’re thinking of moving to, it will give the term dates. Even neighbouring council areas here can differ by a couple of days.

When doing pay negotiations put your salary through a "take home pay" calculator as tax levels in Scotland are higher than in England and a new tax bracket for over £75000 a year of 45% is coming in too. With both of you moving to Scotland it would be worthwhile looking at.

Friends with kids at Hyndland and Hillhead and everyone is happy. They're both quite mixed demographics. I'd avoid Cleveden though. Also have friends with kids in all 3 private schools in the west end and similarly very happy. If I was moving from London I'd definitely go west end. Think it would feel much more like home than other areas mentioned. There are some gorgeous houses and for your budget you could get a cracker.

I'd also suggest hyndland based in what you've said. There are some stunning houses around hyndland, downhill and partick hill areas (although most properties are tenements), but they are very pricey, although with your budget that might work. Broomhill is a bit cheaper and i think should still be in catchment.

And agree on Jordanhill, it would be a miracle to get a child in if you moved into the area. It is hugely oversubscribed and uses an unusual list system for entry.

Other suggestions.. some parts of Southside perhaps, such as Strathbungo (quite trendy and up and coming), might be of interest, but I don't know what the schools are like in that area.

Thanks - I did like Strathbungo a lot on a previous visit, had a very SE London vibe!

Will check out Broomhill too.

Does anyone have any advice on West End primaries - are they all decent?

Thanks for the advice, this was interesting. Would be paying about £2.5k more tax per year in Scotland on target salary. Not averse to paying more tax if public services are better funded but that seems debatable?

www.mumsnet.com/talk/scotsnet/4723169-curriculum-for-excellence

Read this before you sign your DCs up for state education in Scotland

Just trying to get my head around this. So my 8 year old, who is currently in year 3 in England, would go into P4 if joining in this academic year. And then he would also finish school in Scotland a year ahead, thus essentially losing two years on the English system? Have I got that right? It seems quite a lot of education to lose...!

@banhmi re Jordanhill, I'm not sure, I moved away from Glasgow 10 years ago (although do still visit).

I know people whose kids got in no problem but I guess it just depends on the numbers that year.

If I were you, I'd go for Broomhill - nice residential area, more chance of getting a garden, could get a really nice big period property with your budget, and go for Broomhill primary and then Hyndland secondary.

In terms of West End primaries, I would go Hillhead, Hyndland or Broomhill over Anderston, Dunard or North Kelvinside.
In Scotland we have P1 instead of reception, so primary is P1-7, you don’t really skip a year. But you might be able to defer if their birthday pushes them into another year group between England and Scotland. The school should help advise.

Oh and there are no set (no min/max) rental terms in Scotland. You just sign a tenancy agreement and can give a month’s notice to terminate, much more flexible when relocating / buying than the English system.

You can’t get a school place until you have an address, but the schools can say whether there are spaces or not if you call them up - we moved when we knew space was available, and rented initially.

We love family life in Glasgow, also ex London!

English Year 3 = Scottish Primary 4 so the same year for your son.

English Reception Year = Scottish Primary 1, so your daughter who is currently in English Year 1 would go back a school year and be one of the oldest in the class.

Ah I see, thanks. It's a bit of a shame as they would probably suit the opposite situation - DD is exceeding expectations in all three assessed areas in her London primary, so might get a bit bored going down a year. She also tends to gravitate to older kids in the playground. Whereas DS, while perfectly capable, can lack confidence, so would worry a bit about him becoming one of the youngest! Lots to think about.