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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Advice on moving to Aberdeen with child and dog for NHS role after HE redundancy

37 replies

BrickSquid · 14/06/2026 23:56

Hi all,
Looking for some advice. Recently I've been made redundant and jobs in universities are few and far between. So far I've managed to interview for 1 role (didn't get selected) near Glasgow, turned down for another pre interview but I've landed a third application and have the interview next week. The role is in Aberdeen, with the NHS. Fixed term for 2 years but theres the opportunity to extend maybe and/or just gain some clinical experience whilst universities are rocky and at least this time I'd hope for some security for a couple of years at least instead of the redundancy hit I had here.

I've never visited Aberdeen. I'm looking to move from the East Midlands. I'm a single mum DS is 9. Though I have a mortgage here I'll likely do consent to let whilst we settle and/or consider selling there after or moving back after 2 years if the job thing or scotland doesnt work out. Ngl, despite this being my dream to head to Scotland I'm now a little nervous.

I dont have family where I am now. I moved here for a job. Just my ex lives local and occasionally helps with kiddo (note not his dad and the word occasional). My boyfriend is in Edinburgh so would be somewhat closer by to help if needed. I do have health issues but very much a lone parent. Oh and we have a dog.

Looking for advice on Aberdeen! Anywhere I should avoid? Best places to live? Good primary and secondary schools (i think DS would be going to p6)? Areas to find others and build a network etc? I'd need to be close to the hospital where I could either cycle in and/or walk and/or have good transport. I'd be looking to rent, possibly might need to buy cheap if renting with doggo would be an issue. It's only an interview next week but theres two positions open and they're interviewing 3 people and in my specialism so I think I'm in with a good shot and could be a great role career wise but I'm really just wanting to make sure I'm also doing what's right for my DS and dog too.

OP posts:
Usedtohelp · 16/06/2026 00:34

The Grammar School is a comprehensive by the way.

Usedtohelp · 16/06/2026 00:37

Look at ASPC website for properties to rent and buy.

differentnameforthisthread · 16/06/2026 08:57

BrickSquid · 15/06/2026 22:37

Thank you, this is so helpful and thank you for the link. I did look at Mile End but worried about the lack of mention of wraparound care (as a single mum I rely on this a lot). Thank you as well for the mention of the people, I've heard mixed reviews so its glad to know others have managed to find a place and feel settled here.

There is wraparound care but it's off site. This is the one our friends use - Home - Scamps Childcare But like the school places, wraparound care places can be hard to get unfortunately. Provision doesn't seem as good as England (just going by what my friends in England say about what's available for their kids' schools).

Home - Scamps Childcare

Scamps Childcare has been the first choice for parents looking for quality childcare in the heart of Aberdeen’s West End since 1988.

https://scampschildcare.com/

RosyFlora · 16/06/2026 11:21

Aberdeenshire is really beautiful and Aberdeen City has a lot going for it. Good areas for renting which have good schools nearby are Airyhall/Countesswells, Midstocket/Mile-End, Rosemount ( good shops but mostly flats) Broomhill, Mannofield.
Thr midstocket area has a lot of rentals where NHS live

RosyFlora · 16/06/2026 11:32

To continue, I agree with previous posters about areas to avoid and would add Middlefield/Smithfield/Tillydrone/Powis to the list. Keep clear.
Some parts of Cornhill might be ok.
Hazelhead Academy and the Grammar for Secondary.
Further out Westhill and Cults are pleasant but are a shortish drive into town which is very congested at peak times.
Good transport links either buses and trains. City parking is expensive. Parking at ARI has improved and I think it is free now..
Aberdeen is a main line station with regular LNER and Scotrail trains. Parking at Stonehaven Station is free though usually busy and often quicker to access than Aberdeen Station where parking is costly- all city parking is steep.
You will be in an area that is beautiful with rivers mountains and beaches.. Visit Banchory and Ballater on North Deeside. Stonehaven and St Cyrus beach are gems too. Shopping has diminished with the removal of John Lewis but ok otherwise.
Good luck either way it all!

Stillreadingalot · 18/06/2026 10:21

If you wanted to consider south of the City then as pp has said Stonehaven is on the train line and has decent schools but I'd suggest Portlethen as also regular trains into the city but possibly cheaper for property.

Usedtohelp · 18/06/2026 11:56

If you don't drive, living a walk/cycle distance from the hospital would be best. Not sure that many trains actually stop at Portlethen Station but you can get fast trains down to London from Stonehaven. The train station in Aberdeen is not that close to the hospital so consult Google Maps for times and distances before deciding where to rent.

msmolli · 18/06/2026 13:26

I see you want a house OP. Won't get a house in Rosemount for a decent amoount of cash (actually don't know what your budget is) but here's an example of a house in an ok area for a decent price https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/442581/8-Fernielea-Road/Aberdeen/ Not city centre but between Woodend Hospital and ARI. Walkable to both. Decent schools round about. This is an ex council house estate but in a nice area and near to green spaces.

8 Fernielea Road, Aberdeen

8 Fernielea Road, Aberdeen. 2 Bedroom Property For Sale In Aberdeen With ASPC

https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/442581/8-Fernielea-Road/Aberdeen/

ChapmanFarm · 18/06/2026 23:07

Aberdeen will be great with a child that age. Plenty going on and lots of green space.

If you don't drive, you probably want to be fairly close to the hospital as public transport isn't as linked up as other cities.

But it's also a very small city and even within not great areas there are nice bits. For example Old Aberdeen where the university is located is beautiful but it's right by Seaton which is not so good (but Seaton park is great). Schools like St Peters are very international as a result of the proximity to uni.

Rosemount or Westburn are good and you could walk to work.

Property is very reasonable at the moment.

Your son won't struggle coming into the Scottish system but you may have more issues if he has to go back to England as he could be going into year 8 when he hasn't done a secondary transition. When is his birthday?

That said, you might like it and not want to leave..

ChapmanFarm · 18/06/2026 23:15

Also don't be too quick to rule out flats. They are quite different to England (obviously not all) but there are many that would come with your own garden and front door and leasehold doesn't exist in the same way.

Issy422 · 19/06/2026 00:13

I'm a lone parent who moved from East Midlands to Scotland too. Can't help with Aberdeen as I'm still very far from there (though DD is off to uni in 12 months and may end up there so I'm taking in the advice), but I might be able to help with school differences as I found it hard to find that information.

Primary is pretty similar. It's P1 to P7 instead of R to Y6, so generally you just add a number to the English year. So P6 in Scotland is Year 5 in England. However, the dates that determine when you start are different. Generally, if you're born between September and February, you would be in the same year. If born between March and August you would start school a year later. It's also easier and more common to defer start by a year here. There's no Y6-style SATs week and instead kids just get asked to 'do a quiz' on the computer for the primary assessments (P1, P4, P7) with none of the excessive stress put on kids to do well. There's also very little homework in primary (or S1-S3). Finally, Scotland didn't have the Gove reforms so they didn't get that huge change of former ks3 content moving into ks2 around 2014. In my view a good thing, given that kids were expected to study a curriculum beyond expected child development capability.

Secondary is very different to England. A couple of years away for your DS, but I'll mention it anyway as my DD joined P4, but she was in S2 before I twigged that there is a year less secondary than in England. The September to February born children leave school a year earlier and the March to August children are the same age at leaving as they would be in England (as they went to school a year later).

Secondary years are S1 to S6, but S6 is one year, not a lower sixth and then upper sixth year or years 12 & 13 like England. In S2, kids choose their options for S3, so one year less of a broader curriculum. Some schools narrow right down and do the same number of subjects in S3 and S4, others keep things a little broader in S3 and drop another 1-2 subjects for S4.

S4 is the year kids take either National 4 (non-exam) or National 5 (exam). National 5s are GCSE equivalent, but because they are one year courses (in theory - some schools start them early) the curriculum is narrower and generally fewer subjects are done. There's only one English exam, not separate language and literature qualifications, but there are 2 maths qualifications, meant to be either Maths or Apps of Maths, but many students take both.

Kids can leave school in S4 if they are 16, but have to stay on to at least Christmas in S5 if not.

S5 is usually 5 subjects, either Highers or National 5s. Highers are sort of AS level, but as significant as A level, as kids can go straight to university after S5, but most now do S6. S6 is 3 to 5 subjects and can be National 5s, Highers or Advanced Highers or a mix of all 3. Many schools don't offer many AHs, so Highers are the key exam for most university courses. It's common for kids to get unconditional uni offers based on S5 results if they do S6.

So you'll be fine to stay for 2 years with a 9 year old, but if you stay longer, from S3 it would be harder to move back to England until the end of secondary school.

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