Mumsnet style question - anyone from Falkirk here?
Discussion
I have only been to falkirk a few times but I am tempted to move there, The value for money for houses is excellent compared to many places. I even like the area and generally looks like a very nice place to be.
A big bonus from my point of view is its equal distance between GLasgow and Edinburgh.
My main concern is the schools, looking at the league tables (which I know is a narrow view) they are not all that great in performance.
Can anyone with youngish familes shed some light of the key desirable areas, schools etc etc.
A big bonus from my point of view is its equal distance between GLasgow and Edinburgh.
My main concern is the schools, looking at the league tables (which I know is a narrow view) they are not all that great in performance.
Can anyone with youngish familes shed some light of the key desirable areas, schools etc etc.
I grew up there (polmont to be exact) and left to live and work in Glasgow about 6 years ago.
I'm 28 now and I am starting to go through a phase of missing the place and I now realize how good a childhood I had there (quiet, safe, pretty much zero crime, lots of countryside and the primary school and high school I went to was good at least when I was there).
You're right about the location, it's only about 20 mins on the express train to Glasgow and Edinburgh so as a commuter town it's excellent and the motorway is right next to it.
The reason I left is because of the lack of decent jobs (it's more a suburban town that everyone commutes to the city from anyway) and a desire to live in the "big city" although after being here a few years and experiencing a higher crime rate, increased traffic and just general annoying people I do miss the quiet "country" life.
My parents still live there so I visit them at least once a fortnight and always appreciate how peaceful the place is although there is alot of house building going on at the moment as people are realizing the benefits of the place.
I'm 28 now and I am starting to go through a phase of missing the place and I now realize how good a childhood I had there (quiet, safe, pretty much zero crime, lots of countryside and the primary school and high school I went to was good at least when I was there).
You're right about the location, it's only about 20 mins on the express train to Glasgow and Edinburgh so as a commuter town it's excellent and the motorway is right next to it.
The reason I left is because of the lack of decent jobs (it's more a suburban town that everyone commutes to the city from anyway) and a desire to live in the "big city" although after being here a few years and experiencing a higher crime rate, increased traffic and just general annoying people I do miss the quiet "country" life.
My parents still live there so I visit them at least once a fortnight and always appreciate how peaceful the place is although there is alot of house building going on at the moment as people are realizing the benefits of the place.
Hi Orchid1,
Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
IATM said:
Hi Orchid1,
Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
Newton Mearns, Giffnock and Thorntonhall are lovely areas and I would live in any of those places if I could but not as accessible by public transport as you would think but definitely a good compromise. Williamwood high school is in that neck of the woods I think and last I heard it was one of the best in the UK and it's free (as far as I know).Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
Orchid1 said:
IATM said:
Hi Orchid1,
Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
Newton Mearns, Giffnock and Thorntonhall are lovely areas and I would live in any of those places if I could but not as accessible by public transport as you would think but definitely a good compromise. Williamwood high school is in that neck of the woods I think and last I heard it was one of the best in the UK and it's free (as far as I know).Your comments are very interesting and its the impression I get of the general area.
I tend to hate being near/in the city. I think being 15/20 minutes out is always ideal as you have quick access if you need it and going "home" feels like a different place so it really works.
I have very much noticed myself that there is alot of building going on in and around falkirk and its not "box houses" as I call them its actually realy nice, spacious luxurious houses which are not cheap but excellent value for money. It is a big attraction for me, I dont like the idea of spending 300-400K+ on a house that is a compromise.
Schooling is really my only issue. I know a lovely poster above has posted me a school with 10K fees per year and I think this is the trouble I am having in terms of house values vs paying for education.
The likes of Newton Mearns/thorntonhall is another area I am looking at where the schools by all accounts are some of the best you can get, they are public schools so free. The amount of fees you would spend over the education life of a child can be 150k plus...........
Orchid1 said:
I grew up there (polmont to be exact) and left to live and work in Glasgow about 6 years ago.
I'm 28 now and I am starting to go through a phase of missing the place and I now realize how good a childhood I had there (quiet, safe, pretty much zero crime, lots of countryside and the primary school and high school I went to was good at least when I was there).
You're right about the location, it's only about 20 mins on the express train to Glasgow and Edinburgh so as a commuter town it's excellent and the motorway is right next to it.
The reason I left is because of the lack of decent jobs (it's more a suburban town that everyone commutes to the city from anyway) and a desire to live in the "big city" although after being here a few years and experiencing a higher crime rate, increased traffic and just general annoying people I do miss the quiet "country" life.
My parents still live there so I visit them at least once a fortnight and always appreciate how peaceful the place is although there is alot of house building going on at the moment as people are realizing the benefits of the place.
I moved to Polmont for a number of reasons a few years ago having spent all my life in Edinburgh and it is the best thing I ever did. Two mins from the train station means home from Haymarket in little over 20 mins. Only downside is a 2330 curfew for the last train but it does mean less hangovers. I'm 28 now and I am starting to go through a phase of missing the place and I now realize how good a childhood I had there (quiet, safe, pretty much zero crime, lots of countryside and the primary school and high school I went to was good at least when I was there).
You're right about the location, it's only about 20 mins on the express train to Glasgow and Edinburgh so as a commuter town it's excellent and the motorway is right next to it.
The reason I left is because of the lack of decent jobs (it's more a suburban town that everyone commutes to the city from anyway) and a desire to live in the "big city" although after being here a few years and experiencing a higher crime rate, increased traffic and just general annoying people I do miss the quiet "country" life.
My parents still live there so I visit them at least once a fortnight and always appreciate how peaceful the place is although there is alot of house building going on at the moment as people are realizing the benefits of the place.
Sorry, I cannot help with the schools but it is a great place to live, my neighbours are fantastic, everyone seems really friendly, and bang for your buck property wise is fab. Just don't tell anyone...........
P
Lived in Falkirk area since I was about 3 years old. Apart from a couple of years in Aberdeen about 5 years ago.
Polmont is a nice place to stay. The station is on the main line so you get both trains from stirling and glasgow to edinburgh. Braes high school isn't that bad. You could try St Mungos which was a good school but then everyone tried and its went down hill. If you want to go private, Beaconhurst in Birdge of Allan is worth a look.
I went to school in Grangemouth. I turned out alright. The schools will help children that will put the effort in. The child just needs the backing from the parents aswell to push.
Another placed to look to is Larbert. Nice new houses and a decent schools around.
Polmont is a nice place to stay. The station is on the main line so you get both trains from stirling and glasgow to edinburgh. Braes high school isn't that bad. You could try St Mungos which was a good school but then everyone tried and its went down hill. If you want to go private, Beaconhurst in Birdge of Allan is worth a look.
I went to school in Grangemouth. I turned out alright. The schools will help children that will put the effort in. The child just needs the backing from the parents aswell to push.
Another placed to look to is Larbert. Nice new houses and a decent schools around.
Edited by Robert Burns on Tuesday 10th May 14:19
I honestly can't believe that no one has mentioned the half hour drive to some of the best roads the UK has to offer??
Falkirk's great, it has it's s
t areas like everywhere else but there's some lovely properties to the south of the town near the High Station, also well catered for day to day shopping.
Couple of brilliant, 'real' pubs in the town as well as an increasing amount of decent places to eat out.
There seems to be plenty well adjusted children being produced from the local high school, a few numpties as well obviously, but to me a child will take what they want to out of school, regardless of league tables.
Falkirk's great, it has it's s
t areas like everywhere else but there's some lovely properties to the south of the town near the High Station, also well catered for day to day shopping.Couple of brilliant, 'real' pubs in the town as well as an increasing amount of decent places to eat out.
There seems to be plenty well adjusted children being produced from the local high school, a few numpties as well obviously, but to me a child will take what they want to out of school, regardless of league tables.
I've been in Falkirk my entire life (altough I'm only 26 so not that long)
Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
Used to live in Falkirk up near Falkirk High Station and had friends in Polmont. Had a good time in both. Quite a few people round our way worked in Grangemouth, but there were also some big houses for the doctors / consultants at the hospital. Been over a decade since I lived there now so doubt it has stayed as I remember it.
While crime rates in Polmont may be classed as low, bear in mind that some 'residents' aren't that way inclined.... http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Prisons/Polmont/HM...
While crime rates in Polmont may be classed as low, bear in mind that some 'residents' aren't that way inclined.... http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Prisons/Polmont/HM...
i lived in grangemouth and went to grangemouth high as a kid. i work in grangemouth but about 2 years ago i moved out to linlithgow with my girlfriend who was at edinburgh uni. we will be moving back to the falkirk area in the next 6 - 12 months once my girlfriend gets a job (shes just finished uni). she will most likely end up in edinburgh or glasgow so the falkirk area is an ideal commuter town. some of the houses you can buy in any of the surrounding areas (bonnybridge, denny, grangemouth, falkirk, larbert etc) can be amazing value for money, and you can live right in the heart of it in falkirk or you could find a place a mile or so out of town and have masive gardens!
as for schools, as people say, kids will take out of it what they see fit. league tables arent much to go on i would say. grangemouth high isnt particularly great on paper but alot of guys and girls i went to school with have ended up in great jobs making a decent wage! grangemouth high is a relatively new school as well, having only been built around 7 years ago... the nursery and primary school are all on the same road as the high school too!
you wont be dissapointed moving out here thats for sure!
as for schools, as people say, kids will take out of it what they see fit. league tables arent much to go on i would say. grangemouth high isnt particularly great on paper but alot of guys and girls i went to school with have ended up in great jobs making a decent wage! grangemouth high is a relatively new school as well, having only been built around 7 years ago... the nursery and primary school are all on the same road as the high school too!
you wont be dissapointed moving out here thats for sure!
Plend said:
I've been in Falkirk my entire life (altough I'm only 26 so not that long)
Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
Never thought i would hear West Quarter primary being classes as good. Maybe for jeremy kyle perhaps.Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
MidnightXR6 said:
Plend said:
I've been in Falkirk my entire life (altough I'm only 26 so not that long)
Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
Never thought i would hear West Quarter primary being classes as good. Maybe for jeremy kyle perhaps.Schools around about aren't too bad but as said earlier it doesnt really matter what school they go to its how they apply themselves and that will be assisted by the teachers etc.
The 'best' schools are hard to get in to and there is a lot of new houses being built all around which wont help things. I believe the new houses in Larbert are now having to go to Denny High School as Larbert High is full.
I have friends with young kids looking at primary schools and I think he has said that Wallacestone and WestQuarter were two of the best in the district if that helps any
IATM said:
Orchid1 said:
Williamwood high school is in that neck of the woods I think and last I heard it was one of the best in the UK and it's free (as far as I know).
Yeah very much still seems to be at the top, That is a school of preference for me or st ninian's high school, They seem to be the cherry on top; My Mum and Dad both went when it was still called Eastwood. I went to it as Williamwood. And if I ever have children they'll most likely go to the Busby incarnation.
Outside East Ren but still free I think Gryffe was usually right up there. But none of these are near Falkirk...
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