Mumsnet style question - anyone from Falkirk here?

[IATM]

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.

[IATM]

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...........

[IATM]

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).

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; the other schools in and around the area are still very very good and I would be comfortable in any of them but those two are really an aim for my children BUT house prices reflect that too!