To want to move from Surrey to Chichester for a better life for my kids?

[Mixedupmind]

Having a debate with my husband and very confused
We currently live in Carshalton Surrey
We have 2 children, aged 3 and 4
I'm a stay at home mum and hes self employed, we privately rent our 2 bed terrace for £950.
Recently I've been thinking we should move out before they start school for a nice quiet little village lifestyle / school, we could afford a 3 bed house for what we pay now and the schools are smaller and obviously less crime / trouble
His concern is the opportunities are less, the secondary schools don't seem to achieve as much as London schools and he fears the kids will be coming back to London for work.
Can anyone offer any advice?
Tenancy ends in August and son needs to be in reception next September so really it's now or never.

[Beastofburden]

I grew up in Chichester and the schools were not wonderful. Looking at their website I don't think they are hugely better now. But there are other places with good schools outside London. Why chi specifically?

[Mixedupmind]

I have a brother who lives there, thought it would be nice ro have a connection but it's not hugely important.
Just Want somewhere nice with a village feel for the kids ro grow up in but obviously education is very important.

[ChippyMinton]

You are in one of the best boroughs for schools at the moment. It's a pretty good location, all in all. Where does your DH work?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Surreys the best place in the country to live - highest standard of living, longest life expectancy.

We're going to move there in a couple of years.

[Beastofburden]

Chi doesn't really have a village feel, its a small city- well, maybe it does if you live in London . If you really do have the pick of where you live, I'd be looking at places where they still have grammar schools, but where i might have some chance of buying my own home. Devon is good for that. Look at Teignmouth for instance. Chi is quite pricy and doesn't have grammar schools. But doesn't it depend a bit on where your OHs business needs to be?

Anyway, tis not now or never, your LO is only just starting in school. You could think about moving at secondary if you are not sure. One factor will be the opportunities for you, not now, but later, once all your DC are older and you may want to return to paid work.

A for DC needing to come back to London to work, that's mad frankly. Who knows what your DC will do when they are bigger.

[Mixedupmind]

Thanks for the comments
My husband works for SKY so will transfer wherever we live.
Sutton borough schools are excellent but very nearby croydon etc that's a worry to me
I don't know, I'm very confused
Where we are we will have very good primary schools very good secondary although these are more purley way ( catholic ) but I'm concerned with the actual area, sutton has gone downhill rapidly recently and I fear it won't be long before I'm worrying more so than I am now
Is an education more important than the surroundings you live in?

[RoganJosh]

Have you any other family ties? If you can choose the whole country it doesn't sound like Chichester is the best choice. It's still relatively expensive and if school aren't great then it doesn't feel like you'd be gaining as much as you could?

[SavoyCabbage]

I did supply teaching in Chichester and there are some not brilliant schools, as there are everywhere. I really think it depends almost entirely on the head and the teachers.

I pulled my dd out of an 'outstanding' and very middle class and over subscribed primary after half a term as it was apparent that they relied almost entirely on the parents and the fact that the children were starting off from quite a good point. They all knew nursery rhymes and the days of the week etc. Every one was doing their home reading.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Jadedangel -yes that living longest isn't the number one priority for everyone?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

How about Horsham?

[Legologgo]

The main state secondary hS some kind of church going requirement.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Um, I think that worrying about where your children are going to work is a bit daft. Surely it depends what they want to do, they could end up working anywhere in the world.

[Mixedupmind]

Thanks again
I agree I'm worrying for the future more than I should be as where I am 5 years ago was lovely compared to now
So I'm second guessing
When I imagine a nice life for the kids it's a nice village area with a small school

[slightlyconfused85]

I went to secondary school in Chichester, the school was good but I didn't really like being a teenager there - it's not a desperately open minded place, and everyone knows everyone even though it is fairly big. I'd rather be in Surrey! Was glad to move away from Chichester as a young adult and wouldn't rush back.

[RedFocus]

I was born and raised in Surrey and life was pretty amazing growing up there. I really wish I hasn't left but my ex dh was in the forces. I am now in Hampshire and it's pretty lovely here too but I would still like to get back to Surrey at some point although it'll probably be when the kids have left school as they are very happy where they are and are doing amazing. Of course if I was offered a house in Surrey I would jump at the chance!

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I've lived inChichester for 27 years now. If you gave any questions , ask away.

[Mixedupmind]

I'm in Carshalton, not really the deep suburbs of Surrey
To the above poster who has lived there for so long, did you have children growing up there?

[WyrdByrd]

I was born in darkest East Croydon - raised on the south coast not a million miles from Chi.

It's a nice place to grow up, but swings and roundabouts tbh.

I love London & would have had a much easier entry to my chosen career had we still been based in EC.

My parents were buying their home too - a double fronted Victorian job - which is now worth around 40x what they paid for it.

In all honesty I frequently wonder what they were thinking, and my Dad has always regretted the move as it would have been much easier to retain closer relationships with his siblings and my cousins had we stayed put.

I'm not saying don't move - there's a lot to recommend small town living - but don't discount your DHs pov either, even if his concerns are a long way off.

FWIW, my mum also picked our location because her brother was in the area - he moved away within a year of us relocating!

[specialsubject]

worrying about where children who are currently toddlers will go to work seems a little bit heavy on the forward planning. Also there are jobs in places other than London, y'know.

[Wherediparkmybroom]

I live just outside of Chichester, think very carefully it is very expensive to live the schools are not all that, travel is expensive, it is extreamley insular to outsiders and especially in the villages the winters are harsh!
by all means consider it but not until you have visited in feburary

[Meerkatwhiskers]

But you live in carshalton. You aren't in a bad area and it's really not likely to be. It's a lovely part. Croydon has it's crappy parts but it has it's good parts too like any town. Sutton has gone downhill I agree. From what I know of the schools in the area the schools in both sutton and the catholic schools in purley are excellent with fantastic reputations. I wouldn't move out of there for Chichester tbh. I didn't think it was that cheap to live either. Sussex isn't that cheap a county.

I live on the surrey Sussex border (near Horsham) and you won't find a 3 bed house to rent for similar to what you are paying here. I pay the same for a 2 bed terraced. My town is actually one of the cheapest in the area as it's one of the least popular. You can get 3 beds in our town for that price but they are in crap areas.

Remember that Chichester is a university town too. Another thing to consider as there may be student neighbours.

[KiaOraOAotearoa]

Chichester is THE most expensive town in England [[http://m.chichester.co.uk/news/local/chichester-most-expensive-place-for-homeowners-1-5380494 see here]]

It is quite traditional and conservative in its ways.
:)