Moving to Hove...or Brighton

[hibiscus11]

Hi, I would like to move to Hove or Brighton next Summer. My kids will be in primary school but I'm keen to live in an area with good secondary schools as one will be starting secondary in 2019.
I would be grateful for advice on areas to live (and avoid) and secondary schools. I may also need to commute to London from time to time. My budget will be 600-700k.
Thanks in advance!

[SillyYak]

How many beds do you need? Fiveways (known to estate agents as the Golden Triangle) is well located for Dorothy Stringer and Varndean, but you'll only get a 3-4 bed on that budget. You'll want to check out the council's proposals for a lottery system for secondary schools here, as it may affect 2019 entries (my dd's only just started primary, so I'm not au fait with the details, but I know it's got a lot of parents who paid $$$ to live near a naice secondary fairly exercised).

[hibiscus11]

Thanks - I will be looking for ideally a 4 bed but I could settle for 3. The proposals, or decisions, seems to be delayed, from what I read, as a new Secondary school is due to open in Sep 2018. I thought there was currently a lottery but I am a bit confused!

[SillyYak]

Sorry I couldn't be more help on the secondary situation-and good luck!

[fridgeovertroubledwater]

Hi - just to clarify things a bit about secondary school admissions in Brighton:

yes the 'lottery' is already part of the admissions process. All Brighton & Hove schools have a specified catchment and the 'lottery' is used for oversubscribed schools instead of distance (due to the fact that secondary schools are not fairly distributed within the city). This affects the Hove Park/Blatchington Mill and Varndean/Dorothy Stringer catchments).

As V/DS continue to be oversubscribed while other schools in the city are not full, the council proposed significantly changing the catchments for 2018 admissions, which would include the proposed new free school. However, due to significant delays in setting up the free school (surprise surprise!), those changes were shelved.

However, there are currently proposals to adjust the current catchments temporarily (for 2019 and 2020 intakes I think) to address the issues while we wait for the new school. This would affect your DC so you should take a look at the proposals in case it affects where you choose to buy - www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/new-proposals-secondary-school-catchment-areas-september-2019 . It could actually make things easier for you to get a place at V/DS if that's where you end up.

[Flitter123]

Just to follow on from what fridge ( rightly) said above, if the proposals pass this will probably benefit you. On the other hand if they don't you could end up in catchment with too many children for the number of places available. You then would be at risk at being placed at whatever school they can find a place at. If you could rent/ hang on for a few months to see what happens that might be less risky. On the plus side I'm pretty sure you would find somewhere for your budget, it's not that expensive.

[CountTessa]

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/consultation-proposed-secondary-and-primary-school-admissions-changes

Update on new consultations re schools.

[Flitter123]

I think they're voting on it early next year.

[DiscoDeviant]

I moved to Patcham Old Village from Westdene, last year. My eldest son started Patcham High School in September. He absolutely loves it and I've been so impressed so far, they have a very strong community and pastoral care side. It used to have a bad reputation about 10 years ago but they bought in a super head who turned it round. She left at the end of the last school year and the deputy head has taken over and he's brilliant too. I bought a 4 bed detached house on a corner plot which cost around your top budget. I love it here. I've lived in town for 5 years, then Westdene for 10 and this is definitely my favourite area. It's got a great community and local shops/pubs/restaurants.

In general though, the schools in Brighton and Hove are pretty good compared to a lot of places. My sons friends from Westdene primary have scattered between the 6 Brighton and Hove high schools and they have all settled well and are enjoying it.

[hibiscus11]

Thanks for all the great advice and thanks for bringing my attention to Patcham. I'll definitely be looking into this area further,

[JosieJasper]

My money would go to the New Church Road area of Hove. Lots of lovely houses and a choice of 5 secondary schools. Great to get to beach, shops, cafes, restaurants etc and easy to get into Brighton. I'm Hove born and bred so obviously I think it's the best part of our fabulous city 😉 Good luck with it all wherever you decide to settle.