live in London /2primary kids/ job advert in Kent - shall I apply?

[worriednow1]

The job advert is a promotion for me + opportunity for kids to be in a local prep school with the discount. BUT it is a completely different pace of life in Kent. Is it a big disadvantage to move out of London to Kent? Kids pobably have more opportunities with London? If I change jobs here is a list of cons PROS:1.job satisfaction ( promotion), 2.kids in a prep school/ feeds into local grammar school at secondary level CONS 1.no parent support, 2.my hb needs to change jobs ( not a high earner £20,00+), 3. my child goes to gymnastics now but in a new job area - not many possibilities for gymnastics, 4.far from London ( 2 hours drive) 5.need to change house.
How woudl you weigh up these points please?

live in London /2primary kids/ job advert in Kent - shall I apply?

[Bonsoir]

There are areas of Kent chock a block full of people who have moved out of London for a better lifestyle. The only big issue on your list is your husband's job.

[camptownraces]

Cost of housing is a big consideration. Will you be better or worse off, to compensate for perceived disruption?

Also you say "prep school with the discount" - presumably a staff discount - but ... don't they run an after school gym club?

How confident are you that the prep will in your case be a feeder for the local grammar school, given the fact that there must be some kind of entrance test?

[paleviewofhills]

Kent's hardly the back of beyond. It might be a two-hour drive but plenty of people commute everyday into London from the further reaches of Kent. Assume you're talking about nearer the coast? Depending on the area it could be a very nice life.

I'm sure there are children who do gymnastics in Kent.

Why not apply and see what happens? You can always say no if offered! What does your dh think?

[mumof2andlovingit]

I agree with some of the other comments that maybe you apply and see what happens. So many people leave London and never look back. Wishing you all the best with your decision.

[rabbitstew]

I think you need to be more specific about where in Kent. It's a big county.

[Thereshallbeaspirin]

Depends where in Kent. I commute to see clients in London, no problem. There has never been a normal kids activity I've not been able to find locally (couldnt find a zorb ball company to do a birthday party once), and the prep schools here are stuffed with London re-locators (I'd say that its more than a third of each class by the time you get to yr 8), and none of them regret it (although last train home after a night in London is shit). And cost of living way lower than London. Absolutely not a big disadvantage as far as kids concerned. Friends with kids who live in London envy us. The only person wo I know who sees an advantage in London has a very striking DD who has won lots of acting awards and I think that's the only exception I know where London is probably better.

Normally I'm all for living close to parents for parental support but as a prep teacher you will find kids get scooped up into the after school activities and prep classes whilst you are working so childcare shouldn't be a problem so long as all your kids are school-age. Just make sure you have a spare room for parents.

But if it were in the bits of the kent/Sussex borders with with poor links I might rethink.