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Original poster

Relocating to Devon/Cornwall

29 replies

Mrblobby40 · 04/02/2014 21:39

Hi,

We are considering moving from Guildford down to Devon/Cornwall/Dorset coast. We are desperate to be back by the sea and to get away from the surrey rat race, to have a better quality of life and to get away from the riduclous house prices. I have two girls in Year 3 and Year 5. We are looking to move when my eldest finishes year 6 so we transition her nicely in to secondary school. The girls are very close and I will potentially be taking my youngest out mid way through her middle school so I would like to get her in to the same school as her elder sister or atleast a school that feeds in to it do minimise disruption.
Can anyone advise me on good independant schools in the cornwall/devon area. I am not saying no to state schools at all but they are currently in a lovely prep in the Guildford area and they are both very athletic and quite gifted so would like to get them in to a strong sports school.

Any ideas and advice on schools and relocating to this area would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

OP posts:
kernowal · 05/02/2014 19:55

I went to Truro School rather than the girls school. I've just taken a look at the THSG website & was gutted to see that their uniform is no longer brown, as I refused to go there based on the uniform colour!

They're both excellent, but don't overlook the state schools in the area, as you don't have to pay to receive a good education in that part of the world. One issue with the private schools in Truro is that they take pupils from across the whole county and it's a very wide area to maintain a social life and out of school activities across. I hated the fact that living on one side of Truro with friends on the other meant that it was a logistical nightmare to see them out of school.

I think you'll find the railway line has been washed away today...

Original poster
Mrblobby40 · 05/02/2014 18:34

Thank you both of you for your advice and information. I am a complete newcomer to Mumsnet as you can probably tell, no clue yet on abbreviations!
Luckily my other half can be based at home and then travels to clients as and when so we are not tied to any specific place. Just need to be able to be with in 30 mins of a good train line to get to London and within reasonable distance of an airport.
We would like to be in a seaside community, not too small. Be great to be with in 30 mins of Truro so we have the best of both worlds. I also have heard that Truro High Girls School is very good, do you know it? Plus they have the prep so DD could go there too.
Mount House sounds fantastic, have never heard a bad word about it, always amazing feedback but sadly my eldest will be moving to secondary school and so there is no point on having one DD there.

Which school in Exeter is number 1 _ state? sounds very good, I should check it out. We kind of heave our heart set on Cornwall, but we must be open minded as the school situation is most important.

I really appreciate your input - thank you.

OP posts:
absentmindeddooooodles · 05/02/2014 15:46

Truro is great. Schools are fab and its a lovely atmosphere. I went to school in truro and alot of my friends lived in places on the coast. St. Agnes, perranporth, porthtowan. St agnes is beautiful. Proper little cornish beach villiage. If thats the kind of thing you are into id really suggest having a look. There are direct buses to the private and state schools from st agnes and porthtowan. Think theres one from perranporth too.

Hope the move goes well!

cressetmama · 05/02/2014 15:33

Mr Blobby, good luck with your move! If you are not wedded to a workplace, and can choose where to live, the Tamar Valley which sits over the Devon Cornwall line is a lovely rural option. Mount House in Tavistock where DS went has the reputation of being the best in the west, and it is very good academically and sporty, strong on music. However, after common entrance you are looking at boarding schools.

If you prefer town life, Truro is the best all round city for independent schools in Cornwall. In Devon, Exeter has a good choice of day independent schools, junior and senior, mixed and single sex, depending on your preference. Devon also has grammar schools in Plymouth, Torquay and Colyton (which is BTW the number one state school in the UK!) But be aware of how long the school run can take; the roads aren't too bad or busy, but the distances can get huge and and the bus frequency often leaves a lot to be desired! Lots to consider! Good luck!