Need Advice on Moving to Northwich ,Cheshire & good Private schools in the area

Don't rule out Cransley. It's an absolutely amazing and nurturing school and definitely not only for SEN or those that can't get in elsewhere, but if your kids do have SEN then they're also in an amazing and loving school. It's the best choice we ever made.

Have you considered Holmes Chapel or Sandbach? Both lovely areas to live and both on junctions of the M6. Terra Nova School is close to Holmes Chapel, and for secondary age (although not private) there is Sandbach Boys. Your budget would get you a fair bit in those areas.

Hartford has two train stations, one on the Liverpool-Birmingham line and one on the Chester-Manchester route. You could live anywhere on the Chester-Manchester line and your boys could easily get to the Grange.

Delamere is a gorgeous village. It's closer to Chester than Manchester and would be a bit of a trek for MGS, but is only a 27 min drive to Kings Chester which is a similar sort of establishment.

Then on the other side of Northwich there's Hale, Knutsford, etc.- a bit bougie but nice if you like that kind of thing. It's not unusual to travel from Knutsford to the Grange by train.

Northwich is not rough and the town centre has actually changed a lot. 15 years ago, I would have agreed it was an absolute dump, but the council have put a lot of work into revitalising it and now there's a cinema, a decent leisure centre with a theatre, a few nice bars and places to eat, the river has become more of a focal point with dragon boat racing and the river festival, and other events throughout the year which give it quite a nice sense of community. I wouldn't rule out Northwich and it's surrounding villages.

If you're into walking and the outdoors, there's a lot of options- the Anderton boat lift and Marbury park with lovely canal-side walks in between, and Delamere forest.

Sorry, didn't mean Mottram, I meant Peover. Lower Peover. Just South of Knutsford. 15 minutes from the Grange.

Cheadle Hulme is great, but not rural. We moved there from London and I found it quite cliquey. CH school is good, as academic as the Grange (both the private and state). Hale, Bowden, Lymm all worth a look but traffic a nightmare. Budget might be an issue if you are looking around £700k. I'd say you'd need a minimum of £1.2m for Hale / Bowden.

I don't know that many parents who use and recommend the Grange. There are a couple at Alderley Edge Cricket and Hockey clubs. They travel to Alderley. But that side of Alderley I'd say. Alderley out of your budget.

Mottram worth a look - again, excellent state primary. You'd get private education in the state sector to be honest. Lots do state primary then MGS from there.

Macclesfield is 20 minutes by train to Manchester, about a 30-40 minute drive.

Wilmslow is also worth a look. It's closer to Manchester and good access on the A34.

We rarely go into Manchester though. It's not like London in terms of culture, it's strangely set out. I also can't get over families who have a "day out" in Manchester and drag three generations around the shops (most of which are terrible). I view the Trafford Centre in similar vein.

Thanks so much for this @JustMarriedBecca! Very helpful!

@ThisPeachStork sorry see above. And avoid Beech Hall like the plague. Terrible reputation. If it's still open in 3 years, everyone would be amazed.

I know Macclesfield. And surrounding. Prestbury is a lovely little village. Rainow too. Both have outstanding state primaries which feel more like private schools - debating and public speaking and chess (competitively). Mainly driven by invested middle class parents. Marlborough in Tytherington also lovely and Bollington although the traffic is terrible. Lots of ex Londoners as you can get from Macclesfield to London in 1 hour 50 direct.

In terms of secondary, Kings is the private school. It gets good results but has a focus on sport. I'd not say it was academic. You can get to MGS or Withington from Macclesfield which are the two top academic privates. Withington has ranked top in the Times results league since forever.

In terms of state secondaries, both Fallibroome and Tytherington send kids to Oxbridge and are academic. They stream early on. Tytherington has an Oxbridge programme / Advanced learners and offers Latin, Mandarin and Classics which, for a state secondary, is very private school esque. Their chess team has the top rated U18 player in the UK.

Sir John Deane’s 6th Form college is amazing for A level stage. Looks and feels like a private school but is state funded

He doesn’t work in North West at the min, we’re looking to move up and when we’ve decided where he will apply for jobs at the nearest hospital, so we’re open! Altrincham and Bowden with the view of Wythenshawe hospital is on our radar, though so expensive! Anyone have any knowledge of Kings Macclesfield School by any chance?

Which hospital does your DH work at? We work at stepping hill and live in Altrincham and we love it here. Places like Bowdon and Dunham Massey are very countryfied with the convenience of being close to a town and the great transport connections that come with it! Lots of people move here for the schools as both state and private are exceptional.

Sorry I know this thread is a few months old, but I’m in a similar boat and wondering what you chose in the end @EbeMbakara ? We’re looking to move to South Manchester/Cheshire, and are TTC for our first, so looking for all rounder independents at the minute as no idea what our child’s talents will be! Ideally the location is near a hospital for DH’s work. Looking at Macclesfield with view of Kings Macc, as we didn’t like Cheadle Hulme/Bramhall very much (too busy/built up for us). Is Kings Macc not very good at academics? Any experience of the school (or Beech Hall) would be much appreciated!

Oakmere and Sandiway are both on busy roads without a real village feel.

I would consider Ashton Hayes, Kelsall, Utkinton or Tarporley in preference.

All have a nice community feel, good pubs and shops.

Cheadle Hulme is suburbia. Mainly middle class. Good state schools. Good transport links. Train / airport close etc. Waitrose. Good private schools too eg Cheadle Hulme and Ladybarn. Just not as pretty as villages etc. Depends on what attracts you.

Sandiway is nice and you're close to Delamere Forest. Not sure about Oakmere. I am not massively keen on Cheadle Hulme but it's more urban and you would have better links to Manchester if that's what you wanted. Although commuting wise Sandiway is surprisingly well appointed with the bypass there.
It also depends on you and your kids and their preferred activities- eg if you're a horsey family I would say Sandiway without question.

Hartford, besides Northwich, is nice enough and has a decent rail link. Short train link from Greenbank to Delamere Forest which is just beautiful. Marbury Country Park is gorgeous too, as is the Anderson Boat lift canal walk.

Heaton Chapel, Stockport is better still, good location for Manchester Grammar School. Convenient.

Chester has good school’s and it is a nice picturesque place. I’ve heard Harrods is opening up in the old Browns of Chester site. Chester also close to Delamere Forest.

Knutsford is up its own a little and a commuter town to Manchester. Nice to visit though. The flower show is good, Tatton Hall is pretty.

I do think it's done a lot more gently now-if its that they wouldn't reach the standards of behaviour or effort required there are a lot of signposts and help given to try and reach that. In terms of ability I suppose there's not a huge amount they can do, if they feel a child will really struggle in the senior school they do have a chat with parents but it's not till year 5 that a decision is made. But I think if it's looking likely then they do start to hint in parents evenings etc earlier on. But there are those who would say that any selection of that kind is brutal I suppose.

Yes brutal is a good description Sunshine.

Absolutely crushed those kids.

It's pretty brutal, my brother went to the Juniors and a few of his friends' parents were called in for "the talk" in Year 4 and promptly despatched elsewhere. Maybe they do it more gently nowadays.

The Grange is super academic with non performing children encouraged to leave before seniors.

Many of those kids ended up at Abbey Gate.

Hartford or Davenham would be lovely or even Kingsley.

Agree, or lache or saltney

handbridge is nice and just over to the bridge to the city with kings school within walking distance. Kings school is quite academic as far as I know