Help a move to dorset or not???

[lotti37]

Hello

I really need some advice please my head is spinning and can't decide. My husband wants us to move to dorset for a better quality of life . We live in the midlands and I have done all my life. We have 3 children 2 in primary school 7 and 9 and a 2 year old. We go on holidays to dorset and love it but all my family and friends and my husbands job are here in the midlands . Everything is very local here- kids are in the same school and very ha

Continued- very happy here. The secondary schools are not so great here. There is 1 outstanding schools and some good schools . I know in dorset there are lots of good schools. I know my husband says he does not want to be here for the next 15 years whilst eldest 2 are at school.

His job is here but he has said he would work from home 2 days a week and then be in the midlands for 2 nights working here.

I am really struggling to decide as dorset is beautiful but more expensive and schools probably further away ( current school is a 5 min walk) . I know they have a 3 tier school system as well so boys would be a different schools probably . I don't know which areas are nice but not too expensive ? Which schools are good . My husband talks about Poole grammer but I know it's very hard to get into .

Really wanted any advice from people that have done it or live down there or anyone who has moved away from their home town . We need to make a quick decision as my eldest is 9 and would want to start before he start secondary schools here .Thank you much

Depending on where you choose to live depends on the school system. Poole has infants juniors and then secondary, Purbeck has just changed to A two tier system and I think North Dorset is two tier, Dorchester and it's catchment areas is thee tier. Again depending where you choose to live depends on walking to school. Being biased as I have lived here all my life, it is a great place to bring up children

Wimborne area (East Dorset District council) is still a 3 tier system. I'm between Wimborne and Poole and I've also lived here all my life. It's just on the edge of the countryside but close enough to town for shops etc. Road system not great but the A31 is close so not too bad! The schools round here are popular so check catchment areas very carefully but that still may not guarantee a place. That said, even the less highly regarded schools are still better than some places!!

Wareham isn't a bad place to start looking, primary and secondary school within walking distance, free school down in Swanage (getting very good reviews) with bus transport, big leisure centre with lots of activities, mainline train station, good variety of small shops.

metro.co.uk/2014/05/12/11-reasons-dorset-is-the-best-place-to-live-in-the-uk-4722560/