Relocating to Northumberland - Alnwick or Hexham?

[Evasmum88]

Hi all, my husband and my two children (6 and 9) are looking to move to Northumberland this time next year. We are going to visit over the summer to scope places out but I was just wondering what HExham and Alnwick are like? We are after a small town so our girls dont get too bored, but they enjoy outdoorsy stuff mostly anyway, so being within a hour of Newcastle is fine for us. We are looking for a pretty location which is peaceful and has nice scenery/a sense of space. Equally, I want to make sure we dont move somewhere insular where the kids will feel ostracised, so a friendly and welcoming place is really important. Its also important to us that the school is supportive and where they are likely to meet like minded friends (they are typical middle of the road academically). This is going to sound bad but I am specifically concerned about moving to an area where there is higher crime or anti-social behaviour as my oldest is very easily led by peers. Does anyone have any thoughts on Alnwick or Hexham with regards to this? I looked on the locrating website and the schools in have much better results than Alnwick, but I know that doesnt mean everything so would love some insider knowledge. Our budget is around 450k and would love a detached house with a decent garden. Thanks!

Both fab towns - hard decision to make !

@Katinthedoghouse

Both fab towns - hard decision to make !

Thanks for your reply, good to know they are both nice :-) I don’t suppose you know anything about the schools in Alnwick at all?

I'd personally go with Alnwick just as it's closer to the coast.

Sorry no - mine are long past that stage now.

I honestly felt very welcomed when we moved there and my children were 3 and 6 at the time. Obviously there are families who have lived there for generations but there are lots of incomers so I’m positive you will meet up with someone you eventually “click” with.

Crime was never an issue when we lived there.

Oh thanks both. Yes being near the coast is a massive draw, as it being near the main line to Edinburgh. I cant wait to go up and have a look around, Northumberland looks stunning. Katinthedoghouse its good to know you felt welcomed as well.

I’m in Hexham… ask me anything (as they say!)

Ah thanks Northumberlandlass, I think my main query with Hexham is I have read on a couple of threads to avoid the east of Hexham which worried me, so I am guessing I was wondering if the whole of the east is a bad area is is it more that the west is prettier than the east or something? Is Hexham welcoming as well? Also any insider info on schools would be great. I’m mainly concerned with going somewhere that has a problem with not being friendly, or a problem with bullying. Thanks so much

Alnwick schools are not good. Much of Northumberland's school system suffers from the typical systematic coastal deprivation issues - the lack of professional jobs/ careers, tourism and agriculture dependent local economy, historic low educational achievement all create an environment of low ambition & expectations from students. Very hard to counter. They have also kept the 3 tier system (though they are transitioning away from that now) which has been proven to have a negative impact on results.

Not sure what Hexham is like, but we discounted a move to the Alnwick area based on a comparison of the schooling there and where we lived in Leeds (at the time). The Duchess School in Alnwick was in line with some of the worst schools in Leeds, which sealed the deal for us.

@SirSamuelVimes my DDs DP went to the Duchess school, and from there to Cambridge.

Perhaps that says more about him than the Duchess, though!

Have you considered Morpeth? Excellent schools, access to A1 and north east train line, closer to Newcastle but also close to coast etc. We love it

@SirSamuelVimes

Alnwick schools are not good. Much of Northumberland's school system suffers from the typical systematic coastal deprivation issues - the lack of professional jobs/ careers, tourism and agriculture dependent local economy, historic low educational achievement all create an environment of low ambition & expectations from students. Very hard to counter. They have also kept the 3 tier system (though they are transitioning away from that now) which has been proven to have a negative impact on results.

Not sure what Hexham is like, but we discounted a move to the Alnwick area based on a comparison of the schooling there and where we lived in Leeds (at the time). The Duchess School in Alnwick was in line with some of the worst schools in Leeds, which sealed the deal for us.

Thanks so much for this. Very interesting. We are relocating from the South West and are looking to get more for our money house-wise but be somewhere with good schools and nice countryside/scenery. We can pretty much move anywhere as our jobs are very portable. Which area did you end up deciding on if your able to say? We did think about Cumbria/Kendal way but wasn’t too sure about coping with the rain or the holiday traffic in summer. Its really hard trying to find somewhere that backs a whole family upheaval and relocation worth it. Thats why we want to be really sure that w make the right choice.

Whatever you do, don’t read Hexham Matters page on FB! awful stuff which really doesn’t represent the town.

Schools - my DS is coming to the end of High School (Queen Elizabeth) Hexham is still 3 tier system.

So The Sele First is the largest first school & is outstanding. DS went there.

Then there is Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School.

There is a catholic first & middle school (St Marys & St Josephs)

There is Hexham First which is in East End of the town.

The Middle & High School are moving to one site from Sept 2021, there has been huge investment in the site, it looks amazing!

Areas of the town, the east end of the town, around the hospital includes a large council estate / HA homes so there is a negative connotation, but also in the east end are a large number of new builds & older larger properties which represent more value for money than West End.

West End is reported affluent area, large number of older terraced houses but these don’t usually have gardens. There are some large detached & semi detached with gardens.

Hexham has seen a large number of new build estates in last few years.

I genuinely love living here - we have community run cinema, large leisure centre, great independent shops, farmers markets, amazing bonfire nights, loads of sports for adults & kids, huge open spaces in the centre of the town.

Great transport links to Newcastle etc

I’m happy to answer any questions - I’ve lived here all my life, but know people have moved to the town & found it welcoming!

@SirSamuelVimes

Alnwick schools are not good. Much of Northumberland's school system suffers from the typical systematic coastal deprivation issues - the lack of professional jobs/ careers, tourism and agriculture dependent local economy, historic low educational achievement all create an environment of low ambition & expectations from students. Very hard to counter. They have also kept the 3 tier system (though they are transitioning away from that now) which has been proven to have a negative impact on results.

Not sure what Hexham is like, but we discounted a move to the Alnwick area based on a comparison of the schooling there and where we lived in Leeds (at the time). The Duchess School in Alnwick was in line with some of the worst schools in Leeds, which sealed the deal for us.

Wow, bit of a generalised statement there about Northumberland schools… you do know the size of the County??

Can I just say, that the 3 tier system actually works quite well here. There are dozens of essential small rural first schools spread across a large catchment area which feed into medium sized middle schools based in towns and then into a large high school.

Quite judgemental ….

Thanks so much Northumberlandlass thats really helpful. It sounds exactly what we are looking for! We may look at moving to the surrounding villages as we like a bit of space/a view and it sounds like that may be hard to come by in town. The school sounds fab, going to come up for a nosey around at the start of the summer hols. Thanks again!

I was also going to suggest Morpeth

You’ll get more house for your money in surrounding villages (with the exception of Corbridge)! Plus there are some cracking small first schools in the likes of Humshaugh, Riding Mill.

If you think of any more questions, just get in touch

Both are lovely towns, and are safe with low crime. Hexham's probably a bit more affordable, but isn't what I would call cheap. The QE school in Hexham is very good and the kids I know who go there are very happy. The Duchess school in Alnwick has a very good reputation too.

I'd honestly look at properties in both locations.

@LittleRa

I was also going to suggest Morpeth

I did consider Morpeth, I know the schools are meant to be amazing, just didnt know if it was too big a place (looking for rural living). I read about Rothbury which I think feeds into Morpeth which is an option, just didnt know if it was too isolate for the kids when they get older. Thanks for your suggestion

@Northumberlandlass

You’ll get more house for your money in surrounding villages (with the exception of Corbridge)! Plus there are some cracking small first schools in the likes of Humshaugh, Riding Mill.

If you think of any more questions, just get in touch

thanks! I have noted down those villages :-)

To qualify my above statements - both schools have a good ofsted rather than an outstanding ofsted.

@Stompythedinosaur

Both are lovely towns, and are safe with low crime. Hexham's probably a bit more affordable, but isn't what I would call cheap. The QE school in Hexham is very good and the kids I know who go there are very happy. The Duchess school in Alnwick has a very good reputation too.

I'd honestly look at properties in both locations.

Ah that’s interesting to see a different view about the schools in Alnwick. Its so hard to know actually what they are like from an outsider point of view. Thanks again

I don't think Morpeth is too big, it isn't much different in size to Alnwick. I think it is slightly rougher (or I may have just gained that impression from the rather wild nurse nights out that used to be hosted there).

Consider Morpeth, it's better from a commuting point of view, and has some really lovely areas.

If you’re thinking about the kids being isolated as they grow older, I suggest sticking to villages along the valley as there are better transport links compared to North Tyne or the Shire.

@Stompythedinosaur

I don't think Morpeth is too big, it isn't much different in size to Alnwick. I think it is slightly rougher (or I may have just gained that impression from the rather wild nurse nights out that used to be hosted there).

Ah yes, I current live right next to a small housing association estate where drugs and antisocial behaviour are unfortunately rife so I am definitely looking to try and avoid that. Not meaning to sound that every housing association estate is like that but I grew up in 5 different council estates and didn’t have the best experiences there. I would rather move somewhere where they are not likely to build a big new estate right next to me (which is what happened here).