Anyone live in Brighton?

[auldhippy]

I would like to know people's experience of schools there if possible.
We are planning to move there and will have middle school children and a secondary school aged child.
We don't want private schools so I am looking at the state schools.

Also we are looking at Westdene, Withdean, Patcham, Hangleton areas as want to be close to the countryside for walking but also be able to get a bus into town. Any insight appreciated.

We have been many times so know we like it though we mostly go in winter.

Please if you have any words of advice or experience let me know.

Hi, that is my neck of the woods
(Not Hangleton, the other three)

Hangleton is a longer journey into town/the beach but maybe quicker to get to the Downs? From where I am it's about a 20min bus ride to town/the beach and it's also walkable with your age DC. Its only a short drive to Ditchling Beacon or Devils Dyke though.

I love DS1s primary school but honestly I would have been perfectly happpy if he ended up at any of the local schools.

Only downside is lack of parking and small back gardens (apart from Patcham, you'd get more space there).

Thank you! Do you know anything about the secondary schools?
I looked at a house in Patcham last year and wish we could have got it but we couldn't sell ours.

I can only go from my own school days but Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, and Cardinal Newman (Catholic) are all good, and I think Patcham High has got better in recent years.

I know there's a lottery so every year a handful of unlucky DC end up not going to their catchment secondaries.

(You probably already know but there's also a lot of drugs in Brighton which is worrying with teens. I grew up here and its so likely they'll get offered them at some point.)

I read about the lottery. We are coming from London so don't think that drugs are any more of an issue than where we are, but thanks

The schools are all pretty lovely and similar in those areas. Do you have any specific questions?

All Brighton & Hove schools at secondary level are Ofsted good. I don’t know much about schools in Brighton other than Stringer & Varndean are very popular and are oversubscribed. Patcham also popular & oversubscribed - normal for all three to have wait lists for Y7 & 8 so in year places in either year harder to get. BACA, & Falmer (more working class catchments) less popular (understatement) both undersubscribed.

Cardinal Newman is huge, catholic and a few years ago had a rep for not managing bullying well - not sure if that’s changed.

Hove - Hangleton you’d be joint catchment for Blatchington Mill & Hove Park. Blatch viewed as more academic than HP - Blatch oversubscribed wait lists for Y7 & Y8 normal. My DS is at Blatch - his best mate is at HP both happy at their choice but I am glad we went Blatch.

You’re also able to apply for PACA & Kings - both in brand new buildings with lots of resources. We have friends with children at PACA who like it - buses home can be tricky I think? Kings - Christian ethos, and they mean it, so religious assemblies etc. Reminded me of my (not CofE) secondary school in the late 80s/early 90s. Both undersubscribed so in year places more likely.

I suppose I just wanted to check whether anyone was going to say 'NO don't go there! The schools are terrible' or point me to different potential areas of Brighton if a particular school is good or anything.

That was to Flitter

My friend lives in Patcham and loves everything about it.

Primary - if you are in Hangleton you would probably want Goldstone, through school (infants and juniors), lovely outdoor space & a great headteacher. Think in year might be hard but you might luck out. West Hove Infants & Hove Juniors (all sites good) would be ok too. St Andrews (CofE) viewed as a bit of a feeder for private and is oversubscribed often with in year wait lists. I’d avoid West Blatchington (friends v unhappy with it a few years ago).

Oh thank you Enter that's really really helpful. Do you know about Patcham junior school? Or Weatdene?

@Sn0tnose

My friend lives in Patcham and loves everything about it.

Oh that's good to hear! We liked it when we viewed the house.

I actually work at Shoreham Academy if you'd consider going that far, and think it's a great school.

West Blatchington Primary is a lovely school with fantastic new facilities and very caring staff - I'm very happy with it for my son

What’s your budget? Patcham is very suburban but more affordable - bus is quite long into town. But nice views - hilly

Westdene is a little more expensive than Patcham. And the bus routes more limited.

Hangleton is quite ugly IMO but much closer to the beach. Hth

Patcham Junior and Westdene are both good schools I think. Westdene itself has a lovely new playground too and Patcham high has a new sports ground. Patcham’s actually an old village and Westdene is a suburb so a bit quieter. The houses are generally bigger and a bit more modern maybe in Westdene. Hangleton is quite nice but feels quite far out from Brighton to me. I think Withdean is quite expensive, but also closer to town and big houses.

No more than 600k

Thanks Flitter that's helpful too!

I hadn't really looked at Hangleton but saw that it was close to countryside on the map, I might rule that one out

Personally I'd go Hangleton over patcham but it's personal choice.

All the schools are basically good and all th mentioned areas are good too.

If I had to say it I would say avoid somewhere with a BACA or Longhill catchment for secondary. All others are fine.

Of the ones you speak of, westdene is probably the most upmarket. For £600k you'd be ok in most of those areas though.

I live much more centrally and I do love it. You wouldn't get a house for that budget in the central areas though.

I live in Moulsecoomb, with Coldean village just opposite. We're right on the edge of town, on the Lewes Road, and bus services are excellent. Can't help with schools though; although I believe Coldean junior school and the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy are very good

Agree with dalrympy, BACA has a bad reputation, people stuck in the cachment for it often go on waiting lists for Patcham, Dorothy Stringer and Varndean. I know of a few children that even go to Lewes rather than BACA.

Fiveways (further in from Patcham around Preston park) is more expensive than Patcham but is great for families (cachment for Dorothy Stringer and Varndean secondaries, Balfour primary, or Downs primary). For 600k you could buy a small house (e.g. Sandgate or Ashford road) walking distance of 3 parks - Preston/Blakers and Hollingbury park), great shops at Fiveways/King's Parade, 25 minute walk down to the front or about 15 minutes on a choice of buses and the nightbus routes, few minutes drive to the South Downs. Walk to schools. If you are religious you might get into Cardinal Newman up near Bhasvic.

You need to check with the LA about waiting lists and available places before you move - IIRC you can only apply to the LA schools once you have your signed rental agreement or proof of exchange on a house, you may not be offered your first choice of school if they have no places or are already oversubscribed and your DC have no special circumstances - often you are offered a place out of your area where the school has a lot of vacancies (e.g. BACA) and have to argue/hold out for one of your choices. Don't assume that because you like the look of say, Dorothy Stringer for secondary and Patcham infants that's what you will definetly be allocated.

The secondary schools finish at GCSE so you then go to either BHASVIC or Varndean college for sixth form, or Cardinal Newman 6th form.(I think Blatchington also has a 6th form). Bhasvic has the better A level results at the moment.

Thank you Sapatsea, that's really helpful

I think five ways is maybe too far in to town as we want to be able to go on to the downs easily with bikes or walking. It does look nice though. Also gardens seem smaller and parking issues!

You could cycle up to the Downs fairly easily from Fiveways but it'd be a long walk, especially for your primary age DC.

Just up the road from fiveways is Hollingbury, you'd get more house/garden and maybe a drive way for your money. Downs Juniors has a really good reputation.