The East Midlands

[weekfour]

We're looking at an impending move to the East Midlands for work. It's looking like the office is likely to be in Mansfield and we'd like to be within 90 minutes commute by car.

My daughter currently attends an excellent comp which I'm really torn about leaving. She didn't sit an 11+ because it's not relevant where we live at the moment. I'm after some help finding where the good schools are.

We're currently in a relatively expensive part of Greater Manchester and am hoping we'll be able to get a bit more house for our money too. Looking for a 4 bed house with space for two people to WFH. I'm happy for us to share an office.

Hit me with your recommendations of areas to visit. Good schools, don't mind being rural-ish but need decent supermarket relatively close and decent shopping with 45 mins. We like cycling and dog walking. A nice pub would be a bonus!!

We like Newark. Lovely town and good connections to London. Or if the budget stretch Southwell

I'll have a look.

Depends on budget really.

Depends on what you can afford, but -

Ravenshead
Papplewick
Linby
Berry Hill
Redhill
are all lovely areas to live. Nice pubs and eateries too. Arnold, Sherwood, Mapperley are all good shopping areas.

Not
Kirkby in Ashfield
Mansfield
Sutton in Ashfield

Budget is up to £625000. I should have included that!!

Is the school in Newark called Magnus Academy. Results don't look great..... I've been spoiled by the current school.

In Derbyshire, both Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (‘Qegs’) in Ashbourne & Ecclesbourne School in Duffield have excellent local reputations, particularly for more academic children. My nephew went to Ecclesbourne & did well.

Ashbourne is a lovely small market down & Duffield is a nice village, both are considered quite posh by Derbyshire standards. Commuting from Duffield to Mansfield would be straightforward, but Ashbourne would be less convenient.

I’d consider North Leicestershire / Leicester. There are some excellent State Schools there (for a girl I’d recommend RusheyMead or Soar Valley in Leicester).

Villages around Newark and Southwell are lovely. Grammar schools in Lincs just over the border from Newark.

You will get plenty of property for £620k

State schools in Newark are dreadful. Try West Bridgford for access to WB school and Rushcliffe.

How about West Bridgford, Bramcote, Wollaton? All close to the M1 so could be in Mansfield in 40 mins. Good schools, and could definitely meet your house requirements within budget (maybe less so in WB but definitely the other two)

West Bridgford. The schools get excellent results, nice town centre with shops and cafes and easy access to the ring road or motorway.

OP pm’d you.

Does it have to be East Midlands?
90 mins from Mansfield and £625K would get you a lot of Sheffield - even the leafy suburbs of S11, with Good/Outstanding schools at High Storrs, Silverdale and Tapton. Or S8 area - Beauchief way is cheaper, and has an Outstanding secondary at Mercia. S11 and S8 are both on the edge of the Peak District.

Southwell.

West Bridgford for West Bridgford School.
Beeston/Toton for George Spencer Academy.
Toothill School in Bingham used to be good, not sure if it is currently.

I'm compiling a list. Thank you. Where we are now there's a catchment school that you are more or less guaranteed a place. I didn't realise it wasn't like that in other parts of the country.

I need to figure out if my year 7 could transfer to a Grammar if she didn't sit the exams. Her sats were excellent but I don't know if that means anything....? She's top set in her high performing non-selective comp now where there is no 11+ options.

There are another two kids, one of which is dyslexic so wouldn't pass exams I don't think. If need the alternative to be good for less academically able kids too.

Duffield. Lovely village. Decent pub, wine bar, restaurant, post office, near to a number of supermarkets, close to the Peak District for walks, Ecclesbourne Secondary school gets consistently high results and I’ve only heard lovely things about William Gilbert Primary. If I’d had my way, it’s where we’d have lived. 😊Definitely a posh bit of Derbyshire!

However, lots of colleagues live in West Bridgeford and love it. I’m loyal to the other end of the A52 though!

Whatever you do, avoid Northampton

Edwinstowe. Beautiful village in the Sherwood Forest, Tuxford Academy about 10/15mins away (bus available). Lots of amenities due to Center Parcs including several nice pubs/restaurants. Have lived in Newark and rate Edwinstowe far higher plus only a short drive to Mansfield. Newark is a traffic black spot 90% of the time and it's a nightmare!!

Southwell, Hockerton, Kirklington also lovely villages but not sure about schools for those,

In Derbyshire, both Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (‘Qegs’) in Ashbourne & Ecclesbourne School in Duffield have excellent local reputations, particularly for more academic children. My nephew went to Ecclesbourne & did well.

Ecclesbourne is an OFSTED inadequate school now.

How often would you be doing the commute? If it’s every day then West Bridgford, however lovely, would be crazy! On paper it would take about an hour, but in reality 1-2 hours and not fun at all.

I live about 8 miles from West Bridgford and it currently takes 40-60 minutes just to do that journey.

Exactly, i wouldnt describe it,( as nice as it is) as rural either! There must be alot of helicopter users in wb!

Probably something to do with the teacher who was caught plying teenage boys with alcohol and performing sex acts a few years ago.

I do agree with others about Duffield. Close to good amenities, not too far from Mansfield. And a very lovely farm shop too!