Move to Bournemouth or Chichester

[Purplemine]

Hello,

Me, my DH and 2 DC aged 5 and 8 live on the Isle of Wight. I'm really concerned about the state of the schools. The Island is trying hard to sort it out and they're having a major shake up, which means school closures, amalgamations or expanding schools. It could be great in the long run but it will take some to settle.

We're wondering wether to move altogether. We love the Islands landscape. In the summer we regularly pick the dc up from school and go for a swim in the sea. They have so much freedom here, beaches and land to run around on.

We'd love to be near the sea still but with a chance for the dc to get a decent education and to have choices later on.

We're looking at Chichester and surrounding areas or Bournemouth and surrounding areas.

Anyone live there? Any tips?

Well, I live near Chichester, so I’m going to vote for that.

I'm assuming you like it there? Any areas I should avoid or good areas to look at?

I visited Bournemouth for the first time in 20 years a couple of years ago, and there is no way I would live there.

Chichester most definitely. Has it all ,lovely town and close to the coast. Good schools and easy to get to London, Brighton, Southampton. Also only an hour from Gatwick. Yes I live here but that doesn’t make me biased, I’m just starting the facts. Also close to ferry for a day trip
back to your homeland!

I don't know Bournemouth that well. I know Chichester a little more as I did a summer course there at the uni a while ago. What didn't you like about it? We're going to obviously visit plenty of times before we do any moving. But always good to get other people's perspectives.

Have you considered some of the small village suburbs of Southampton? Lots of them are close to the beach and the River Hamble: Titchfield, Locks Heath, Sarisbury, Warsash are all lovely places to live. Excellent primary schools and secondary schools are good too. Close to Southampton city and Portsmouth so you can easily go back to IOW on either of the ferries or the hover from Southsea.

Chichester traffic is awful.

No I haven't and I think we'll have a look. Thank you

There are plenty of villages nearby if you want village life. The town has the Festival and Minerva theatres, restaurants and coffee shops, reasonable public transport to London, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and local buses are better than lots of areas. We can get into the town centre by bus in 15 minutes.

There’s Goodwood, the Weald and Downland Museum, several vineyards, Arundel, Amberley Museum, South Downs walks and loads of other stuff. It depends on your budget of course. There are less expensive areas and some of the villages like Birdham, Witterings are expensive.

We moved from Surrey. I wouldn’t go back to Surrey.

I live in Bournemouth, moved back here in 2019 and where we live is fine and some other areas are lovely, the beaches away from the town centre are brilliant, but the town centre is now an absolute shit hole. It doesn’t particularly affect me as I never go there but it is a worry for me due to teenage DC. These are the headlines from the local paper today. However, Christchurch is lovely and Southbourne is great. There is a grammar system for secondary and the grammars are really good, as are some of the comps, if you don’t mind super strict academy style schools (I do mind them but that is just my opinion).

Portsmouth

Do not move to Bournemouth ! You won’t want to leave the house after dark. Not a good place to raise children.
Chichester is lovely and there are some nice small villages around so rural home possible with city on the doorstep.

I have relatives in the Redhill area of Bournemouth and it's lovely there. Feels semi rural with great schools. You're within half an hour of some of the most beautiful areas in the UK, Hengistbury Head, Purbecks, Christchurch Quay.

Bournemouth town centre is an absolute dive now but the surrounding areas are fine. Southbourne, christchurch and Barton on sea would give you good schools and easy access to lovely beaches.

The only problem being when the kids turn 18 and want to go clubbing Bournemouth has a problem with homeless people and knife crime, and I can't see the police or council doing anything about e.

Not Bournemouth. Chichester is nice. Petersfield is lovely. Smaller. Depends what you want for your family. Do your research. They might miss the sea.

My SIL and family live in Bournemouth. Her DC went to schools there and had an awful time. The schools were bad - both primary and secondary. She moved them to different ones, but they turned out to be no better. There was a lot of bullying, truancy and crime.

I wouldn't pick Bournemouth. I don't know Chichester so can't comment on that. You could look at other smaller towns and villages around Dorset, if you prefer Dorset, but avoid anywhere that feeds into Bournemouth for secondary schools, or Weymouth as that has a lot of problems too.

Not Bournemouth. Town centre run down, full of homeless, druggies, knife crime and marauding teens. "Vibrant" nightlife makes it unsafe for locals - we avoid it at all costs. Local authority is close to bankruptcy. Schools are on their knees due to poor funding, and are now having budgets cut further to help the LA recover the £62 million deficit they have accrued paying for SEN.
It has one of the highest levels of traffic congestion in the country.
The beaches are full of needles and broken glass and the smell of weed prevails.
There are nice bits, but they are quickly being ruined as the mess expands.
So, only move to Bournemouth if you are an addict looking for friends, a good supply of your chosen vice, or rehabilitation because there are many rehab houses.
( Struth...I'm miserable today!)

I live near and work in Bournemouth. Moved here three years ago. I love how much there is to do. The beaches are great. Christchurch and Southbourne are nice areas . I love being on the doorstep of the new forest.
Good schools and grammar schools

It is interesting how viewpoints can differ so greatly. I live near Bournemouth and I have never experienced these terrible things in bournemouth. I have found it a great place to live and bring up my family. There is so many great places to go and visit. Have been very happy with schools. Friends and family locally report similarly. I am not regarly in bournemouth Town centre late at night except to go to restaurants or cinema so can't comment on the nightlife. As the poster has young children probably not an issue for a while

I would recommend Selsey. Good schools close to the sea and Chichester is only a short distance away. Has a village feel.

I was going to suggest looking at Lee on Solent and stubbington area.

Just be careful of moving to ensure your Crofton catchment as the other schools aren't good.

Such good insights. Thank you so far! So much to consider.

DS lived in Bournemouth for 2 and a bit years for work. Says wild horses wouldn't drag him back. It's been some years since I was in Chichester but I remember it as a lovely place and I'd opt for that but, TBH if I were you I'd stay on the Island. There are more things in life than schools and anyway a good school can in certain circumstances decline very quickly - I have seen it happen.

There's a number of places near Chichester that might also work

Bosham
Emsworth
Southbourne (secondary school is dreadful there though)
Hayling island

Don’t go to Bournemouth. Only hearing bad things these days, a friend returned from there the other day and said lots of open dealing on the streets there. As a pp said, a bit further along ie Barton on sea, Lymington etc would be much better but I don’t know your budget. Assume it’s not tiny if you’re considering Chichester.