To want to move from Surrey to Chichester for a better life for my kids?

[Mixedupmind]

Having a debate with my husband and very confused
We currently live in Carshalton Surrey
We have 2 children, aged 3 and 4
I'm a stay at home mum and hes self employed, we privately rent our 2 bed terrace for £950.
Recently I've been thinking we should move out before they start school for a nice quiet little village lifestyle / school, we could afford a 3 bed house for what we pay now and the schools are smaller and obviously less crime / trouble
His concern is the opportunities are less, the secondary schools don't seem to achieve as much as London schools and he fears the kids will be coming back to London for work.
Can anyone offer any advice?
Tenancy ends in August and son needs to be in reception next September so really it's now or never.

[Hashtag1890]

Hi there mixedupmind. Just wondering if you ever made the move as we are in a similar situation now?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

Billingshurst is more pricey than Horsham

[Flappingandflying]

Horsham is nice but pricey. What about Billingshurst? Haywards Heath? Burgess Hill is a bit of a dump in places but has some lovely housing. Ditchling is lovely. Lewes? Balcombe? Hassocks? I'd pick a good train line and then look in surrounding area. Oxted? East Grinstead? Lindfield? Lingfield? Limpsfield. Actually Lindfield would be good. Has two good secondary schools and is just an extension of HH. But. These places are 'naice' and naice places mean expensive rentals. Carlshalton is pleasant and there are lots of opportunities there and rural bliss with one bus on a Wednesday, mixed village school classes of three year groups, isn't all rosy.

[Mixedupmind]

That's true
Thanks a lot!
I think we will have the meeting at the school nursery my son has got in July and see how I feel after that :)

[antimatter]

you have 6-7 years before you face having to consider not sharing bedrooms.
Mine went to separate rooms when older was 10.
I know families where kids are in grammar schools and sharing bedrooms. All depends on family circumstances.

[Mixedupmind]

Yes it is cheaper but not at our end as we are by the village not the st helier.
We are in a 2 bed and for a 3 bed house we are looking at £1,200 at least a month which we will have to pay eventually as they can't share a room forever.

[antimatter]

I think once your children are older you will have more reasons to visit London, but this it can be done from the coast.

I think Carshalton is cheapest in terms of rent of all surrounding areas.

Someone I used to work with lives in Hove and I think opinion of schools there was then quite good.

[Mixedupmind]

Greetings from Carshalton :)
I never go into London, all friends and family live more towards Surrey / the coast.
But the schools are hard to beat, this is what's holding me here!

[antimatter]

Hello from Wallngton!
We've moved here 15 years ago also because of good schools.
Kids are in grammar schools and I am glad we are here.
I live nearer Croydon than you and it doesn't worry me.

If you are Catholic both secondary schools will be available to you.
Most primary schools in Sutton borough are good too.
I would imagine if you were to look for a job there are more opportunities where we are now.
I never worked in town, I always been driving. First Surrey and now Hampshire.
Access to London is what I enjoy and if we want to be at the seaside is just one hour away.
Living in Carshalton you have faster connection to London by train than us

[Mixedupmind]

I wouldn't be going selsey way and I wouldn't accept seal anyway.
One of the reasons for the move is wanting smaller schools, won't be going for any that are bigger than what we have here.
We are catholic however apparently these primaries are the ones that tend to have a lot of children not speaking English on entry?

[happygirl87]

I grew up in Chichester, and am back there today (at my Mums for Easter). I went to Bishop Luffa which is one of the best schools in the area, beats a lot of the independents- but is very over subscribed and you need a strong C of E connection and church attendance to go. Equally, there's a good Catholic school not far away, Philip Howard, but again you need to show church attendance- so will depend on hep religious you are.

Chichester is a nice town- it's surrounded by villages which can be more affordable house price wise, but may be poorly connected via public transport. This can be an issue for parents with young- mid teens who can't drive- if you want them to have a social life, lifts/sleepovers will be the norm. Shopping is ok, and it's easy to get to Southampton/ London/Brighton by train. Lots of chain restaurants, a few decent independents, good leisure centre, most major supermarkets, cineworld cinema, plus art house cinema etc. The theatre is really good, and a lot of West End plays start in Chichester, with a famous cast.

It's a fairly safe town, with lovely beaches close by as well as the South Downs- great walks etc. It's also very traditional and conservative (with a big C and a small c). Friends who became teen mums or came out as gay have said they felt isolated here.

Hope that helps!

[Wherediparkmybroom]

Seal academy, big sprawling primary school, new headmaster is really working at it but it will takes years! 3 phonics systems in three years, last head suspended chances are you will get this school.

[Mixedupmind]

What's seal??

[Wherediparkmybroom]

As for manhood or the academy as it's now called, over my dead body!
I'd rather move!

[Wherediparkmybroom]

Unless you are very lucky you will get seal!, now improving but I have three years to make up for with my boy.

[FusilliJerry]

In fact, Medmerry came 12th in a west sussex table of best performing schools last year, far higher than any chichester primary. Another good school locally was Birdham.

[MrsDavidBowie]

Dd is interested in going to uni in Chichester as it has a specific course she wants to do.
She is not interested in clubs, drinking, huge night life.

( we live in Surrey!)

[FusilliJerry]

wherediparmybroom whilst I agree that the senior school is crappy in Selsey, the two primarys are really good. Medmerry is graded good by ofsted, and after a few bad years, Seal has had a new head in place for the last year who has really turned the school around and recently been graded good by ofsted too. There is always the option to go to senior school in chichester from Selsey too.

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

I love Chichester, was born and bred there, moved up to London in my 20s and travelled but have come back to the area now.

Currently in Emsworth, but head into Chichester for shopping and socialising.

Odd comment up thread about the winters, we're in one of the warmest parts of the country!

Schools are ok, most of us can read and write.

I love the mix of rural, country living and being beside the sea.

I'd totally avoid Bognor and Selsey, and Portsmouth which is ugly and sprawling.

[WhosLookingAfterCourtney]

I live in chi with a 3 and 1 year old. Lots to do, lovely people on the whole.

[Flux700]

There are other cities then London you know

[Flux700]

You can live anywhere! Why not consider a proper move - the south west maybe?

[awm26]

I moved to chi a few years ago and live 15 mins from town centre. Dd is 13 and has been really happy at catholic primary school in town, she also enjoys and is doing well at secondary school. The catholic secondary school is outside of chi though so the kids all get the train together. I'm really happy we moved.

[LittleMissDisorganized]

I grew up in Surrey - moved North for university and would never go back. Quality of life, how far your money goes... £925 would get you a 3-4 bed with a decent garden in Wirral/ Cheshire. Still have grammar schools. What's not to like???

[JessieMcJessie]

What do you mean, your husband "fears the children will have to go to London for work?". Would that possibility not be the same where you are now, or indeed anywhere in the country? Surely it depends massively on what they want to do for a living? And why is it something to fear? TBH the way the world is going they could just as easily end up working in Beijing or Sydney.