To ask about Ashby de la Zouch?

[Didiusfalco]

Posting here for traffic as i noticed a few Ashby folk on the 'sneering' journo thread. Dh's job is relocating to the East Mids and because of the motorway network Ashby de la Zouch looks like a good option. So, one damp Sunday we went to have a look round. I feel umcertain about it and have a few questions, but would welcome any observations from people in the know.

Are the schools as good as they sound, are there any to be avoided or any parts of town to avoid?

Is the nearest a&e department in Burton?

Is the nearest train station Burton and what is the transport like for getting out of Ashby de la Zouch?

Is there a park with swings etc for children within the town - i cant seem to find one?

Is there much going on for children? Would teenagers be bored?

Are there paths that you can walk on out of town to open countryside?

Would you recommend living there?

TIA

My friends life in overseal which is near ashby.
Seems nice and they are very happy school wise

I would definitely go and visit Beeston/Chilwell if you are considering it . I have been lurking on your thread for ideas of where I can move to as I currently live in the border of both Beeston/Chilwell and haven't exactly warmed to the place. Beeston seems to get a lot of hype for an OK high street that is shabby/charity shop especially at one end. The High Road is nice and the new tram is better than using the A52. But Chilwell has no centre of its own. School places are oversubscribed for primary. Don't know about secondary.

That's interesting Smurfing how long have you been there?

Can I ask what you don't like about it? Where else have you considered or have you heard positive things about?

I am concerned about the primary school places, have read so many Ofsted reports I'm starting to confuse myself, but it seems there are a number of schools in special measures, or with requires improvement reports that don't read well if you know what I mean, I worry these would be the only ones with places? Is that likely?

The schools are good. Mine are at primary and I couldn't be more pleased with it. Not that I know much about education.

From speaking to people, everyone seems to have got into their first choice school even if out of catchment. From that I would assume there isn't an issue with over-subscription. They do keep building new houses though.

college house are extending to reception age. Chilwell has got a high road, a small one mind you but it has some shops.

That's good to know Dont. Am I right in thinking there are three primary schools in Ashby, which then feed in to the one secondary?

I think Ashby is a great little place, but I wouldn't lie there or anywhere else to the west of the M1 if I worked in Nottingham It is often difficult to cross the M1 in the mornings and evenings.
You mentioned that you like to run OP; Loughborough has a great network of traffic free paths - don't forget Loughborugh University is a great place for sport.

Dunno about secondary schools but my DD is in her (our) 3rd choice of primary school in West Bridgford. It is a very expensive area for what it is -and I wouldn't fancy getting from there to M1 J26 from there at peak times.

I think there are 4 primary in Ashby - Willesley, Hill Top, Burton Road and Woodcote. There is also a rumour of a new one as part of a new housing development.

Then there is Ivanhoe College for 11-14 yrs and then onto Ashby School for 14-18 yrs. It's the weird middle school system.

Avoid sunnyside and Beeston fields. The rest are outstanding/good. secondary, George spencer is the best, Chilwell high school is ok I think. There are some very good nurseries if you need that.

Did It all just feels a bit soulless. To be honest I struggle to put my finger on what I don't like exactly about the place. It ticked enough boxes for us to move here and Beeston was when we moved 3 years ago was hyped as quite vibrant and I just don't feel it is. My very nearby friends have experienced racism on more than once occasion and had to move their child in primary because of it which both surprised me and pissed me off - for a supposed university area (lots of students in Beeston) it feels all a bit too insular. im also not keen on some of the primary schools being separate junior and infant schools - seems unnecessary upheaval but that's just personal preference.

And my experience of looking at schools for reception entry next year is that lots are oversubscribed or expecting lots of places to go to sibling children and they are pushed for space also - like the primary schools I visited making inventive use of their spaces - like holding assemblies and lunch breaks in shifts. And one headteacher told me of the pressure they had from the LEA to accept temporary buildings (portacabins) on site even though they are already bursting out of the seams as it is.
I also visited Sunnyside which is now an academy and getting a whole brand new and larger school building by the end of the year. Sunnyside has historically always had free spaces because their reputation and results are so poor. So this increase in size has been planned for a while (I suspect even before their move to an Academy) because of the pressure on places. Sunnyside now theoretically feeds into George Spencer secondary though which is one of the better schools in Nottingham so it has that going for it.

Thanks everyone - more food for thought. I think we will have to make a trip up to both over the bank holiday weekend. Sorry you're not enjoying living where you are smurfing - given what you know now where else would you have gone if you could pick again?

Jibber George spencer is in Toton isn't it? And both that and Chilwell are academies with feeder schools? Would you say being in one of the feeder schools was essential? Where I live now there is big pressure on secondary places so it's definitely something I would think of ahead of time.

Op the M1 near J26 has been closed twice so far this week and it's only Tuesday

I agree with jibberjabber - Aroung J25 M1 there are some really nice places with great schools and transport links.

Risley/Sandiacre/Breaston are nice and very close to M1/A52/A50 and all have good schools for all ages. There are some nice areas in Beeston/Chilwell/Toton/Attenbotough again with good schools and good transport links. Chilwell does a have a big estate which is a bit rough but the rest of it is niceand the estate is on the edge of town. Beeston has a thriving town centre with lts of coffe shops etc. Also less than 30 min from city centre. Lots to do - sports and Arts.

I know Nottinghamshire pretty well as my work takes me all over the county, which area is his work at? Traffic in Nottingham can be horrendous, my last office was 11 miles from home but took over an hour every day each way to get there. My current office is 20 miles away still in Notts but takes only 35 minutes to get there. If you can tell me where his work is I can advise on area to avoid for his daily commute?

Yes avoid the estate in Chilwell as you'll be in the catchment for sunnyside apart from that it has some really good schools. The bottom end of Chilwell has some nice houses. Toton also has a large estate next to the army barracks, but that one's nice and very safe apparently. I don't know about secondary feeder schools as my DC haven't got that far yet.

Thanks ooo and Jibber do you mind telling me where the rough estate is in Chilwell so I know where not to look? Thanks.

Ingham road, Ingham nook, avoid. Where it says Chilwell on the map (I was just having a look), look below that. Cator lane is nice, hall drive, hallams lane, Attenborough road and meadow lane and where bypass road splits off the main road. That sort of area. It's a mixture of mostly family houses and huge beautiful houses that I can't afford.

Personally I wouldn't want to live around the Inham Road or any of the roads off there. (Sorry anyone who lives round there!!) It's not the worst place in the world but it's a bit rough round the edges.

We must have been typing at the same time Jibber!! But yes, exactly what Jibber said!

Not a big fan of Sandiacre tbh
But yes to Risley and breaston.
Also sawley is ok.

Thanks that's really helpful. Dh is in Nottingham today so I've told him to have a mooch round NG9 if he get the chance!

I live in Burton and ex used to commute daily to Notts, no problem.

One thing I would say about Ashby though is if you need to get into Burton you would probably end up going through Woodville and the Clock roundabout is an absolute nightmare at busy times, I hate going to Ashby for that reason.

Come to Burton, we are lovely! I live in a lovely part with really good schools, happy to give more info if you want to PM me :)

If you're thinking if burton, have you considered repton?

I would avoid Repton personally, because of the horrendous traffic at school run time, I know someone who moved away from there because of it, same with Willington.

Milton is nice though, and so is Newton Solney but far fewer houses in NS, so what comes up tends to be expensive.

Oh and Bretby, its nice there too.