To ask Mumsnet to find me a house ?!?

[NewHorizons2020]

In the process of separating from miserable husband. I’ve realised that I am not the reason for his unhappiness and I cannot live like this anymore. Two kids, one turns two soon and one will hopefully get a space at grammar in 2021.I don’t know what budget is but Solicitor wants to make a claim for 600 K. How realistic this is, I don’t know. So I am thinking if we get half of that Id be super happy. My Family live in Fleetwood, Lancs so need to be close to there, but also in catchment for Lancaster Girls Grammar and a good back up secondary. Budget GBP 200 K to 300 K ? A lovely garden and a home with a happy vibe.. How realistic are divorce solicitor’s estimations ?!?

@reefedsail the rural property is really lovely ! Thank You for sharing.

@jesuispoulet - Ive gotten to 42 without realising you could do that on Zoopla, thank you !

@yelyah22 - some of your suggestions Id already placed in my rightmove favourites. Regarding that incredible house your friend lived in, are the primaries and the secondary close by good ? Unfortunately Ive heard awful things about Fleetwood High so am trying to avoid that catchment.

@HuggedTheRedwoods I absolutely love that seafront cottage. I dont get the two kitchens though. Do you think it once two separate flats ?

We had originally planned for both two go independent but not sure now if I can afford GBP 12 K plus extras annually. It really depends on settlement and he can be quite miserly.

Its always possible its been flats I guess, but I think having a kitchen upstairs is more likely to have been done to take advantage of using upstairs as a main living area, to take in the better river and bay views. I know a few seafront houses like that, some are completely 'upside down' with the main living area upstairs and the bedrooms downstairs.

What have you heard about Fleetwood High? It will have it challenges I dont doubt, but I dont think it is a particularly bad school and there are some very good teachers there. I wouldn't write the whole school off without further research.

Is renting or staying with family for a while an option for you to have an extended stay (post lockdown of course!) and get a feel for the area yourself?

@NewHorizons2020 I'm not sure on primaries in that area (but there are quite a few, and I'll ask!) - they do have a CofE high school, St Aidan's, very close by which is good, and I think you'd be in the catchment for Hodgson Academy which has a really good reputation.

I’m really liking this thread.

@HuggedTheRedwoods yes I think you are right re the kitchens - Ive tried contacting the EA yesterday but it keeps ringing out. I am trying to avoid renting and just want the kids to move from this home to their new home with no stop gaps, but, we shall see if that is do-able or not.

@yelyah22 - Thank You for the tip regarding Hodgson Academy, the school wasnt on my radar previously and it does look good. Thank You !

Try going to the EA own website homepage, they often have webchats and different contact info from Rightmove. Good luck, do keep us updated if you get to viewing stage!

If you want Hodgson then you will have to live in Poulton, it has a very small catchment area. You would probably also be in the catchment for St Aidens which is a good school (the catchment reaches as far as Fleetwood, although not many manage to get in from there). Millfield school is in Thornton and is also very good. As for Fleetwood high, it is actually a very good school, you will struggle to find a better headteacher. He tends to focus on the children as opposed to results tables and does what’s best for the individual.

@forgivemeimnew - thats fantastic information, thank you ! I was going off what my brother in law has told me as he grew up in the area, his info though may pre-date the arrival of Fleetwood High's head teacher. Just need to get the financials sorted and using Rightmove as my comfort crutch for a happy future in a nice home.

I’m sure it does pre-date this headteacher. I also grew up in the area and Fleetwood only had 2 high schools. One being Fleetwood High School and the other being Cardinal Allen which is a catholic school, at that time CA was very strict with their intake and it was hard to get in, as the only other school with no church affiliation FHS had to accept any children that had been excluded from CA and sometimes schools out of town, therefore, they had a lot of ‘naughty’ children with an obligation to keep them.
That was 20 years ago and since then the school has been rebuilt, had lots of money pumped into it and no longer has those restrictions, unfortunately some people live in the past and can’t seem to see its progress. As it currently stands it’s CA that I wouldn’t want to send my children to.
I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about the area.