To move to Folkestone - tell me all!

[Putthedamnlidonit]

Hi everyone,

We are considering a move to Folkestone from Portslade as the schools are better and we would like to get a bit more for our money. We have a budget of 700k max, have three children toddler -age 7. We are quite alternative and like the liberal feel of Brighton but can't afford a decent house and garden there. Have read through some awful threads about Folkestone but no recent ones. So, is it nice? Schools look excellent, are there plenty of things to do with kids, similar to Brighton and Portslade? We like where we live but are fed up of having a tiny garden. No need to commute to London anymore. Any advice much appreciated! Thanks!

@Livebythecoast I've been here 2.5 years and honestly feel like we've won the lottery. And I live in a much more modest part of town than the op is considering.

My children love it too and dd1 is having a brilliant time at FSG.

@TheClitterati - that's lovely to hear that you and your DC enjoy living here. It's a great place to bring up children.

I’ve now had a chance to read the whole thread. Good Grief.

I wouldn’t take notice of someone who doesn’t actually live in a town they are commenting on.

The person above stating that Margate is full of ‘skagheads’, someone else stating that Herne Bay is full of ‘chavs’ – some of the language used on this thread almost made me clutch at my pearls.

The SW London poster with a second home in Hythe cannot be genuine, surely. She is rubbishing the Folkestone grammar schools, but those are usually the only grammar schools that Hythe children can attend.

Hythe does not have any grammar schools of its own. And many years the Ashford grammars are much too far and too oversubscribed to get into from a Hythe address.

Fact - Hythe only has one secondary school, Brockhill Park School. I’ve never known a Hythe child turn down a Folkestone Grammar place in favour of Brockhill School.

In 2019, only 20% of Brockhill pupils got grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared to a national average of 43%.

In 2018, again only 20% of Brockhill pupils got grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared to the same national average of 43%.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/137458/brockhill-park-performing-arts-college/secondary/results-over-time?accordionstate=4|5

Anyone can cherry pick statistics and bits of reports and write them here. However these league tables ignore what a school is really like and that can only be gleaned from people actually attending the school.

Folkestone is not the only Kent district to set its own 11 Plus test (the 'Shepway Test'). It is very well known that some other districts do it too. Folkestone, like some other districts, felt that the Kent Test was not sufficiently identifying potential, which was the original aim of the 11 Plus. They worked with Durham University to devise a test that would minimise the impact of tutoring which was felt to favour more affluent families, over those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. Twice, the Schools Adjudcator has found that this is lawful.

Yes, Folkestone has some deprivation, just like almost every other town in the UK. However, they also have some fantastically committed schools and teachers.

The SW London lady (cakeisalwaystheanswer) compares Tonbridge Grammar School’s fantastic exam results against Folkestone Girls Grammar slightly lower results. I don’t have up to date figures, but Tonbridge Grammar is well known for offering a staggering number of places (41%) to children from private preps. This Guardian article states:

In 2012, 41% of Tonbridge Grammar placement offers were to pupils from a private prep.

In 2012, 0.61% of Folkestone Girls Grammar placement offers were to pupils from a private prep.

In 2012, 1.33% of Harvey (Folkestone Boys) Grammar placement offers were to pupils from a private prep.

www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/apr/27/grammar-schools-intake-kent

Tonbridge is known for parents paying for prep school to get their children through the 11 Plus and these parents often carry on tutoring through GCSEs and A Levels. As someone says above, people in Folkestone tend not to send their children to private preps or tutors in order to coach them for the 11 Plus. Some can’t afford it, while others are just not inclined that way. The same goes for GCSE and A Level tutoring. At the moment, most Folkestone children I know are not tutored relentlessly over the years. There is much more tutoring where I live now in Canterbury.

Regarding the figures quoted by cakeisalwaystheanswer: Simon Langton Boys Grammar (Canterbury) and Simon Langton Girls Grammar (Canterbury) admit students only if they have passed the Kent Test (they do not set their own test), and Simon Langton Boys admits boys with the higher scores first. The Simon Langton Grammar schools are very sought after.

However both Simon Langton Boys Grammar and Simon Langton Girls Grammar have the same average A Level score as Folkestone Girls Grammar (i.e. an average grade of B-). The Schools Adjudicator specifically states that it is impossible to say which is easier out of the Kent Test and Shepway Test.

And the Simon Langton Grammar results rather prove that point because the Simon Langton Grammars use the Kent Test for admissions, while Folkestone Grammars uses both the Kent Test and Shepway Test for admissions; however both the Simon Langton Grammars and the Folkestone Grammars achieve exactly the same average A Level grade (a B-)

All Kent grammar schools are highly regarded as far as I know from my research for my own children’s education. Folkestone isn’t perfect, but its grammar schools are considered to be excellent.

I’d happily move to Hythe, Folkestone, Deal, Broadstairs, Sandgate, Kingdown, Walmer, Tankerton and Whitsable but I don’t think I will ever be able to afford to. Kent is just beautiful.

cakeisalwaystheanswer - Good Lord. The article you link to does NOT say that Folkestone is one of the most deprived areas in Kent as you state. It says that two electoral wards (but not any of the other Folkestone electoral wards) are in the deprived list. Those electoral wards have a high level of social housing.

I do not see anyone disputing above that there are issues in some parts of East Folkestone. All towns have rougher spots, and anyone who denies this is telling porkie pies. The Times newspaper ranked Margate and Folkestone as the 3rd and 8th coolest places to live in the UK in 2017, but again I would take that with a pinch of salt – you can’t believe everything you read.

Out of all the areas I listed above, Broadstairs is my favourite. Some consider it twee and it is distinctly lacking in culture and arts (unless you count Folk Week with its morris dancers and so forth).

Folkestone is probably my second or third favourite area in Kent. However, it is more gritty and experimental with things like the Triennial, Book Festival, Harbour Arm, Old High Street and Creative Quarter.

OP you ask about same-sex couples. I know two same sex couples in Folkestone and they have never had any trouble that I am aware of. Both couples are very open about their relationship.

You also ask about neighbourhoods. Yes, both Audley Road and Herdson Road are in what is considered a safe, middle class neighbourhood. Its very family-friendly in my experience. Audley Road has St Georges Church (a modern building), which until a couple of years ago was home to an Ofsted Outstanding rated nursery which was very sought after by parents. The nursery has now relocated to purpose built premises near Harcourt Primary. St Georges Church used to have a great art/messy play session for children and it may still be running, plus other classes/events in the church hall. The most danger I have ever encountered on Audley Road is nearly getting mowed down by the grammar school girls walking and not looking where they are going because they are glued to their mobile phones.

Houses get bigger as you move from the station towards the seafront. The best houses are on the seafront, but out of the reach of most budgets (including mine!) But houses near the station are still spacious and many have large gardens.

Folkestone West End is a bit of a middle class bubble. It even has its own high speed train station (Folkestone West), which is full of people commuting. (If you live nearer to the centre of town, you can also use Folkestone Central train station.) Some find Folkestone’s main high street depressing (me included), and instead go to the independents on the Old High Street for their coffee fix. The Old High Street and Creative Quarter are definitely a work in progress, but have come on hugely in the last few years. This is an excellent coffee place:

www.steepstreet.co.uk/steep-street-ethos/

On the other side of Folkestone West station is Cheriton, which is another suburb of Folkestone. This is considered a solid working class neighbourhood, with roads of Victorian houses. More incomers are also moving to this area because it is considered safe and respectable. It has a busy main road, but is also home to a post office, Coop, library, Costa Coffee, a butchers, various charity shops, etc.

My main gripes about Folkestone are: No huge Marks & Spencer in the town; you have to go across the Dartford Tunnel to get to the nearest Ikea; the Harbour Arm closes in winter; I wish there wasn’t a 5-10 minute traffic queue every morning near the bridge; I wish that when commuting from Kent to London in the winter it wasn’t dark by the time I get back to Kent.

I live in Folkestone, well Cheriton to be precise and have messaged you

Massive thank you everyone, especially Bertha, so much helpful info and tips, can't wsit to re visit Folkestone soon!

@BerthaBear - just to say I have found your posts extremely informative and interesting. You obviously know what you're talking about - thank you.
I'm glad the OP hasn't been totally put off moving here by people who visited once for a day trip when they were 7 and view Folkestone as a dump etc.

We moved from London to Folkestone 6 years ago after reading an article about the regeneration and fell in love with the area. We originally bought our place for week-ends and decided 2 years ago to move permanently to save money and because we enjoyed the town so much. We live in the West End and our budget was half yours so I can tell you with 700K you can find some nice houses between Folkestone and Sandgate. Folkestone went downhill like many coastal town in the 70s-90s but the town has enormously changed the past 6-8 years thanks to huge investment. The top of the high street is grim and the East part of the town has loads of deprived issues, but again like many other towns. The food scene has exploded with plenty of nice independent restaurants. There are more private investment due to happen in the town which makes it even more exciting. We especially like the greenery of the town. From the Leas Promenade to the Warren and especially the Lower Leas Park, it s lush and you can go paddle boarding directly from your home as there is no main road on the seafront so the beach and the promenade are very quiet and unspoiled. People who choose to live here absolutely love it. Since we moved...4 friends (gays, straights etc) from London have joined us after visiting us the past few years and 2 more are now looking at houses especially after the Covid. One last thing: the high street can be depressing, but Canterbury is not far and we occasionally take the speed train (return off peak £24.00) to London in 54 mns if we want to do some shopping or to just hang out with friends.

www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/travel/a27583394/why-folkestone-is-kents-most-underestimated-seaside-town/

www.instagram.com/folkestoneisbeautiful/?hl=en

Hope not too late to write here. Went today to Folkestone, as I’m thinking to move down there and never visited before... The harbour very nice, people so friendly, High street indeed a bit down , but thinking I have all the shops I need ( food wise ) . I buy mostly on-line anyway.. Reading some negative comments about it, makes me wonder if I should reconsider another one place to live in Kent ?!🤔

Aww we got married near Hythe.. port Lypmne hotel!! Why don’t you move to tunbridge wells? Amazing schools there. We’re in Beckenham but planning to move to tunbridge next year

What a coincidence , I’m in Beckenham too . I love TW , but my budget is quite limited to £180 and must have a private garden. Bit of struggle unless I move further out

Whitstable is not all that, OP. It really isn't. Someone has already mentioned the tiny cramped high street, hugely inflated house prices, nowhere to park if you live any where remotely near the town, (even out of season) and of late a big problem with street fighting and blokes using cars to race around the roads at night.

And it has only one secondary school so it's a bus or train ride to the closest alternatives. Very nice primary schools though. The Grammar in Faversham is the Queen Elizabeth.

Definitely Whitstable, you'd get a lovely house for £700k. In most of these towns if you live in a nicer area of the town you can avoid the dodgy elements just like any town. I live in one of them. My DD goes to an Ofsted outstanding school, hopefully will go onto a grammar, does lots of extra curriculars etc, we have a quiet stretch of beach at the end of our road. It lovely.

I live in a village near Folkestone. Been thru good bad and now good again
I grew up with the outdoor pool and the amusent arcades and the rotunda. My early adulthood it was definitely deprived and run down. I was by then living in Hythe and you’d not want to particularly associate yourself with Folkestone 😂
Was just nothing ness
However it’s back to being a bloody great place. My daughter dipped out but my grandkids will get all the lovely parks and activities.
We have so much culture and so many restaurants and cafes. Beautiful walks, hills and beaches, Sandy and pebbles.
It’s actually back to being nice. BUT I live in a house around your budget so I’m no longer in the east end where I spent my early adulthood.
That’s still a tad rundown

Brighton area to Folkestone. I hope you like disappointment.

I've lived in Folkestone all my life and probably I'm not impartial about the place! I love it and wouldn't live anywhere else. You'd be happy here I'm sure but there is one thing_ lots of people move here from London and the services are struggling so finding a Dr, dentist or a place in a good school may not be as easy as you hoped.

.

I grew up in Capel-Le-Ferne, absolutely beautiful little village on top of the cliffs, although that was 20 years ago so it may now be different. I have siblings in the Folkestone area who say it's terrible compared to 10 years ago, lots of crime, shops going out of business, all rundown and the only thing going for the area is the beach and views but apparently it's gradually improving. I'd move back if I had a chance.

I think the town centre is a bit rundown and shitty as others have stated but with your budget you can get something nice in one of the surrounding villages.

I love Kent. I am very jealous.

I too grew up in a village nearby, went to FSFG. Had a great time at school but could not wait to escape. We used to get the bus to Canterbury a lot for shopping and going out. The regeneration is great though. The old high street always did have the arty shops. I wouldn’t move there but that’s just because I am from there. If not I’d move to the west or sandgate.

Dear Putthedammlidonit
I have read this thread a few times and wondered if you ever moved. Im also thinking of moving to folkestone for a myriad of reasons(im not afraid of edgy) I currently live in N London (not the nice bit)but am originally am from N Ireland countryside where towns are generally not great in general. Im looking for sense of community, countryside and quirky as im not the twee or jam and scone kinda gal! Im just wanting to hear if your deicision was to go to Folkestone and if in fact its going well
Any of the pro folkestone threaders want to reply that would be great Im not at the point of wondering why I made this decision....and needing some encouragement to get my s**t together. I have 2 kids and a3 third big huschild and I work ft in an east London tertiary hospital which I will aim to commute

Thanks BeeeMac

that is meant to read I currently live in London but am from N Ireland !

I'm from Folkestone @BeeeMac, it's perfect for children. You have beaches (pebbles and sandy) an old fashioned fun fair (Dymchurch) two wildlife parks, water sports, several forests and woods, the kent downs,, hythe canal for fishing rowing and kayaking , quaint shops in the old Hythe Street, Hythe and Canterbury, local food festivals along with the excellent seafood stalls in the harbour and a venitianfete every other year in Hythe, which is just down the road
Hopefully the air show will return soon too
You can go from the deepest country to the beach in half an hour
Schools are generally good, the east end schools pastoral care in very good I my experience the teachers genuinely care about their pupils
There are of course problems wherever you go but it depends on your perspective. I wouldn't live in the direct harbour area for instance
There are lots of social groups that arrange meet ups and walks which would help you get to know people
Loads of people move from London and love it