AIBU to consider moving to Dorset?

[surreygirl1987]

DH and I are ready to change jobs and would like to move in time for our oldest to start primary school. An opportunity has come up in Dorset, near Poole. However, I've never actually been there. We currently live in Surrey. Is Poole really dull or is there plenty to do down there for young families / a couple in their 30s? We like sports events (runs, mudruns, obstacle course races, open water swimming), events (like food festivals and Christmas fairs type things), games like escape rooms and treasure hunts, national trust places, restaurants, watching theatre.... Outskirts of Brighton would be ideal for us but job just hasn't come up there. Would we find Poole / Bournemouth okay?

Also happy to help with school investigations. It can be complicated as there are various different arrangements between primary/secondary depending on catchment areas, plus we have a number of grammar schools still. Even if your DC are primary age now, it’s always worth thinking about senior schools and which feeders schools are in the same pyramid.

@MollyButton phew 😄

@ATowelAndAPotato that's incredibly kind of you and other posters. Thanks so much.

Hi. Sorry to jump on the post but it seems active and everywhere i post so far gets no replies.

I'm moving to the Christchurch/ Bournemouth area and I'm just about to put an offer on a house. Got it wrong the first time so had very little sleep last night thinking it over need some help!. Fell in love with a house in Springbourne but the far end of holdenhurst rd near kings park but Im at a loss trying to find a decent secondary school that isnt a Grammar or Private school... Please tell me im missing something here and there's a decent state school option around there. Alternatively I found a much smaller property that we dont exactly love but we could make work in the Twynham catchment in Christchurch... Dont know what to do Head or heart. Im hoping someone can bring a school to light ive not heard of yet so I can save my dream and move into that lovely house!

@MrsJayMumof3 that area of springbourne and holdenhurst road etc is really iffy. The secondaries in catchment won't be great at all. Personally I would avoid at all costs.

I actually went to Twynham. It's an amazing school. It does really well and is very sought after. I without doubt would go for that house. the catchment for Twynham is all really good so if the house is within catchment I wouldn't be concerned whereas springbourne is really iffy.

St Peter's is another very good secondary so if you can find a house within that catchment you would be on to a winner too @MrsJayMumof3

@Mumofsend Thanks for the quick reply. It does explain why The lovely 1 off house we saw in Springbourne could be purchased for a good 20k less than the small and modest property in Christchurch. Yes its right within the catchment for Twynham which is great. We hoped Springbourne would be in the Winton catchment but its not! I will check put St peter catchment now thanks for the recommendation.

I moved out of Dorset to Suffolk...but Dorset is not bad if you avoid the bits that border with Hampshire.

@MrsJayMumof3 Springborne has quite a drug and prostitution issue. It seems to be where all the half way houses have ended up so it's ended up a big issue.

I think St Peter's covers areas like Pokesdown which are more affordable but without the same issues.

I moved from Surrey to the outskirts of Poole over 20yrs ago for work & there is no way I would move back. From reading your post it sounds as though Dorset would be perfect for you. Having been here pre-children in my 20’s, with young children in my 30’s & now with 12-20yr olds in my 40’s I can safely say there has been something for all of us at every age. The sandy beaches, the New Forest, Bournemouth, Poole harbour with numerous water sports, Corfe Castle...There are also numerous runs friends participate in. There are various Christmas markets that can be easily reached, food/fish festivals too & the BIC at Bournemouth is really good, plus the Lighthouse theatre in Poole. Trust me, the lanes in Brighton may be fun to browse in, but who wants a stony beach.
Welcome to Dorset.

Christchurch seemed very safe and peaceful I have to say but the compromise is a smaller house than we are used to and my 2 DS's sharing a room which will mean more bickering for us to endure lol. Is it possible to walk to a beach from Christchurch or is it just a bit too far?

@MrsJayMumof3 purely thinking of where we lived when I went to Twynham.. definitely! You would have hengistbury within easy walking (albeit a rather long road). Mudeford has beaches. Southbourne beach I spent pretty much my entire teen years on.

Do it, Poole is lovely. I went to uni in Bournemouth and I'm not much of the club type. Could you do a two week holiday down here and see what you think?

@Mumofsend that is very important info and a vital piece in making my decision to walk away from the house in Speingbourne so thank you. I have been visiting BCP viewing properties in Charminster ( Which we liked) for the last 4 weekends only to find that Charminster is not in catchment for Winton either, so bit of a waste of time and money. Agent then recommended we see this one in Springbourne but a local mom in Charminster suggested we look at Christchurch where she planned to move with her children for Twynham School.. Its good to talk!!

@Badgerstmary hanks very much... I'm sold! We're now looking into the job situation ... a few things to think about work-wise... Fingers crossed!

@MrsJayMumof3 charminster is harmless but predominantly students these days.

Christchurch is a really good quality of life for teens so you can't really go wrong!

YABU

Good to hear as i always find parking near the beaches difficult and annoying. I'm now thinking the house is a compromise worth making as all else seems to work really well for us. We live near a forest now so I am looking forward to being near to the New Forest when we move in the next few months!

Do it!

@surreygirl1987 if the numbers in your name are anything to go by we may be the same age. How old are DC? I really hope your move goes well. I'm sold as well.

As you are considering Poole one thing I have learnt along the way searching for properties is that Parkstone is lovely but do your research if you come across property near the Rossmore side of Parkstone particularly the schools.

I now live in the rossmore area school catchments although not in Rossmore. The primary schools are amazing, all oversubscribed. My DCs school are fantastic but I would have been happy with any. St Aldhelms academy has had an awful time in the past but it seems to be finally sprinting ahead. Obviously reputations take time to erase. There's the grammar schools. Then there's Magna academy which is incredibly strict but good results. Poole high is really good. St Edwards is very religious and I don't know masses but has a good reputation. It's only really St Aldhelms that is a bit dodgy.

The schools are all big though. Primary and secondary!

I have lived in bothSurrey and Dorset. Much prefer Dorset. It’s beautiful.

St Peters is catholic and over subscribed so unless you fit that criteria unlikely to get in there, As others have said Twynham better bet.

Don't rely on Southampton airport for international flights. Flybe were the main airline there but have now gone bust. I don't think any company has come forward to take those routes over.