To kiss out dream of country living goodbye because of lack of schools?

[mmmflakycrust81]

I grew up in an idyllic village, very 'Darling Buds of May'. I have lived in London pretty much since my 20s, and always dreamed of moving back to raise my own family there.

I had started looking up properties in one of the larger villages in the area I grew up in (still has a train connection to London) and joined a local FB group to get an idea of what was going on. I saw a post today that stated the local primary school had 120 applicants for two 30 form classes from the village alone, let alone the neighbouring smaller villages which had no school. Children were therefore being placed at larger schools 15 or so miles away.

I can't see how we would be able to make that work, especially as I am unable to drive. I always imagined that we would be able to walk to school during the work day.

Is this going to be the case for most areas now? Complete lack of infrastructure development, especially while they build new and much-needed housing on the outskirts of these areas?

I feel like we are going to have to stay in London for that reason - there are at least 6 schools local to where we are, but I really wanted to get DD out of the city.

Is there a solution here that I am missing? Or is it a case of tough luck?

Just to add - I CANNOT drive because of vision issues, otherwise that would be the obvious answer!

I would ask around and see if you can work out what the issue is. In many idyllic country areas there was an influx of townies during covid so it might be a temporary problem. But look at secondary provision too. Many beautiful rural areas struggle for decent secondary education.

You’re being a bit dramatic based on one Facebook post. Your aren’t being forced to choose between just that one village school and staying in London for the rest of your life. 60 of those kids will get into that school as most move close enough to be one of them (date to guide that is available online). Or just move to a different village. I’m

But have you looked at the quality of the London schools near you? In some areas they really aren't great.

Will depend on the area, but yes that’s happening here. I live in a gorgeous rural village, which unfortunately happens to have become a tourist destination since covid. The amount of houses being built just in this village is going to swamp all services, the primary school is already over run . It’s heartbreaking. The size of the village is going to increase by over 2000 houses in 3 years. That’s nearly multiplying the size BY FIVE TIMES. It’s horrendous.

Surely there’s a compromise, why not move to a good size town in the country. No way I’d consider moving to rural if you can’t drive.

Do you know what happened the year before? Is this year just a blip? I’ve often wondered how it’s worked out for small populations, especially as in general, it seems that people have moved into cities and away from the more rural areas.

School bus?

My children go to the kind of school you describe and it is undersubscribed in some years.

This is partially because there are very few (probably under 20) houses within safe walking distance of the school.

It also has no public transport or wraparound care and no childminders who collect.

There are definitely downsides to very rural schools. Perhaps consider a larger village/market town that’s on a good public transport route.

I live in a rural backwater of Northamptonshire (probably not the sort of area you were looking at, but it's lovely here and just about commutable to London). The local primary schools are generally under-subscribed at the moment. I'd look around different areas, as it's not a problem affecting all rural areas.

Rural living often isn't practical if you don't drive. There may be minimal busses and poor amenities. Think really carefully about where you move to.

If you can't drive its not a good idea to live in a rural village. Forget schools for a moment. What about your dc and their clubs/ visiting their friends/ you meeting up with friends etc. It will be a nightmare getting around. Maybe your dream of a country life is a fantasy and staying in London would be easier all round. Walking every where and good public transport makes for a far easier life.

In Scotland local authorities provide free school transport for rural children who live beyond a designated distance from their school (either bus or taxi). Mine spent 12 years travelling by free school transport. I'm sure RUk does the same.

If you want to live rurally with children and no car you need a far more robust and determined mindset to make a go of it. How are you going to take them to the Dr's, will they have ANY social life outside school? How will you shop for food?

No it won't be like it everywhere. We are in this situation only because we moved mid year (try to avoid that!) but I know plenty of people/friends across the country that live rurally and go to their local schools.

But yes for the love of god don't move from London to a village without a driving licence!

In England, if it's over 3 miles (and I think less for infants) then the council has to provide transport.
If there's a number from the village then I suspect they'll provide a bus.

Thank you for all the measured responses and advice!

DH is learning to drive as I know we can't survive on the non-existent public transport rurally.

I absolutely will look elsewhere and perhaps a small town is going to be better suited to us than a village.......

I live rurally and my dc go to school more than 15 miles away, despite it being the closest school. So that doesn't sound impossible to me. I'd imagine there will be school transport.

I do think living rurally and not being able to drive is tricky though.

Everything is a balance. The difficulties of school access has probably been the biggest negative to living rurally, but we still think it is worth it.

Do you really want to rely on your DH to drive you everywhere though? I'd find that a bit depressing as an adult.

If you are vision impaired then you need to adjust your dream to include provisions for that and future degeneration of your eyesight if that's a possiblity in the future. I say that as someone who did live in the countryside with a mobility impaired parent.

That might be moving to a slightly less rural setting, or buying a house within walking distance to the school (doesn't solve the issue for secondary though!) or look into a school bus option or getting the driver in the family to do the school runs. Or you might find a parent who you could pay to do the school run for you.

Don’t know where in the world you’re looking, but our village school is nearly 1 form entry (only 5 classes across R - yr6). Another school nearby closed after the school went down to about 10 pupils across the same age range. Was very sad to see it close - but really wasn’t viable. Very rare you don’t get the place you want.

My kids were able to walk to primary school. But if you can’t drive, have you thought about how to manage secondary? My kids go on the dedicated school bus - but if they miss it or want to go to after school club then I need to drive them.

If you can’t drive I would suggest small market town, not village life. Buses are being cut from very occasional to non existent. We still have a village shop (and pubs) but there’s no guarantee for how long. If you can’t drive you will very soon feel trapped.

We live rurally in a pretty little village, it has "everything you need" but we'd also be screwed if we didn't drive! Kids clubs for example... The school is in walking distance, but many of their social activities, parties, swimming pool, proper shopping trips, are just not doable without a car. Public transport in alot of rural locations just aren't frequent or reliable enough to depend upon. Especially when you're used to the frequency and reliability of London transport. For example, our nearest city is about 30 min drive away, but to get a bus there, the bus only comes twice a day, and will take you over two hours to get into the city, with two changes along the way. Luckily we do have a train station, but we'd have to drive to the train station to use that anyway, and the trains aren't like in London. You miss one, and you're waiting at least an hour for the next! I think the school proximity, would just be the tip of the iceberg if I'm honest. I love where we live, would never want to live in the city, but without my own transport, I know I'd hate it here, and would resent being so restricted, especially if used to London life and how easy it is to get around without a car.

That sounds unusual. A lot of areas are seeing the drop in birthrate have a negative impact on school application numbers. Where I am the rural schools are under PAN this year and lots have been for a number of years.

Most LA’s have the school application numbers for this year and last year on their website to look at. Don’t just take the word of the local Facebook group, look for yourself, it might not be that bad.

In any case, the local authority have a statutory requirement to provide school transport over a certain distance. Two miles under the age of 8 and 3 miles over the age of 8. Or any distance if there is no safe walking route. Only applies if you apply to your catchment school, and either your catchment school is over the distance, or it’s full and you are placed at another school.

Even if your DH can learn to drive, I think living rurally is going to be a problem if you don't both drive. Schools are likely to be the least of your worries (there's often bus provision). Later on your kids will want to go to activities and clubs which will all require driving, and you will probably want to do the same. I grew up 3 miles from the nearest town and my parents had to drive us everywhere; in a village you may have some things within walking distance but most will still require a car, and it is going to be a strain if only one partner has to shoulder all the carting kids around.

Is this going to be the case for most areas now? Complete lack of infrastructure development, especially while they build new and much-needed housing on the outskirts of these areas?

Yes. Exactly this.

I live in a village on the outskirts of a town. We're constantly being battered by housing developments because we're close to a duel carriage way so apparently we have the infrastructure to cope.

But the primary school is full and unable to extend. The doctors surgery may as well be non existent as it's literally impossible to get an appointment. They are joined with another surgery 3 miles away and they always send patients there.

The nearest high school is 5 miles away so the council have to provide a bus service which is unreliable.