Advice from parents living in Kent or Essex with young kids

[Islandgirl2]

Hiya,

I am in a difficult situation!

I am wanting to relocate to either Kent (Dartford/Gravesend) or Essex (witham) closer to mom but so many factors to consider. I have 2 kids and diversity and great schools are important ro me. I will just summarise what I have researched thus far. (I might be wrong?

Essex
2 grammar school for my girl which will be Chelmsford girl or 1 in Colchester.

I don't think the state schools are very good as only 49% of pupils achieve 5+ GCSE.

Less diverse unless living in commuter towns like Chelmsford.

Houses are within my budget.

Reasonable journey time to London.

Kent

More Grammar schools and better state schools.

Houses that meet my requirements would be top end of my budget.

More diverse

Fast train to London

I would appreciate some advice from anyone who has lived in these areas or anyone they know.

Thanks in advance

What type of diversity are you looking for precisely? Social/ethnic/political.

also have you looked at south Essex? Benfleet/Rayleigh side. Got good schools, safe neighbourhoods and growing diversity.

Where exactly is your mum?

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
Mom lives in Burnham on crouch. I am black and want to ensure my kids are exposed to a culturally diverse community.

I often wonder where black families live other than London where they feel accepted? I would want to hear from black mothers - where do you live?

Do you feel accepted & welcomed into group activities and chats etc or are you ignored by other white mums (yes this happens in some areas in England) and generally treated like an alien who can surely only be friends with the other ‘outsider types’.

I’ve been shocked by some of the things seen and heard by other black mothers.

Be interesting to hear of continuous positive family/friendships experiences in other parts of the UK + wider (natural unforced treated normally friendships) if they exist; because at this rate I think certain people should be ashamed of themselves.

How about Southend ? It’s got good diversity (there’s a zim community there).

basically anyway on the C2C line should be good

Medway is pretty diverse, and with fantastic commuter links to London.
The education is fantastic , but far more so if your child is suitable for grammar.
I would say though some areas are very white, and I'd be very careful which areas in terms of primary catchment, a mile can make such a difference in terms of diversity

ISWYM. Living by sea is also wonderful (minus the drunks and druggies?) What’s a zim community girls?

@RoseaLea123 zim = Zimbabwean

@Daisy03 thanks x

@justpreeing thanks x

I find it sad there are very little actual reports of inclusion from mums for them or their families:(

I have friends and family in all three Colchester, Chelmsford and Medway. All happy. Medway is least diverse but no problem. Nice market and shops too.
All happy with the grammar schools. My cousins and aunt have lived in Chelmsford since the 90s I remember when I first went to see them on the train I thought oh my do our people live here? Lol! They've since accumulated a large community of friends there. They're Africans and only 1 of my cousins 3 children were born here.