Is there anywhere in Britain where the housing is cheap(er) and the schools are good?

[SpawnChorus]

DH is planning on looking for another job in the next couple of years, and it would make sense to move somewhere with good schools. Does this always mean paying through the nose for a house?

Yorkshire is a mahhosive county - you're going to have to be more specific...
eg in my town (N Yorks) a bog standard 3 bed semi in an ok area is @ £220k. Go to a 'nice' area in this town and it is £320k+

mahooosive

North Esat England and Sheffield

Yorkshire cheap? where? where? as far as I'm aware young families can no longer afford an "entry level" property in the area where I live. Forget about one under the catchment of a good secondary school. Now most primaries are quite good in my city but even a house in a bad area and in derelict condition won't cost less than 150,000.

Now, being a bit cynical, don't pay so much attention to the reports on good schools, because sometimes the school is doing good because they are nested in a highly academic area rather than because they are doing a fantastic work.

i.e. I know is not a primary, but my former university's nursery has had some wonderful OFSTED reports, although everybody who has used it is completely aware that it is no more than a place to park your pushchair with baby in it and collect it 3 hours letter exactly where you left it and with your baby still sleeping in it. I never saw the staff doing other thing than chatting between them, no activities, no organised play, but still the children seem to be doing great academically, but I suspect that is due to the fact that they are the children of an academic community who takes great pleasure in providing plenty of educational activities. Most school in the area have wonderful reports but I hear the parents complaining about the schools all the time.

My brother's buying in Harrogate or trying to and that is certainly not cheap.

The other problem with cheap areas and I know a lot of people who move to Devon etc is they want to get work there or start businesses and no one has any money and when their children want to get jobs there aren't jobs so in a sense you might be better in a more expensive area.

what's his budget and spec list Xenia? - I love a spot of fantasy house buying...

I'd better not say and I think fingers crossed they've at last found a house.

oh well done for your discretion . It's a lovely place to live!

Parts of Bolton and even parts of Salford

Northern Ireland? Good schools and may be housing not so expensive?

Go and live in Haverhill (Suffolk) but get your DCs into a Cambridgeshire school

no, property prices in northern ireland have sky rocketed and the political situation is still far from ideal.

What doe sDH do as well as that may help us choose an area?

Ha ha... SpawnChorus has gone... She's already moved to WF5!!!

This is all very academic and irrelevant without a bit more guidance.

One person might think a 'cheap' house has to be under £100,000 or perhaps £150,000. Someone else might think themselves lucky to get a 3-bed semi in a decent area for £300,000.

So SpawnChorus, any clues? I'm always up for a challenge but I need a bit more data!

DH grew up in Garforth, Leeds. He is always aghast that our local "shinging light" North London comprehensive is no better than Garforth Comp (actually slightly lower in league table terms). The houses in our area are about 4 times the price of Garforth. So yes, parts of Yorkshire, some suburbs of Leeds, are worth looking at.

Yes, someone could do some relative tables - A and A* GCSE grades and local house prices table or something. Northern Ireland has grammar schools and some people say Scotland's highers etc are better. Or perhaps travel in possible - live in the cheap area and drive chidlren to the better school but that won't work with state catchment areas. Loads of people move to Kent and Bucks for better state grammar schools but usually the house prices are then higher.

Some parents use state boarding schools so I suppose then you choose to live wherever is cheapest of all for house prices but most desirable depending on what you like and you don't need to live near the school to go do it. A few people park the children and wife in France, attend French schools and commute to England to work.

Many parts of Scotland would probably meet your requirements of good Schooling and cheaper housing.

What about this one - £275,000
www.bellingram.co.uk/property-sales/culnacraig.html

link here

but you're too late, i'm already packing....

Suffolk Coastal, if you ignore Aldeburgh & Southwold the house prices are OK. There is a great choice of village & small town primary schools they are generally not oversubscribed but fantastic. The only downside is the secondary schools can potentially be a long bus ride but are good.
Depends how rural you want to be.

Scotland - as long as you avoid Edinburgh and the posher bits of Glasgow.

Lancashire is supposed to be good for reasonable housing and good schools.

I would not recommend the town I live in, it is an acquired taste but as an example to give you an ideas I live on the outskirts of town, very safe area. I think my house is worth about £150 -160 but you can get similar to mine form about £130K whihc is a three bedroom nice semi on a good road near exvellent primary school and in ther catchment of two very good state secondaries.

I wouls also say scotland it is something we considered.