Bath vs Nottingham

[Zba99]

Hi we are planning to relocate (with 2DS) to either Bath or Nottingham. In terms of school (both primary and secondary), living, career opportunities (business IT) which one would be better? Please do give some advice. Thanksss

It’s also very mixed in terms of ethnicity if that’s a factor in your considerations

Lived in Nottingham for 23 years. It is great for shopping, has a concert hall and two theatres. The tram was only just in full service when I left. Opinion divided on its benefits. There are train lines out to the Trent villages, which are very pleasant but expensive e.g. Bleasby and the nearer Lowdham. Southwell, about 10 miles out is also worth a look. (Not on train line). Echo other contributions about West Bridgford as pleasant places to live and a good school, plus the Catholic secondary school out there. Also, walking distance to Trent Bridge and City Ground. Notts CC is anti-selective education, so if you are looking for a grammar school you won't get one. Nottingham Boys' High School is now co-ed. It is fee paying and you need to pass a stiff exam to get in. They also have Nottingham Girls' High School. South Nottingham area, e.g. Bunny, Bradshaw or East Leake also worth looking at for housing, also north of the town in the wider Arnold area. Yes, Nottingham has quite a high crime rate. I would balance that out by saying it is the friendliest place I ever lived, and I still get wistful when I revisit and someone calls me 'Duck.'

Loads of the high school kids go to school on the tram. There’s literally a stop called “High School” which stops at the entrance.

Actually my husband prefers Bath because it's comparatively a safer city, as from our research online.

Thanks @WednesdaysPlaits I get to know more about if we living and studying in Nottingham. Actually my husband prefers Bath for the family.

Where are your offers in Bath, OP? State school wise at secondary there is a boys (mixed 6th form), girls (mixed 6th form), a catholic on the outskirts and then St Marks, Oldfield and Ralph Allen.

Privately there is a selective day school, a Methodist Boarding/day, a Catholic Boarding/day,, a CofE Boarding/day and a girls Boarding/day.

Nottingham certainly has some “rough” areas and I suspect with a bit more digging you’d find that’s where the majority of the stats would come from. Avoid those areas and I don’t think there would be an issue. I would happily walk round most areas of nottingham in daylight, certainly all the central area. I’m happy walking round central areas at night. But I’d say there would be areas you wouldn’t want to go at night.

The beauty about going to independent schools is that you can live anywhere you like and don't have to worry about catchment areas. If your dh thinks Nottingham is a bit rough, you could live in a village or even bang in the middle of the countryside without any neighbours and commute into Nottingham. It's normal for dc to live as far as 25 miles away from independent schools. You'll get more house for your money in (and around) Nottingham, so that would be the defining point for me.

Hi, do you possibly know anything about other primary schools in wb like Greythorn or Heymann？I know they are also feeders for wbs but not sure how they compare with others？Thanks.

and also University academics' children？I do hear that it is now harder to get in as many Hong Kong children are competing for places and they are really competitive.

How in earth is Bath the graveyard of ambition?! I’ve never heard that in my life!

There’s a lot going on in Bath for teens nowadays but without the hostile edge of some big cities. Nightlife is vibrant and there’s a huge student population.

By train it’s ten minutes from Bristol and an hour from London, has a thriving arts scene and amazing food. Spoilt for choice with schools (primary and secondary), minutes from the countryside and did I mention it’s beautiful?

I'm from Nottingham OP. If your kids have offers for the high school then you're clearly in private school territory and expecting the fees. Therefore I'm going to assume you also have the budget and means to live in a nice area too. There are loads of nice villages and areas in Nottingham. Transport is generally good and the city has lots going on.

I don't think there's anything in bath. Bristol is better

Bath - without a shadow of a doubt!

I live in Keynsham- slap bang in the middle of Bristol and Bath. 10 minutes by train and 25 minutes by bus to either city.
We also have good schools (although no private or special schools) at both primary and secondary level. To be honest I don't really think there is a "bad" school in BANES compared with schools falling under City of Bristol authority.