Moving to NI: Education

[Popcornlassie28]

Hi,

Husband has been offered a job in NI and thinking of taking it. We have two children 6 and 3.

My question is would the children be okay in schools in NI being from England? I’ve heard a mix between of opinions. I’m just worrying about bullying, teasing and not making friends due to their accents etc.

We obviously don’t want to start any political debate on here so please kind messages only. It’s a genuine question as we just want to settle and be part of the community.

Thank you

They’ll be absolutely fine.
schools in Northern Ireland are of a much higher standard than England.
pick your area carefully for a more multicultural approach.
im sure some of us can help advise on areas.

@UncharteredWaters Thank you so much!❤️ We would be moving and knowing nobody so appreciate all the advice. We was thinking Larne/Ballymena (been told to avoid Carrickfergus) but please give any helpful suggestions.

Thank you for being so kind.

No one will mind about English accents, especially at those young ages and especially not in the areas you mention which would tend to be more British than Irish.

I don't know those areas well, but NI in general is fab, I'm from Dublin originally and love it here. I have kids the same ages as yours and have been very happy with the education and childcare they've had. Good luck!

Larne or Ballymena have good schools, although more options in Ballymena as it's a bigger town. Schools in Ballyclare are excellent (it's a small town between Larne and Ballymena).
Good luck with the move!

Ballymena would be my preference over larne, more to do, nicer town, surrounding areas etc.
excellent schools in both, more choice in ballymena. Closer to the north coast as well.
ballyclare schools also good!
fire away with any questions and I’ll do my best.

@Popcornlassie28 I’m from NI and would move back in a heartbeat. Hubby not so keen.
youd probably do better posting this in the craicnet section.
id agree with pp that generally education is of a better standard than in England, but as with England there are schools in better and worse areas. If you are planning to stay long term be aware that at senior level they operate a full 11+/grammar school system, which you may need to have your child tutored for (if you are happy with the grammar concept), but it’s not the same scramble for places as in England as there are 67 grammar schools across the province.
if I was moving back to NI I wouldn’t choose Larne or Ballymena- I’d want to be closer to Belfast, which is much more cosmopolitan and multicultural. If I had to choose it would Ballymena. Both are commutable from Belfast.
finally do be prepared for a culture shock. It is a very different way of life ……in a good way I think!
good luck x

Avoid Larne like the plague! Where’s the job?
Schools are generally of much higher standard, but bear in mind there is still the 11+ and I thought the phonics and maths that my children were taught in England were noticeably superior to whatever my nephew had in Belfast.

@shockeditellyou I’ve heard that Larne is to be avoided before but someone said to me it wasn’t that bad😂 I liked the fact it was near the water. The job is in Belfast as the base but is WFH as he works in IT.
We could be open to anywhere really in NI, we was advised to say Larne/Ballymena area due to the quick line back into Belfast.

I will bear the 11+ in mind as my oldest is going up now into Y2 so she’s got time to catch up if she is a little behind compared. Thank you!

@Purpletractor Thank you so much for replying! I should have posted in there, thanks for the heads up☺️

Happy with the grammar school concept and happy for tutoring if needed. The education seems to be a much higher standard? It’s nice go know we won’t be panicking about a place as 67 is not a bad number at all!

Thank you for the heads up☺️ I will look a little closer towards Belfast and see what we can find. Larne was very cheap for housing and I think that was a draw for us🤣 I now know maybe why?!

We would be open to all of NI really it’s just finding areas that would suit our family and have a friendly feel. Antrim was another one that looked great to us.

Haha thank you! It will be completely different and looking forward it. X

@CelesteCunningham Thank you☺️ I’m so glad you are happy in NI. I know we will be as well, such a lovely place!

@Carelesswispalover Thank you! Larne isn’t coming out well favoured, I must admit!🤣

@UncharteredWaters Larne never seems to be the 1st choice, on further research we have done and here😂
Would there be any areas you would avoid as a family?
We are open to all areas in NI, we was thinking that area as we was advised there, however, open to all☺️ Where would be a location you would recommend?

Thank you!

Schools in NI are generally a higher standard than England and very unlikely they'll be teased for their accents. Larne is a very grey and dull port town, it wouldn't be my choice. If you're looking for somewhere that direction, Ballyclare is a good choice. Good schools and lots of new houses being built. Lots of people commute into Belfast.

If you just need access to Belfast, I'd be looking at North Down on the other side of the Lough. The commute will be longer but not too bad. It's lovely here. Biased!

Goodness don't move to Larne! It's a port town, and the port pretty much moved to Belfast! Literally nothing there to interest you.

Look at the schools and roads as people moaning about the traffic is entirely different to England. Basically no one drives any further than 15 minutes drive. No matter the actual distance! "Ooh that's a bit far" would be a 25 min drive. So spend time looking at google maps to see actual driving times.

Are you going as tourists to check it out? There's lovely towns but you not be comfortable with flags and painted flagstones?

Lots of English people move to Hillsborough

The schools are stricter yes but there's not ofstead like in England so I'm not sure the standards in all schools are that great.

Good god, not Larne! Ballymena is okay, but it wouldn't be one of my first picks if I were moving back. I would go for North Down, maybe Bangor or Holywood (depending on budget). The other side of Belfast Lough is nice in parts too. I have always thought Whitehead and the surrounding area seem nice, but I don't know anyone who lives here so not sure what the communities are like.

Agree with others, avoid larne and carrick. Ballymena and Antrim are ok. There's great schools everywhere though. Personally I'd go someone where there is less of a 'flag' culture- which there is in all the 4 above towns.

What's your housing budget? If you can afford it Jordanstown area is fab (5 miles south of carrick). Very mixed and 'middle class' area. Near to the beach/ shore with cafes/ shops/ bars/ restaurants. On a train line into Belfast in 10 minutes. Great primaries including a grammar school.

Whitehead like someone mentioned is on a stunning part of the coastline, and on the Trainline, but knowing people that live there it feels quite insular. Families have lived there forever.

The other side of the lough is beautiful too but the traffic and general busyness pits me off.

I moved back with English dc and dh. Never an issue with accents. Feel free to dm me.

Also, if you're considering commuting, there's currently huge work being done on the railways due to a new city centre station opening in the autumn - one of the main train lines and several of the Belfast stations are closed for the summer.

If you can't find normal timetables, ask on here, someone will be able to give you a rough idea.

Also my dc moved and went into P5 (year 4). She was behind in her maths by quite a bit as there's more focus on that here. Her literacy was excellent though! But also the primary she moved to was quite academic (about 90% went to grammar her year). We did get a tutor and she made great progress in maths. She's now at a grammar.

I agree that Jordanstown is a good shout. Larne is horrible. Honestly, horrible. I would not live in Ballymena either. It is quite sectarian. You would be grabbing English there, but do you want exposed to that?

There are lots of great places in Belfast. Also in North Downif you want to be near the sea. Though NI is tiny really, you are never that far from the sea!

Avoid Larne and Ballymena! You want to be in Belfast. Did you say where you lived in England and are you selling a house? If you are in SE England you could easily buy a fantastic house in Belfast. Belfast has many excellent schools. Bangor has a good grammar school and is near the sea.

Jordanstown is a good suggestion too, but Belfast is a fantastic city and you can get out of it quickly (apart from in rush hour) if you want to get out to the countryside.

Larne and Ballymena are both horrible. As others have said, I'd stick to Belfast.

I’m perhaps biased but I’d be heading to the other side of the Lough and going to North Down too - in fact I did. DC all at grammars in Belfast, but the freedom and independence they have here in Bangor is far better for them than living in Belfast. We are right by the beach and they spend their days in the town, meeting friends in coffee shops, at the parks, on the beach, walking the coastal path etc. We are only 30min from Belfast city centre by train and their school is only a 25min drive/bus/train journey away. We moved here when youngest was going into P4 (year 3) and they were able to have freedom pretty young with the beach and parks on our doorstep in a way which is harder if you’re in Belfast.

We love Holywood too but it doesn’t have the beach and there is less to do for teens. It is closer to Belfast though and for any commuting to and from the office, that stretch between Bangor and Holywood can be very, very slow.

DH also WFH most of the time, but travels to London a couple of times a month and being only 25min from city airport is fab.

Primary schools in North Down are all very good (Bangor, Crawfordsburn, Seahill, Holywood) and there are excellent grammars and non-selectives nearby too - Bangor, Ards, Holywood or Belfast all very easily and quickly accessible.

If considering North Down - Holywood is the most expensive area generally, although parts of Bangor are also expensive - particularly around Ballyholme.

Seahill (halfway between Bangor and Holywood) would be more affordable, but you do have to drive/train everywhere. Donaghadee has a real mix - some more expensive areas, some much more affordable. Bit further out but decent enough bus links to Bangor and Ards. No trainline though so you’d need to get to Bangor first before heading to Belfast on public transport.

Within Bangor there are cheaper areas - BT19 cheaper than BT20 - basically once you go past the ring road it’ll be cheaper. Bangor West out towards Carnalea, is BT20 but would be cheaper than closer in to the town at the other end of the Bryansburn Road (Princetown Rd, Maxwell, Brompton, Farnham etc), or the other side of the Bay at Ballyholme.