Moving to Norwich – Advice on Areas & Schools?

[NoisyKoala]

We are a family of four moving to Norwich from Milton Keynes for work. We have a 12-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, and we don’t know the area well.

We’d love recommendations on good places to live with good schools and a strong local community. We’re keen to find somewhere family-friendly where we can settle in easily.

Also, if anyone has experience relocating with children, we’d really appreciate hearing how you found the adjustment and any tips you might have!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Depending on your budget, and if you're happy to be out of the centre of Norwich, have a look at Trowse Newton. You've got Trowse primary school Trowse Primary School - Home, are 5 mins away from Notre Dame Secondary Notre Dame High School - Home (catholic but take children of all faiths or none, and have good results). Good community feel.
We've moved around a lot. Best advice I can give is find versions of the same clubs they are doing now (gymnastics, brownies, football) and get them signed up when you move. I found it offers some familiarity and makes it easier for the DC to settle in as making friends through a common activity is a lot easier than making friends out the blue. If you pick local groups, you might also find that dc attending these clubs also attend the same school.

This is such great advice. My two are active and take part in all those clubs you mentioned and more.

I'll have a look at Trowse Newton also. My husbands job is located at Thrope St Andrews so not too far away from Trowse Newton.

I would move to the Golden Triangle area of Norwich if your budget suits. Good schools, great parks, nice people, walkable to the city centre. My children grew up there.

I hear schools in Sprowston are worth checking out.

Thorpe St Andrews would be perfect - a few good primaries to choose from and the high school is fairly good.

Or a little further out - Cringleford and Eaton are lovely. High school catchment would be CNS in the Golden Triangle.

I’ve lived around Norwich for much of my life and would definitely recommend it as a place to live but if you have a 12 year old, you may want to establish which secondaries have in-year places and go from there, as I think that’s a big birth year. Alternatively, if you can afford, there are private options.

There is an online checking tool for nearest schools and the number on roll in each year group etc

https://csapps.norfolk.gov.uk/schoolfinder/