Need good state schools but only have around 200k to spend on a house. Where should I go?

[SparklePrincess]

I currently live near the East Sussex & Kent border. If I stay where I am the dc will have the choice of several quite good state schools. Heathfield CC, Uckfield CC & Uplands in Wadhurst.

Problem is my marriage is over & I only stand to get around 200k to buy a house for the dc & myself. If I stay in this area that will be quite difficult to do without resorting to some awful rough estate, which im not prepared to do. Also, because were out in the sticks theres no public transport, so petrol costs are huge, (especially now) & my car`s a gas guzzler at the best of times. I wonder whether it might be sensible to move to a bigger town with better public transport.

My parents live in Hastings, & I know I could get a great house there for 200k, but the schools are diabolical. Eastbourne seems only marginally better. Ideally id like to rule out that whole locality & start afresh somewhere completely new to me, but I simply dont know where to start when it comes to schools, quality of life, transport links, employment possibilities etc etc.

Id consider almost anywhere within a reasonable (probably 2 hours or so) traveling distance of my parents house in Hastings.

Advice gratefully received.

Dont know what its called but all relative i guess, estates near me are rougher than anything in uckfield, prob on par with brighton, but much nicer than rough estates in say liverpool or glasgow. I love where i live, victorian houses, close to town i think its quite posh but people in pretty and expensive hants villages would consider it rough

Eastbourne is very old, but being by the sea would be nice

Saltdean?

some detached freehold houses for around 210k

some semis for under 200k

v good primaries

reasonable secondaries, but bear in mind if your kids are primary age the primary schools have had a huge boost from supportive middle-class parents and those families will now be moving up into secondary, so secondaries are tipped to improve.

I've had a look around Wadhurst primary. It seemed quite caring and friendly, with strong community links and almost everyone moving on to Uplands apparantly. Not sure about house prices, although I was told that the catchment is pretty wide with East Sussex laying on buses from certain areas together with the Hastings/London train line for villages further away. This would also link you in to Tunbridge Wells, and for example Bennett if you can meet all the Church criteria.

I've also seen Uckfield CC and Heathfield CC from outside, and although they are not much to look at they do seem to have quite good reputations.

Where we currently are were in catchment for HCC, but could probably get into UCC or Uplands also. Trouble is its so expensive to live out in the sticks with the cost of fuel & property nowadays.

I agree about fuel prices and only likely to get worse in future. How about a day driving up the Hastings or Uckfield train lines and you might stumble across an unexpected affordable estate for example in Crowborough or a nice little village? You might be able to put a good offer in with the state of the market at the moment.

Have you tried Milton Keynes? Some estates such as Westcroft, Wavendon Gate, Broughton, Monkston and Shenley Church End have "good" priamries and "outstanding" secondaries.
see:
www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-19917746.rsp?pa_n=3&tr_t=buy

www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-16643860.rsp?pa_n=3&tr_t=buy

www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-16468621.rsp?pa_n=4&tr_t=buy

Probably a 2.5 hour drive to Kent

OK, I'm sorry, sparkleprincess, I was a bit harsh. I hope you find something.

This is near where I live - good schools, near the sea, only a couple of hours from Hastings.

Milton Keynes looks great, but is possibly a bit far out mamaolivia, wont rule it out just yet though.

Fareham looks fantastic Sidge. Dont know if ive ever been there, but im definitely going to research a bit more into that. Any more info gratefully received.

No hard feelings UQD.

we have one of the top schools in the south but i am afraid we are the isle of wight and for your money you could have a 4-5 bed house with land or two properties

pickledpear - I really like Isle of Wight and always wondered why it's so cheap??

Using my own knowledge (which is limited) what about something like This in Gloucestershire? Local primary is great and also very good secondary (Chosen Hill) or Pates in Cheltenham (ladies college too if it takes your fancy )

oops - just saw the Hastings bit, guess it's too far

Sparkle Fareham has some pretty nice areas, Stubbington and Portchester are nice with good schools. The local shopping is reasonable, and there's lots to do with children.

The downside is traffic can be heavy if you need to travel any distance to work but if you can work locally it's not so bad.

IOW is lovely but employment can be difficult I believe, and getting on and off the island needs to be factored in!

Will definitely look into that. Thanks Sidge.

Does it have to be south? There are excellent schools here, and reasonable house prices, beautiful countryside and traffic not bad, but we're N of Manchester...

Sounds lovely WW, but ideally id like to be within a few hours of the south coast where my parents live. My father has been quite ill over the last 6 months & ive had to do a fair bit of driving around to see him. Have you any idea of how long it would take to get from where you are to Hastings by train?

HI WendyWeber, can I ask where you live? Dh is moving jobs and will be based in central Manchester so I am trying to find somewhere to live, with good state schools, near tram/trains etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers