Moving to Sittingbourne in 2024-2025

[Mum4mykid]

Hi all,

We are a family with a young 5 years old child and we are planning on moving to Sittingbourne. I have seen some posts for similar situations but they are all at least 3-5 years old.
I was wondering how is Sittingbourne today.
After talking with some people in the area they have told us that Maidstone started going downslope in quality of life and happiness for families while Sittingbourne started going up.
However this does not align with what we are reading about the area.

Can someone who has either moved recently to the area or is living there for the last 1-2 years provide some advice? It would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Oh hi, I can’t really help as I’m not near at all but I have friends in Faversham (albeit with older kids) who really love it. But I don’t think you are in the right MN topic area, I would report your post and ask them to move it to property and hopefully you will get more replies. Good luck with the move

@Mum4mykid I live near Sittingbourne and can answer questions for you?

I live in a village on the outskirts of Faversham and my dh has lived in Swale ( except for Uni years ) most of his life.
Faversham @Mediumred is nothing like Sittingbourne , worlds apart.

Sittingbourne has had lots of new houses and flats. New layout near the station and a multi storey car park. There’s an Aldi and a Lidl.

Tbh OP no one chooses Sittingbourne instead of Maidstone

@Mum4mykid have you bought or are you renting.
There is a reason for the question

@StandingSideBySide "
Tbh OP no one chooses Sittingbourne instead of Maidstone"

I think I might-but I don't think either would be my first choice.

I agree.
Where are you near.?
Have you been losing electricity these past few days because of a bit of wind. The perils of overhead cables 🥴.
I couldn’t respond to this thread last night as we went dark 😫

bought

If you’re in one of the new flats near the station that’s all been improved these past few years or
The area near the new townhouses is quite nice.
These better areas though are isolated and few.
Sittingbourne just isn’t that great I’m afraid.

A friend of my sons lasted one year teaching at a senior school there. After less than a term he was already looking for another job. After he moved schools ( not in Sittingbourne) I asked how he was getting on and he said ‘it’s great, I’ve gone a whole week without anyone throwing furniture at me’.

For Swale and Kent dwellers Sittingbourne wouldn’t be a choice and I’m surprised by your friends comment re Maidstone. Although agree with @CurlewKate s comment above.

sorry…..but you did ask

Much appreciate the information. It is really useful. We have been in the area for a few weekends and we have not noticed anything bad or sinister or unusual compared to other Brit towns / cities / areas. The only bleak area we noticed was close to Murston and the bit of the town center closer to Murston, but it is always good to hear from people who already live there.

Yep
Murston is quite bad for crime but not the worst locally
It has been heavily developed re Eurolink

Hope the move goes OK

It made me laugh that this thread is in family planning.

Hello,
We are moving into Sittingbourne (Fox Hill). What is the area and secondary school around?
We saw a new building with homes. Any comments would be great

For fox Hill you may get into bapchild primary if they have a space. I'd not then it would be landsdowne. The nearest secondary is the Sittingbourne school. It used to be called SCC and have an awful reputation. It has since become part of an academy and they are trying hard to turn it around but I think it's very marmite. I'd try and get them into Fulston. If you're looking at grammars, then you're driven by gender as both are single sex currently.