Calling all Mners in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchursch, I need your opinion

[bubbleandsqueak]

Its a bit of wishful thinking really, I currently live in France and would love to move back to the South Coast area. My house has been on the market for a year but as yet we havn't had a nibble. So while I am waiting I am trying to find out as much information on the area as possible, I have posted previously and had some good answers, but I now have some other questions.

I have decided that Poole is probably a little expensive, and there seems to be less chance of getting into one of the good schoolsas they all seem to be over subscribed (I may be wrong, so feel free to correct me)

Christchurch seems to be the place that a lot of people have reccomended as good for families, however where in Christchurch? My list of criteria:

1. Catchment area to both Primary and Secondary Schools.
2. 3 Bedroomed House
3. Good local facilities, ie shopping
4. Would love to be not far from beach, however I do realise that you cant have everything!

I would appreciate any help/advice that you can offer.
Ta in advance

You might get a better response if you post this in a different area as I don't think people in those areas will read the living overseas bit. Just a thought

Hi branflake, thanks for replying. I have posted in chat as well but have had no response form that either!! My brain is a bit addled this morning and I cant think where else to post, maybe I should try on the meet ups section.
Thanks

Hi Bubbleandsqueak, we're thinking of moving to Bournemouth (or Australia!) in a year or so. We have family in Southbourne which is on the east side of Bournemouth and southwest of Christchurch. The church primary schools are all very good, but oversubscribed. State pri schools not the best. There are very good Grammar schools for secondary. We're also looking at Christchurch, but there are some nice and some not so nice areas. If you locate between the rivers you are in the catchment for a good (avg 80% pass) primary school and a very good secondary school - Twynham High School. The housing is quite mixed, both in styles and 3/4 bed vs. bungalows. West Christchurch is a little more expensive but very nice. I think Christchurch and Southbourne have very good links to Bournemouth City Centre for shopping (Christchurch is small but very quaint). The beach is only a ten min max drive away from those two places too.

Hope this helps. I'm looking on these boards for info on Australia atm!

Thanks for the info redballoons, I am begining to worry that I will not be able to find a school with places for my children! Good luck with your move too.

I live in Ringwood which is 10 miles out of bournemouth.
Excellent primary and senior schools ,but houses are £££.

I live just by Wimborne but don't know much about Christchurch or Bournemouth I'm afraid. Schools here are very good and I find it's easier to escape the traffic during the summer that I seem to hit everytime I go nearer into Poole or Bournemouth. New Forest is really close but doesn't take too long to get to the beach if you want it.

Before that we lived in Poole. If I had to move from here and not stay where we are I would look at Corfe Mullen/Broadstone or Ringwood. Christchurch floods a bit in some areas I thought which always put me off a bit but I could be completely wrong about that.

chocolateteapot, why would you choose Corfe, Broadstone or Ringwwod? Are they a better place to live than Christchurch, Poole or Bournemouth?

I know that for me finding a good school is of utmost importance, but I also want to live in a nice place with not to much traffic as my son is an asthmatic. I appreciate any comments you may have.

Well I wouldn't move from where I am by choice as I love it here (just by Wimborne). We've got acres of forestry commission woods round the corner, can walk to school easily but are close to main roads to get to places I want to be. And I have sussed the back roads for the summer. DD has had a really good start at the local first school and DS goes to the world's most fantastic nursery on a farm, it is just brilliant. Our middle school is very good. Not so sure about the Upper School but that's more to do with the size of it, which is an issue with a lot of the Upper/Secondary schools.

The others are second choices for me and more a question of familiarity I guess than for any logical reason. I know Corfe Hills school has a good reputation and there are the two Grammar schools close to there. So Corfe Mullen/Broadstone would be a way to be still fairly tucked out of the way (in bits) but with good schools.

I like Ringwood shopping centre and I've heard Ringwood Schools are good so that's the reason for that choice. When DD was tiny I worked at Poole hospital and used to live about 10 mins walk from there. It was very handy at the time but I wouldn't want to do it now with 2 children as my priorities have changed (and I am now old and boring !).

Bournemouth and Christchurch are just not very familiar to me and every time I go to either I get stuck in traffic, so I'd prefer to be more out of the way but close enough to get to everything easily. At one point DH worked in Southampton and took no longer to get there than he did on the occasions he worked for a few days in Bournemouth because the traffic was so bad at that time of day.

What's
"West Christchurch" when it's at home?

I grew up in Bransgore, hellfire it was dull

'West Christchurch' is considered by the estate agents to be west of The Grove, so Hurn Way, River Way etc.

Salisbury is fantaastic. we've lived weymouth, bournemouth, Wimborne and I have felt at home from the day we moved here, lots of very good schools, might be worth thinking half an hour inland for house prices?

suzywong-bransgore is dull isn't it.Dd has loads of friends who live there.I feel for their parents constantly driving into Ringwood.