Hove vs Preston Park

[happyearthling]

Hiya, This is my first message on mumsnet. I have seen a lot of messages about people in north london looking to move to Brighton so that part of my message is nothing new as we're hoping to do the same. I am hoping for some advice on choosing between Hove and Preston Park.

From my research it seems the house prices are similar. Hove has West Hove school but not sure how easy it is to get in and it's rated good. And Hove's closer to the sea but more suburban and further from Brighton.

Preston Park is said to have a good community feel, and the schools are rated better by ofsted: both Downs Junior and Balfour are rated outstanding. I can't tell how hard it is to get into the schools as they are likely oversubscribed? My kids are in year 2 and reception. Any advice/ thoughts welcome to expand my knowledge to help us make the best choice when we move would be really appreciated. Many thanks!

I would go for Preston Park - it does have a good community feel, and there are two good schools close by. The school situation is bad in both Hove and Brighton - but I think it is worse in Hove.

hi Lavage - thanks for that. Why do you say the school situation is bad in both? My feeling was the schools were pretty good?

I mean getting into a good school, especially at secondary level, can be tricky. Secondary schools in Brighton and Hove are fine, but not fabulous. You have a better chance of getting into a reasonable school if you live in Preston Park than if you live in Hove, going by anecdotal evidence.

Balfour and Downs are both rated outstanding, and I would happily send to my kids to either. They are both very big (four forms) though, and I have had friends at both who have disliked the ethos. If you can't get in or don't like the feel, then Hertford is very good.

In my opinion good Brighton primaries Westdene, Stanford, and Westdene. In Hove Aldrington and St Andrews

Good Secondaries Blatchington Mill in Hove and Dorothy Stringer in Brighton.

Dorothy Stringer is prob the best overall so if I were you would aim for Balfour as many feed from there so Preston Park area is your best bet.

I live in Hove but due to local situation have chosen to go private from reception.

Balfour might be oversubscribed but there is always movement at this level.

Good luck with your choice - I have lived here all my life Preston Park and Hove are both very good choices I have lived in both theres not much difference between them Dyke Road is the dividing line one side is Hove the other is Brighton! x

For info on getting in you just need to look at the school allocations for 2013 - the link to the word doc is on this page www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=b1146744

As you will see for some of the best schools you need to live very close!! I live in west hove and my son will go there - it's excellent and there is a real community feel here.

Hi mamas, I am jumping in, as we are too trying to decide between Preston Park and Hove and coming from North London :) [waves]

I am used to walking to everything (shops, cafes, restaurants, play groups, etc) where we are at the moment and whilst we were viewing houses in Preston Park, it got to me, that I may not be able to do so anymore? And is it the case that it's impossible to drive and park in Brighton (central)? What do you ladies do? So I was wondering if Hove was easier to live in, in terms of walking to the shops, etc every day, with the occasional, popping-to-Brighton thing?

thoughts?