Am I mad for wanting to move from Surrey to Chichester / surrounding village?

[Confusedandmixedup]

I'd be so grateful if anyone has already made the move could let me know if they think it was the right decision.
We live in Surrey ( Carshalton ) and have a 2 year old and a 3 year old.
I'm a stay at home mum and my husband is self employed so we can live wherever.
We would be renting which is another concern as there don't seem to be many properties and none are very close to each other.
Primary schools don't seem as good as seem to have as many children not speaking English as a first language as where I am now which is one of my concerns already and the secondary schools don't seem to be performing as well.
I'm worried Id have to drive which I've never needed to do and I'm worried college / UNI / Jon opportunities are less in remote places like this.
But, I want a good life for the kids, I want them to be safe, I want a quiet village where people actually say hello, I want a small school not a massive one, does this places exist??

Hi there confused (and indeed you seem to be!). I made the move from zone 2 in London down to Chichester about 18 months ago. I can't really answer your concerns about schools as my 2 are both toddlers but from my very scant research so far a lot of the primary schools round here have below the national average for English as a second language children attending. There are lots of lovely small primary schools in village locations, of course the best are oversubscribed but if you're renting you've got the power to move as close as you can. I hear what you are saying about the housing market but you have to remember you would be moving to small city surrounded by countryside - by it's very nature the housing stock is not going to be as prolific as it is up where you are now.
It is a beautiful place to live, I love the fact we can drive to the beach in 15 minutes, the South Downs are on the other side and it just feels like a nice place for children to grow up generally.
You would have to drive but you get used to it very, very quickly. It still amuses me my commute of 25 minutes consists of me driving about 70 miles an hour most of the way due to light traffic (remember I'm comparing this to central London - others may not think it's light!)
Downsides - trains to London are a pain in the ass, so slow and stop everywhere. I still mourn the lack of diversity down here. And no Zara!

I would move from anywhere to Chichester. All those wonderful individual shops, the university,theatre old buildings, roman villa, Bosham Village, near the beach, Portsmouth harbour museum, trips round the harbour, what are you waiting for. Go for it.

confused and mixed up, you still here?????????

I indeed am!
Even more confused as we have 2 weeks to find a house and tell our landlord if we want to move next month!

Hello I have to say you sound like you are in the same position that i've been in for the last 2 months. and you know why? i lived in Carshalton Park road, and just moved here (Chichester)2 weeks ago. i cant give you the answers but if you have made the move let me know and maybe we can talk.
all the best
Natalie