Moving to Bealings

[daffodil111]

Hello, we are a family of four with two children aged six and eight. We are hoping to move to the Woodbridge area for my husbands work. We have found a house we love in the Bealings area and were wondering about schools.Bealings School doesn't have a place for both children so we are looking into Grundisburgh. Any advice, ideas or recommendations would be very welcome, not just with schools but living in the area too. Many thanks.

Parts of Great Bealings can be considered a bit of 'rat run' through to Ipswich or Woodbridge. Also parts of Little Bealings especially the Martlesham Road is another 'rat run' but the part near the school and church is lovely. I can't comment really offer much help on the schools. But from Bealings, Grundisburgh is not far to drive only a couple of miles. there are all the primary schools in Woodbridge to consider as well. One thing to think about is that little and great bealings villages are in the Kesgrave High School catchment whereas living in Grundisburgh/ Woodbridge area you are in the Farlingaye catchment. Both high schools have a good reputation and I believe Farlingaye is often over subscribed. Hope this helps.

Hi there and a warm welcome to Mumsnet Suffolk. And congrats on your forthcoming move! House hunting can be a minefield esp when you're not too familiar with the area. Bealings is pretty well served for Ipswich, Kesgrave and Wooodbridge. It has a beautiful bluebells wood and a close-knit community with plenty of activity at the village hall. In terms of the primary school, it is run slightly differently from a normal state primary as it follows a style of teaching based on something called the Mantle Of The Expert. It's can be a bit 'Marmite' - ie. some parents love it, others don't! In terms of a more mainstream approach, Grundisburgh Primary is quite close by and seems popular with parents, likewise Kyson Primary School in Woodbridge is too. Grundisburgh is a bigger village than Bealings and well served by a lively pub and the village shop which sells pretty much everything including delicious eggs! Woodbridge is a market town with another two primary schools including Kyson (which is the biggest). There is also St Mary's as well as Woodbridge Primary. They all act as a feeder to Farlingaye High School which is run by a popular Head Teacher called Sue Hargadon. Kesgrave High seems to have an equally-strong reputation.
It's hard to recommend something as it's all so subjective - one mum's meat might be another mum's poison, so to speak! But having lived in both a village and a town the question is 'what sort of lifestyle' do you want?' Village versus Town? Now that's another whole debate!! Good luck, let us know how you get on.