Moving to Macclesfield - schools

[thecatisout]

Hi, we are moving to the Manchester area for work, and currently live in a small island. Three kids have only known very safe parks allowed into town etc. We were looking at Macclesfield and need a secondary place - whats the Macclesfield acadamy like? Is there much to do for pre teens? (We have nothing here 1 cinema park and beach few shops) is the town centre safe for teens and whats the commute to Manchester like? Time traffic wise?

Thank you all comments gratefully received.

Hi
I don't live in Macclesfield but a few miles away.
My children have been/are at All Hallows which is the Catholic high .
It's Ofsted 'outstanding ' and has been for last two inspections.
I think all the Macclesfield schools are fine.
The town centre is a bit 1970s and due a re vamp but that seems to have stalled.
Don't think there is much trouble.
Trains to Manchester are hourly at least, probably more frequent at times as the fast train stops as well as local ones.
It's about 20 mins or half hour depending on train.
Local teens seem to go to Manchester or Stockport for cinema, Stockport on same train line only a stop or so away.
There's a pizza express, cafe Nero, Costa etc in Macclesfield that DD and friends frequent!
The surrounding countryside is lovely,edge if peak district so lots of walks.
Am sure there are actual Macclesfield dwellers around on here so hopefully someone else will come along

Thank you. Is it possible to drive into Manchester in a decent time?

There are a few ways you could go from Macclesfield, in miles it's not far but traffic bad at peak times.
If you mean central Manchester then train would probably be better,parking is expensive in the city centre.
I would say driving would be 30 mind ish minimum, however I've only actually driven from Macclesfield into Manchester once after dropping DD'S friend home on the way,and that was on a Sunday morning so I'm not an expert!
Macclesfield isn't on the motorway network so it's a case of A roads or going towards airport or Wilmslow to get on M60 or M56

I live in Knutsford, nearer to Manchester and it can take over an hour most mornings, add on 20-30 to get to Knutsford from Macc and it will be a journey. It tends to be stop start all the way in rush hour, so you'd be looking at a good hour if not more each way. I drive in from here on Friday morning at 9am and it took 1 hour and 20 mins.

Pleaes email me at [email protected] for more info, happy to answer any questions.

I live in Macclesfield and wish I'd never moved here, it's awful. There's nothing for children to do, it's not a nice area, it's quite built up, the town centre is crap and its thoroughly boring. Sorry to be a killjoy but I'm speaking of three and a half years experience.
One plus point is that My daughter attends macc academy and it is a good school. Had no problems there. Shall be moving when she finally leaves in two years, which feels like a prison sentence.