Hi everyone,
I'm new to Mumsnet and am not sure if I'm posting in the correct area, but I could really use some advice please. I'm sorry in advance that it is a long post!
My son is in Reception class at Riverhead Infants School in Sevenoaks. Its a great school and he loves it so we do not want to move him.
My partner and I want to buy our first house (currently renting in Sevenoaks), but the property prices are so high here that we can only afford a very small home. We are thinking of moving a little further out and have seen a lovely house in South Tonbridge, which we could really turn into a proper family home for us.
The trouble is I am concerned about the distance from his school. I think it is 15-20 minutes (approximately 10 miles) but it could be longer as we haven't tested it in school drop-off rush hour.
The house is near the A21 (near Judd School and West Kent College), and his school is just off the A21 so it would be a straight forward journey.
There is also another potential house in North Tonbridge (Shipbourne Road), which I am guessing would be a slightly longer and less direct journey?
He is our only child so we wouldn't have any problems with trying to coordinate after-school clubs/play dates with other children. He wouldn't live near to his school friends but we are prepared to put in the time to drive him to and from clubs and friends' houses.
Additionally, when he goes to Secondary School, its likely he would go to one in Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells anyway as there are so many schools there, including Grammar Schools. Also, Tonbridge has more for kids to do than Sevenoaks does.
Finally, we wouldn't have the issue of two round trips to school and back, as it would be on my partner's way to work. So in total only one round trip per day. We have an economical car too. I could get the train to work from Tonbridge.
Sorry for the long post, but any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!