Moving to Frome from Surrey

[Ribenahead]

I'm making a big leap into the (almost) unknown by moving to Frome from Reigate in Surrey (finding Surrey too conservative) would love to know if anyone else has made a big move like this? I have a 5.5yr and a nearly 2 year old and would love to meet others new to the area. From what I gather (after visiting and reading) Frome is a pretty arty/eco/alternative place to be???? Hope I'm not wrong! Any local villages we should consider living in? Thanks!!

Clearly I'm using rough as my own perspective, no I've never lived in London, but it doesn't matter because I don't "want to see rough" I'm just giving my opinion. Those ARE rough areas of Frome in comparison to the surrounding area, no of course I'm not comparing it to a different city

It's clearly not an outdated opinion, many of my friends and colleagues still live there (none of us snobs, and by no means on " very high" incomes) and would not live or buy in these areas.

The original poster wanted honest advice, as some of us that have grown up there have given. Children do not enjoy growing up there, the schools (apart from lower schools) are awful.

By all means, say it's snobbery, but it's really not. The crime figures are based on personal experiences granted, but I'm sure if I had 5 minutes to look them up it would be confirmed.

I don't think the other schools in Frome would describe themselves has having been 'unburdened' by the Steiner. More like, having resources and funding taken from them when there was no shortage of school places to start with.

This shouldn't be all about crime figures though. There are parts of Frome which are amongst the most deprived in the area. There are few jobs and opportunities in the town, and certainly none being created by all the people moving in from London and so on. So there's increasing inequality, and that does lead to resentment. Probably quite rightly, too.

Apologies if now I've offended idontknow and fromeah. And I obviously chose the wrong wording about the Steiner unburdening the other schools - all I meant by that one is that where before many families were not getting their first choice school, now the previously oversubscribed schools are able to allocated more of the wanted spaces.
You're right that there probably is a lot of resentment from those born and bred Frome feel towards the incomers.
But can I ask, would it have been better for Frome if there had been no interest and movement into the town?
In my 10 years here, watching the town grow and change has been wonderful. I am not oblivious to the inequalities and deprivation in parts of Frome, but thats no reason to not consider moving here. You will get that in any town/city.

If there were no schools, jobs, opportunities or things to do with children, Frome wouldn't be a thriving market town on the up and up with houses being snapped up because everyone wants to go there. Beckington is a lovely village, but just that, a Village. Ignore everything written thats bad about Frome and this comes from someone who would love to live there but who lives nearer to Warminster. As for Schools, you can go within Frome or Beckington and any direction should you wish to drive ten minutes. If you want Private Schools, Bath ones are a long way and a lot of travelling, try looking at Warminster school, 15 minutes away with a bus as its a magical place for kids that so many people think they no about from gossip but actually haven't visited so don't know just how good it is.

Hello Everyone, I'm late to this thread but it's very relevant to me! I live in Melbourne and have been here for five years. We are hoping to move back to the UK next year and have heard good things about Frome. We used to live in SE London and, like Ribenahead, I'm looking for somewhere a bit more alternative than where we are now. Also not a make up wearer/grown up person. I'm 40 and still waiting to mature. On paper, Frome looks ace. I've got three sons - nearly 9, 6 1/2 and 1 - with a real mix of interests and personalities. Our oldest has Aspergers so am wondering if there are mainstream schools around there that are good for kids growing up with sensory differences etc?
Also, Tumbleouttabed, do you live in Bath or does your area have a separate name? Sounds like it's the best of both worlds...

There is a new specialist ASD school at the Bath and West Showground, possibly called the Mendip School, which would be worth investigating

Thank you. I'll take a look.

Hi I've found this thread interesting and I've looked at the Frome events page and there seems to be so many things of interest going on in the area regards various events and activities. If someone were to move to Frome which areas are the best to live in? Looking for local knowledge as every town has areas that are variable.

I live and work in Frome. My family has moved around quite a bit over the years (due to my husband's work) and my children have attended several schools. I can say, hand on heart, that Frome is by far the most child-friendly, artsy, creative town we have lived in. Frome is "alternative" (for instance all of the Town Councillors stand on a single non-party-political "Independents for Frome" slate) and aspires to be an eco-pioneer, aiming to be the first carbon neutral town of its size in England. My children's school - Christ Church C of E First School on The Mount - has, with the help of Frome Town Council, just installed solar panels to generate up to 60% of the school's power and planted 50+ trees as carbon offset. The school, by the way, is by far the most friendly, inclusive, welcoming, progressive school I have ever come across! It is a Church school that openly challenges homo/bi/transphobia (Wow!) and all kinds of prejudice, and promotes racial tolerance and understanding. I know the headteacher and staff work tirelessly to make sure kids from all backgrounds - rich, poor, black, white, gypsy, service families, etc. - do well academically. (They offer a free breakfast club for all children every school day and even opened up the school premises on Christmas Day 2018 to feed poor, lonely and elderly people in the neighbourhood. I'm not a church-going Bible-reading person, but I have to say: this sounds like the sort of stuff Jesus would be pleased to see a Church school doing!) Anyway, my children certainly settled quickly at Christ Church, made friends, and became enthusiastic readers and great spellers in a way they never did at so-called "better" schools in so-called "better" areas! Would I recommend Frome to families? Yes! Is there poverty and crime in Frome? Yes, but (a) there is in almost every town these days, and (b) please visit The Mount for yourself - see the refurbished Tower View play area, visit Christ Church School and Nursery, look at the over-loaded community notice board and take in the thriving community allotments, look out for holiday clubs and weekly "Food at Five" community dining events at the Key Centre and fortnightly "Play Rangers" activities for kids at Tower View. I have no regrets. Frome is cool, trendy, eco-aware, arty-farty, child-friendly ... and it is a town my fami!y is proud to call home.

@Ribenahead - sorry to resurrect an old thread. But did you move there in the end?

I'd love to resurrect this thread! Anyone else interested in moving to the area from frome to Bath? We are hoping to find 4 bedrooms and a home office (or a place we can adapt) for approx 400-425k and a friendly connected community. We have a toddler and hope to have another one next year. Moving from London ASAP... any experiences anyone would be happy to share? We want to come and visit the area within the next month.

Also interested in any current opinions of Frome and surrounding areas....

What about Corsham?

Sorry just realised it’s a zombie thread.

I know some years ago you posted this but wondered did you move to Frome and if so do you feel it was a good move and are you enjoying it? X

Did you move to Frome as too looking to move there from Surrey

Also interested! We drove all around the area and did look very nice.

We are interested in moving to Frome. I realise this thread hasn’t been posted on for a while, but trying to revive it!