Calling all mumsnetters in Devon...

[hercules1]

We currently live in London with a 2 bed house and cant get up the next step to get a 3 bed house. I also dont fancy much brining up my kids in the area I live in.

I grew up in Devon and went to school at kevics in Totnes but have heard it's gottten pretty bad there now - not sure if that's the case still.

ANyway we are thinking as one of our options of moving to Devon. AS a teacher I would want to work in a special needs school and would want dh to give up his night job and do whatever.

It's beena few years since I lived down there so am wondering what are the nice areas where I could get a good primary and secondary (leaving behind 2 good ones here), buy a 3/4 bed house for between say 210-250 (lesser better so be more affordable) with a large garden.

Also my 11 year old son needs some persuading so what sorts of things can 11 year olds do there??

Going out for the day so if I dont come back much till later that's why.

TiA

Thanks Fennell, yes that would be helpful looking at ethnic thing on ofsted.

Okay after some further research and chatting to people I think we are going to focus efforts on Tavistock. GOing to go down for 2-3 days and look at some houses and areas end of the week.
Any more comments on Tavisotck and surrounding villages most welcome!

and exeter too actually. IT seems to have quite a few good secondary schools??

I grew up in a village surrounding tavistock. Lovely place as a child, and I go back a lot now (friend lives there). Still a great friendly atmosphere. Having a slightly unusual situation would prefer somewhere a bit larger myself - Tavistock would be fine- we suspect we would be the local freak show in some of the villages.

West Devon is very low on special schools - unless you would be happy to work in mainstream or special you might be better off looking for a job before moving or you coould end up with a lengthy commute. If you lived the Yelverton side of Tavistock you could commute to Plymouth although traffic is fairly dreadful along that route.

I used to go to school in Exeter, but am very out of date. I suspect you would get more house for your money in Tavistock. I have an impression of Exeter being pricey- but I don't know what the surroundings are like. If you went the Dawlish side I think it becomes affordable (although very elderly population) and I think there are a couple of special schools in the area.

I recently accepted a job and am scheduled to start Sept 1. Since accepting I have found out I am pregnant. Clearly I have to tell them now or it will look like I was trying to withold during the interview but any ideas on how to handle this?

You just have to tell them. It cant be helped and really it wouldnt matter if you did know and didnt tell them imo.

Just started a new thread about Ivybridge in education!!

Hello HERCULES1 AND WICKEDWATERWITCH. I have been reading your thread and finding it all very interesting. I myself am from Bedfordshire and have 2 mixed race teenagers (daughters 17 and 19) . I am just considering a move to Paignton but am very worried about the lack of ethnicity and diversity there! Did you eventually move to Devon Hercules1 and what was the outcome. ??I have tried to find out as much as possible about the area as it is beautiful but I do not want to move my daughters down to Devon if they are isolated because they are not the right shade of skin.......
They are going to University and they are very popular here ,but I would love to move to an area of beauty like Devon ,but not if it will destroy there confidence because of small minds !
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.