Considering a move to York with children, best areas and schools?

[Shlr]

Hello, I'm wondering if any people who live, or have lived, in York are able to please give me some insights.

We're thinking of moving there with our two primary aged children and would love to hear what people know about different areas to live, primary schools and, also importantly, secondary schools.

To tell you a bit about us and what were hoping for:

I currently live in East London with DH, DD and DS. DH and I are hoping to move somewhere where we can afford a little bit more space, with a reasonably sized garden. We'd love to live somewhere pretty, clean and safe, with character. We're hoping for a nurturing primary school with lovely a community and a nice secondary school (results are important but a happy place to be is more so).

We have been considering the whole of the UK for a while but are really excited about York. It's hitting a lot of boxes as we think it's small enough to be walkable and easy for our children to have a bit of independence as they grow older, while also being big enough to be interesting. It's full of character and also close to beautiful countryside.

We've literally only been once so are almost clueless! We got a good vibe there and that feels important.

If I had absolutely all my dreams come true we'd live in a 4-5 bed house with a decent sized garden on a pretty, quiet street with friendly neighbours, other families and a community, village feel. Ideally some nice local shops or something. The area would be walkable into town, or at least easily connected by public transport. Maybe near a beautiful park and within the catchment areas of well-suited (state) schools. Our budget can stretch to about £750k.

I read that Fulford school is well regarded. One person I spoke to said it was a little hot housing so I'm intrigued about that. They also recommended Millthorpe but I know absolutely nothing about it (or any other schools)!

I'm probably asking too much but maybe something close is possible. Please help me find the best areas and schools to explore?

Thanks so much!

@EllieQi don’t feel it’s as pastorally strong as Huntington or All Saints. Very results orientated and i know somebody whose dc had very bad issues with bullying which didn’t seem to be effectively addressed.

I do agree about Park Grove though. V good school, creative and gentle. Would work for a Heworth address too. Though if you drop off by car it’s a pita. Bike no issue.

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your replies so far. I have a lot to look up and think about!

@BiscuitsCheeseBiscuits this is interesting, thank you. Which village did you live in, if you don't mind me asking, and did you like it there?

@EllieQ Thank you, I'll definitely look at the Guide for Parents and join the York Mumbler FB group.

My husband is keen to explore more villages around York. Are there any that people recommend that are particularly lovely and with good connections to York train station?

I should say villages within less than 30 minutes public transport away, if they exist

I moved here from the south and whilst it is lovely in many ways - and very friendly - I really can’t handle the cold, horribly damp long winters and endless cloud. I was deluding myself thinking the climate can’t be that different. Like months and months of 2 or 5 degrees and not even 30 mins of blue sky let alone sun.

@Objectrelations this does sound hard. DH and I both grew up in Lancashire and I remember my mum would get excited about tiny patches of blue sky 😂 I was hoping Yorkshire is a slight improvement on the west!

Having lived down south for at least a decade though, now I'm worried it'll be difficult. I adore the sunnier weather here, but it has been getting a bit too hot these days so I'm finally thinking I might be able to handle the north again.

It's a tricky situation because DH is pretty unhappy in London and we just need a big change. I feel like a move up north is inevitable so I'm thinking East (ish) rather than west... Plus we just really like York.

It is definitely better than the west - we get a lot less rain. Cooler than London for sure, but that might be becoming a good thing!

Yes, a lot less rain than West! I’m from Jersey and I’ve lived either there or in London my whole life, so it’s just come as a shock that the winters here starts so early, finish so late and are so overcast and cold. My colleagues in York or enjoy the climate and think I’m a weirdo for having enjoyed some of the temperatures we’ve had this summer though - so horses for courses!

We did the London to York two years ago! Best decison ever but it was stressful. Have DM'd you with how we ended up doing it.

Does anyone live in Fulford? Is it a nice place to live? We found a house we like the look of there. Although probably not ready to buy at this point, it's all research...

I used to live in York. The river floods every year. It will only get worse with climate change. Take this poster’s warning seriously. Do not choose a house anywhere near the river or its run off zones.

When I moved from Manchester to London (in the month of June) I simply could not believe how sunny and hot that first summer seemed. I was agog! It’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t move north again.

The river floods every year in to its flood plains. Rarely does it overtop defences. Defences have also been improved since the last bad round. People who actually live here don’t worry about that. It will be obvious when you view if it’s an issue. I would avoid Germany Beck in Fulford as not convinced their flood plan for the new development is 100% but otherwise no concerns.

Yes Fulford seems a nice area (I don’t live there but know it reasonably well). There’s a Steiner school there in case that’s of interest to you

Yeah agreed that mostly the flooding isn't so much an issue any more - I suppose you could say that it might get worse with climate change? As much as any river-adjacent area (including London).

Saying that I wouldn't buy in the Germany Beck development in Fulford.

I work for the Environment Agency, in Flood Risk, in Yorkshire. I well aware of the York Flood Alleviation Scheme, but also that maintenance money is increasingly thinly spread. Future funding is never guaranteed. My advice is genuine.

Poppleton is a nice village. Has a train station into York and also is an easy cycle. People I know who live there are all very into “The Village” and tend to spend most of their time in the village for kids activities etc. There is football and tennis there so everyone gets to play these with their friends.

Poppleton Ousebank is well regarded as a school but may be full and then Manor is a decent secondary. (And is easy walkable from Poppleton.) The one downside is it doesn’t have a sixth form.

Things I have heard about the different secondaries are as follows:-

Fulford - most parents very positive. A few have commented that it is not very nurturing. One person once told me that Fulford takes on kids who you would fully expect to get good GCSEs and then gets them good GCSEs but doesn’t actually do much in the middle.
Archies - parents seem pretty positive. Seems to be the choice of people living that side of the city who don’t like Fulford and want more nurturing.
Huntington - very positive
Jo Ro - seems more nurturing than academic
Manor - positive, have heard the odd complaint that isn’t good for SEN, used to be seen as really good academically but new head seems to be trying to move it towards nurturing
Vale - used to be dreadful - now improved / improving
Millthorpe - don’t know much about it but the two parents I know there like it. (Although thy are both “positive types”.
York High - weakest academically in York

If you would consider villages a little further out of York, Tollerton, Alne, Stillington and Crayke all have lovely Primary Schools. Crayke is especially sought after. Easingwold is a market town about 10 miles outside of York half way between York and Thirsk. It is a lovely town with good amenities and great walks and views of the white horse in places. The primary school is great but bigger than the village schools, but the secondary, Outwood Easingwold is outstanding. Its recent A level results were better than many of the private schools in the area and there are a lot of private school around. York is fantastic and a great place to live however I should just mention that you might want to search it’s proximity to Linton on Ouse before you make your decision.

Harrogate? Gardening at RHS Harlow Carr?