A - move to Cheltenham from Ireland - info?

[Monchichi1]

Hi girls. My husband has been offered a job in the uk (cheltenham) and we have to decide whether or not to accept it. I'm from and living in Dublin, Ireland. I'd miss my family terribly, but the money would be better in the UK and the cost of living is a lot cheaper according to friends that have lived over there. But we have three children (4.5, 3 and 7mths) and I don't have a clue how to go about finding out anything about cheltenham - the schools (most important), areas to rent in, etc. Have you any idea about how I could go about finding this information or do any of you live there and maybe give me some info. Thanks. M.

Hello
I have lived in both and am in Gloucester now. Lived in Dublin for almost a year as an Au Pair five years ago and was shocked at the prices of things.
In Cheltenham avoid Hesters Way, Whaddon, St Pauls.
Hatherley, Benhall, Bishops Cleeve,Leckhampton, Swindon Village, Bath Road area and Charlton Kings are all nice.
What company is DH working for? Just if I know it or area may be able to help a little more.

Hesters Way is a very large estate mainly on and around Princess Elizabeth Way. I have no doubt there are some lovely people living there but can also be certain there are several who are not nice.

Agree with Sazzles r.e Leckhampton. What type of area do you have in mind.
Bath Road area is nice if you like nice local shops, good quality delis etc.. You can walk into town from there and Naunton Park Primary (sp) I have heard wonderful things about.
I grew up inBishops Cleeve a village possibly 2 or 3 miles from Cheltenham and loved it. It has grown significantly since I left with LOTS of new builds, a large Tesco and Aldi as well as several village shops.

Thanks girls. Hesters Way sounds like the type of place I definitely don;t want to live . I'm looking for a middle to up market place. My husband would be working in Gloucester airport. I would like to be close to the city. Live very close to Dublin city centre in a lovely area at the moment, so I'm just looking for the same type of place over there. I'll definitely check into Leckhampton and Bath Road areas. They sound nice. Love the idea of local shops and delis. Thanks for the help . M.

You're welcome Monchichi1. I think Bath Road area would be perfect. CJ Hole is an established estate agent and letting agent in the area.

Are you looking for state or private schools? Lots of good state schools and good private ones too, obviously Cheltenham Ladies College! Richard Pate school is a private primary school and there is also Pate's Grammar school which is a state grammar school (but part of the Pate's foundation) and non fee paying. Grammar schools, boys and girls, in Gloucester too, plus two v.g. comprehensives, Balcarras in Charlton Kings and Bournside in the Hatherley area.

Charlton Kings, Leckhampton, Prestbury good areas for good state primary schools. Montpellier is a pretty area of the town if not too worried about state schools. Lots of large Georgian/Regency properties in that area plus in other parts of the town. Red brick Victorian/Edwardian elsewhere plus big new build houses in area called The Park (near the 'university' of Gloucestershire campus). Lots and lots of pretty villages in countryside but property really quite expensive generally compared to rest of country, apart from London.

We'd be looking to put the children into state schools. My son is four and a half. He has been going to montessori school here and would have been due to start in what we call Junior Infants which is the start of formal education. My daughter is three since January, so I don't know what kind of a school you send that age group to in the UK. Would it be montessori or play school like over here? And I have a seven month old two, so I'm pretty busy! I would be very anxious to get my son into a very good state school. If we were to send him to private eduction, I'm sure it would be quite expensive (don't have a clue of costs?) and we would probably blow the extra money that we would be making with the move over. I've seen primary schools and junior schools mentioned on websites - whats the difference - are they not the same thing? Sorry, I'm clueless. You'd swear we were speaking a different language! Thanks. M.

When are you thinking of moving?

As with the rest of the country, the best schools in Cheltenham are invariably over subscribed. Leckhampton has 2 classes of 30 in each year group and which are always filled in Reception. I suspect that Naunton Park is the same (don't know about Prestbury). Spaces do come up during the year, but only if families move.

Primary schools are either Nursery - Year 6 (aged 3 - aged 12 (ish), or if they don't have a nursery, are Reception (aged 4) to Year 6 (aged 12 ish). Junior schools are from Year 3 (aged 8 ish) to Year 6 (aged 12 ish).

Your problem is going to be that you will not be able to get a place in a school until you are actually living here. Schools will not reserve places. I think that the best you can do at the moment is investigate the areas, speak to the schools to find out the likelihood of there being any spaces. You could register your interest with the school and ask that your child be put on the waiting list for Reception so that if a child leaves, they will notify you. However, they will only do this is you are in the area.

I echo Littlefish. Most of the state primary schools in Cheltenham are of a very good standard compared to other areas of the country, so even if you don't get into one of the 'top' schools you will have the choice of some decent schools. (Just one point, Year 6 is 11 year olds rather than 12). I know Naunton Park has a pre school Playgroup attached to it (age nearly 3 to 4/5).However this will not guarantee a place at the school.

Primary and Junior schools are same thing! They tend to call it Key Stage 1 and 2 rather than Infant and Junior as well. The stages are Reception, then Years 1 - 6. Children start in the year in which they are 5, the cut off date being 31 August, so depending on birthday a child could either be just 4 (end of August birthday) or nearly 5 (early Sept birthday) when they start. The private schools quite often have a nursery/kindergarten/pre prep section. I would look at their prospectus to see how they work and they will also give you an idea of the fees. (As an absolutely personal opinion, I think the state schools are very good).

Of course bagsforlife - I should have been able to work out what age children in yr 6 are!

Monchichi, I grew up in Cheltenham and lived in Pittville, my folks are still there, in Montpellier. Both of those areas are very nice, both have good parks nearby for the kids - not sure about schools any more. Tivoli is very nice, cute houses - and very central, not sure if they have a good sized back garden though, may be more of a yard. Charlton Kings is good and very family orientated. As is Leckhampton.

I love Cheltenham, great shopping, good place to grow up. Relatively safe and friendly(ish). Close to some big cities and also wonderful countryside on your doorstep. I'd love to move back there .

I'd love to move back there too Claudia. I still go back to shop, even though I live closer to another large city - I just prefer the feel of Cheltenham.

It's funny isn't it Littlefish, but aged 18 I loathed the place and couldn't wait to leave but now, aged 41, 2 kids I would love to go back. I think it's a great place .

ooh - Kissyfur, didn't realise you were on MN!! Have Facebooked you (now running off to check how many embarassing things I've posted on MN lol )

Girls - thanks a million for all the info. We are going to find out about a few of the schools in the neighbourhoods you mentioned and then shortly go over for a visit and try to make appointments with the schools for when we are there. M.

Hi I have lived in Cheltenham since 1974 (with two overseas stints with work) but now back with two school age children, we live in the Park Cheltenham. The local school is St James, Merestones Road (Primary), agree on the others with areas, Hatherley, Leckhampton, Charlton Kings or Tivoli would be my advise on areas, schools, Leckhampton, Prestbury (St Marys) Charlton Kings,Warden Hill, St James the Park or GreatField Park Hatherley -this is based on what the kids have been like that my 14 year old knows, through Senior School

Let me know if you would like any more info