Yorkshire mums please help :)

[Jolene93]

I’m currently living in the South but have made the decision to move to Yorkshire, but I’m honestly clueless about the process of getting my son enrolled in a school up there changing schools and everything? Can you please help 🥺

Also any other general pointers about the area I’d be really grateful for, I want to move but just an idea and nothing in place yet - TIA x

Following up on this thread, I’ve had a conversation with my family letting them know I want to move to Yorkshire and they’ve been more than disappointed. One of my sisters said she couldn’t understand why I’d want to move for “a call centre job” - I work for a utility company taking calls so find the terminology she used offensive as it’s more than that to me, and want to progress my career but feel I can’t do that where I live now as the office is based in Yorkshire.

Their comments have made me doubt myself and said they’d never come to visit and said my son won’t know any of them, if I moved up there and it didn’t work out I’d end up living in a caravan etc 🙄

My family have always been negative towards me so used to it but am I doing right by wanting to move?

Sounds like moving away from them is a good idea, what a load of misery guts!

Yeah, that’s another reason that I’m factoring in lately.

Anyone else have any opinions please I’d be grateful for the advice, many thanks :)

I can’t comment on where to buy as I don’t live close enough but from my knowledge I would avoid Thurnscoe, Middlecliffe, Bolton on Dearne and Goldthorpe. All seem to be very deprived ex mining villages

Also avoid Great Houghton and Grimethorpe.

If buying in Penistone make sure you buy on the Barnsley side of The Bridge traffic lights. It is a real bottleneck at peak times. There is a massive new housing development being built on Well House Lane (not popular with the locals I might add) which would give you access to an excellent primary school and a rather good comprehensive school.

South Yorkshire is lovely. Sheffield is only 30-60mins from wath depending on traffic and has some really lovely areas. Depends on what your budget is and if you're planning to rent or buy. Plenty of great schools, lots of outdoor space and very welcoming.

Thank you all for your help!
I would be looking to rent, and I don’t currently drive :( how far exactly is Barnsley from Wath?

30-60mins depending on traffic and where abouts in Barnsley to where in wath

OK, not being able to drive round here woud be a massive disadvantage. Forget any housing advice I have posted. We don't have London Transport style public transport.

The nearest station is Goldthorpe, which is on the line between Leeds and Sheffield. These trains don't go via Barnsley. TBH the area in and around Goldthorpe is not somewhere I would want to live.

Do you work in one of the call centres in Manvers? If so there is a bus route down to there, I think it is the x22 maybe? It goes around quite a few of the villages and Barnsley to Doncaster I think.

I would focus around Wath and Swinton if you don't drive tho. There is a train station at Swinton and a bus station in Wath. Also a train and bus station in Mexborough but its pretty rough in places. Wombwell has a train station as well, but you would need a bus down Manvers.

I second this. I'm in a different bit of Yorks, but life outside of the centre of big cities is tricky without a car.

Very few people don't drive up here! You need to get that sorted, public transport is poor and will restrict you a lot.

Birdwell is nice, 20 mins into Barnsley, 15-20 mins to wath down the dearne valley parkway and right next to motorway for easy access into Sheffield/Meadowhall if needed

The OP doesn't drive.

I think you need to visit I spent 10 years going from the south to north in a LDR and it’s very different. In the end I couldn’t make the move I was on the borders of south/West Yorkshire plus you cannot do it without a car esp if you are from London used to public transport. Where are you in the south ?

We made the move about 18 months ago. It's been very positive - much better quality of life, money goes further, school much better etc. Travelling is easier and cheaper, commute much better.

Council tax is half the price of where we were in the south for a larger house too!

We live in Barnsley and DH works in Swinton (near Wath). He wouldn't even attempt to get to work on public transport. If you're looking at working in the call centre in Manvers though, there's quite a few new build estates round that area though.

Hi everyone who’s replied/added onto this thread since January - sorry! I haven’t been on here much. Yes I work for a call centre in Manvers but currently WFH due to the distance lol, I currently live in Southampton

Re-starting plans to move, either in the vicinity of Barnsley or Wath. Any further advice or guidance would be appreciated 🥰 TIA x

Anyone, please? :)

I'm sorry I can't help. I don't know what public transport is like in the area you are looking at. All I know is that not being able to drive will limit your options significantly. I'm on the Penistone side of Barnsley, and public transport to where you will be working isn't great - hourly trains to Barnsley, then a bus from Barnsley Interchange (if there is one, to your workplace).

We just don't have the public transport infrastructure that you have in London.

Found a place I love and have a viewing for it on Saturday and looking at schools for my boy! Feeling really excited!
QQ though.. also feeling really nervous about the move, I know anyone would with such a big move but anyone have any tips as to how to go about childcare etc? Do local schools in Wath/Rotherham offer after school clubs etc?

Hello OP, Barnsley mum here . Wath is more towards Rotherham than Barnsley, so transport links are probably better towards that Rotherham. Manvers is basically a big estate full of call centres, although lots of housing estates have sprung up due to the amount of jobs there.
I haven't read the entire thread so not sure if you're looking for primary or secondary schools. If primary, each will have their own before/after school provision - if they even provide it at all so do your research. Prices can vary too - mine have gone to one school which charged £1 for breakfast club, yet their current school charges £4.50!
Wath has one of the better secondary schools in the area. There's also St Pius but you would need proof of faith to go there.
The area itself is nice, there's a lovely little theatre which puts on pantomimes and dance competitions. You have the choice of Barnsley or Rotherham for shopping....and socialising. Only you can make the decision though, perhaps come stay for a few days to have a look around? There's a holiday inn at manvers I believe.