Isle of Wight Mums!

[Doedoes]

Hi all I need to hear from Isle of Wight mums! It looks like we will need to move to the Isle of Wight (2 kids 6&9yrs old) and we are looking at Sandown. I know there must be young families there because there is a primary and a secondary school in the town but I want to know about the community. I know the pace of life will be slower etc and we will adapt happily to that but I need a community of parents who like to socialise and I really need somewhere to get a decent flat white! Everything I’ve seen is that Ventnor has nice bars and coffee shops and Sandown is great for retired people, so what are the parents who’s kids go to The Bay CE School in Sandown up to? Do they live in Sandown? Anyone able to offer any insight would be super welcome. Thank you!

Hi - did you get any responses? I am keen to understand education on the island

I grew up on the Island. Sandown is ok, The bay isn’t the local favoured school, Gatten and Lake or Newchurch primary is more favoured for those living in Sandown. It’s got a great beach but it’s not one of the nicest areas to live in. I would prefer to be on the Ryde side of the Island for beaches and Nettlestone primary or Bembridge primary are great schools. Go and visit and see what you feel for places. Sandown feels like a holiday resort, great in the summer, a bit dull in the winter. Ryde has more all year round offerings with plenty eating out or coffee options all year, nice sand park, Appley park is nice. Still some scruffy areas but isn’t there everywhere?! 😁 hope this helps.

Where are you moving from?
sandown is pretty rundown. It will look a bit better as the weather picks up for the season.
Gatten & Lake, Nettlestone, Newchurch, Brading, Niton, Bembridge would generally be better choices for primary on that side of the island.
Many would opt to try for The Free School rather than The Bay.
tegarding meeting people, there are people all over the island, lots of coffee shops.

I wouldn't move to Sandown.
I lived in Ventnor and the Free School is ok.
But agree Nettlestone/Bembridge better for primary, though not sure about secondaries - my Nettlestone friends kids had to bus it to Ryde Academy. We moved to Ryde but don't rate Ryde Academy. The island schools are not that good. Mine went to Ryde School with Upper Chine (private).

Thank you so much for all your responses! We are no nearer a solution but really value all your feedback.