Worthing...or not?!

[KKKaty]

Hi

I wondered what living in Worthing is like and which are the best areas to live in to be sure of getting in to good schools (primary to Secondary)? Can anyone give me their thoughts / experiences?

(We currently live in Hove and are looking to buy our first family home with a 3 year old and 6 month old. We are older parents and so hoping this will be a home for a long time, don't want to keep moving. Feeling a bit heartbroken as can't easily afford the nice family homes near good schools in Hove and Mid Sussex where I grew up and have family and friends. My husband now seems set on Worthing - more for your money. But I am reluctant and concerned about how easy it is to constantly travel back and forwards to Hove (where we work) and Hassocks where I have family - the A27 is a nightmare round Worthing it seems. Have to admit the idea of living there makes me feel a bit queasy, but I am sure I am being unreasonable!!)

Any comments would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
xx

I grew up in Worthing and it is a good place for schools etc, depending on where you were planning on living will determine which primary, middle and high school your DCs can get into as catchment areas are very tight.

Travel to Hove is easy enough both by road and by public transport but does get very busy during peak times, the A27 can be a chuffing nightmare heading Northwards especially towards Haywards Heath during rush hour.

The major plus points about it are:
Good schools across the town
Easy access to towns across the coast, ragular buses/trains to Brighton, Chi etc
Plenty to do (despite it's image as God's waiting room!) and the town centre isn't all that bad for a small town either!

Thanks NorflokNChance - really helpful. Do you know which areas of town are the best / nicest re schools etc? Someone said West Worthing was good south of the railway?? Sorry I don't know Worthing very well as you can tell! Really appreciate your comments x

West Worthing will give you the option of West Park First and Middle and then Worthing High, to be honest there are hardly any schools that are not worth going to!

The only areas of worthing i would avoid are east worthing and durrington.

West worthing is mostly nice and some good local schools, its own railway station and houses are a lot more reasonable than Hove.

I was looking but decided too long for our commute - I wanted to live in Ferring (all leafy and the seaside is lovely), or East Preston as the primary school looked excellent.

Agree re schools. There aren't any bad ones really.

Don't know if its relevant but Worthing is still on first and middle school system and don't transfer to secondary until y8.

Highly recommend The Orchards as a middle school.

I commuted from Worthing to Hove for 5 years and ime mornings are not too bad until about 8.40 and worse coming home.

East Worthing between the railway and sea has fantastic Edwardian/Victorian houses. It's also near the hospital,railway(east or central) and Waitrose. All walking distance.
Very good single sex girls' school locally.
East Worthing North of railway line has a few deprived areas but no issues.
If you have to travel towards Brighton live to the East.
Makes life easier!

So helpful everyone, big thank you!

Have to say Worthing sounds good from what you all say

x