How is it like living in Basildon, Essex with school going kids?

[js1000]

We currently have a mortgage on a small flat in London . DH n I work in East London . Our kids go to really nice school here but not we are desperate to buy a bigger house as we feel squashed in our 2 bedroom flat . We can not afford/like the properties that we have viewed so far in east London . I have been looking in Internet the house prices n sizes in Basildon are really good and affordable but am worried as the reputation of Essex and some horrid comments in the Internet .
How is it like to live there ? how are the schools n people ? how is commuting to London ? Any suggestion ?
Thanks

Am aware this is a few months ago but Stanford-le-hope is great if you want a kebab or your acrylics done and that's it tbh. Stayed there for 2 weeks and most exciting thing was the coop and tesco express is v close together. The facebook group is funny but fairly racist. Re schools St Josephs (catholic) is good but not sure about the others. To be fair it is fairly well connected with the c2c line (50 mins to London Fenchurch). I have a job in the area but chose to live in Basildon.

Old Corringham is definitely the best out of Stanford/Corringham. It has a real community feel. You have access to Stanford/Basildon/Pitsea/Laindon railways stations all pretty close by. Great bus routes.