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Original poster

Move to the Isle of Wight or not..?

16 replies

blueblizz · 08/09/2015 16:27

We have come to a stage in life where we could move. We live North of London atm but have lived near Southampton for couple years. Dh really fancies IOW. We both love the sea and dh sails. We spent a couple trips looking near cowes, freshwater and near ferry ports as dh will sometimes have to travel london. I have a 7yr old and 2yr old. Could someone who lives there give me some honest advice about island life with kids. Many thanks.

OP posts:
Elsie212 · 09/09/2015 20:32

No help at all - watching with interest.

We actually got as far as viewing some houses but it went wrong when DH asked what their was for youngsters to do.

No wors of a lie...the agent said, "What, other than sell or buy drugs!?"

Shock

Shame as we were seriously considering it.

Keen to see some replies.

Elsie212 · 09/09/2015 20:33

Pedant time: there.
Not their Blush

ILoveToLaugh · 10/09/2015 13:10

We live on the West Wight, have 3 DC (16, 14 and 9) and love it! Work out whether you want to live rurally, semi-rurally or in town (and remeber I use the term "town" loosely Grin). Would it bother you if you have to jump in the car for a pint of milk/can you cope without 24 hour opening/does route to primary school actually have pavement? That said, August is the only month when I can't guarantee getting a next day slot for Tesco delivery. We sail and kayak. Sailing clubs vary in what they offer, but the two I know run RYA courses for kids and adults (DH is an instructor). Those kids who don't like sailing usually go on to try horse riding. I'd suggest really narrowing down your location and then go and visit the schools to see if they suit. The having to catch a ferry doesn't bother me in the slightest. DD had a place at a sixth form college in the New Foret which would have meant she'd have to commute every day but it's just something you do if you want to do it IYSWIM.

As for the drugs, well, aren't they everywhere? Some drink, some don't. There are huge problems with drinking in young in rural locations because they're bored, but that's not just limited to the Island. I happened to be in very close proximity to a GCSE results beach party (pretty much all Year 11 from a school there) one evening and found it interesting that the adults staggering out of a certain expensive restaurant were rowdier than the kids rushing back to catch the last bus!

HTH

ILoveToLaugh · 10/09/2015 13:11

Oh crap, sorry for typos!!!

Ta1kinPeace · 10/09/2015 20:13

I wouldn't.
The IOW schools are lurching from crisis to chaos with no clear end in sight.
The council is the model of corruption
The MP is a mute puppet.

HOWEVER
If you can afford private or have the ability to massively support education or live where the kids can commute to the mainland,
go for it
as
the amount of house for your money is FAB

The drugs issue is no worse than anywhere else with a massive prison population and seasonal jobs market : easily avoided if you want

Original poster
blueblizz · 11/09/2015 09:24

Thanks everyone. I've heard quite a bit about the schools and drug thing. ..but do you know what it's big problem here too with dope almost everywhere and schools struggling cos they are overcrowded. I think it is everywhere. I must admit the size of house we could get for the money and the warmth of the people we have met so far his very attractive. I will take advice and visit more and narrow the search.!

OP posts:
Sunshine0925 · 16/06/2018 21:57

Hi I know this is an old post but we are now also thinking about moving from Sw London to the Isle of Wight, Ryde area. Ryde school looks very good on paper, has anyone any inside information- is it really as good as the results suggest? (My children are small so would go to both junior and senior school) Also if we were to move I would commute to London 1 day a week. We would need a nanny/ aupair/student etc to say with us overnight, take children to school, collect at the end of the day and stay with them until 8pm term time only. How easy do you think it would be to find this type of childcare? I am also great full to hear others experience of moving. We know the island well, I have family there so not completely new to us!

Sharon346 · 24/06/2018 17:31

Sorry to jump on this too but my hubby has been offered a job on the isle of Wight, we have two children primary school age so would appreciate any info or advice about areas or dos donts etc please? Also I am going to look for work there if anyone knows of any contacts for paramedic jobs or first aid training jobs, any advice would be gratefully received please :)

Gaillimh17 · 31/07/2018 09:42

Sharon, the Ryde School is excellent. The head is truly inspirational (an overused term, I know) but the school offers just the right blend of academic rigour, sport, arts. Good sixth form options with A levels, IB and the IB careers program for those who have a fair idea what they want to do in life, especially if its hands on like engineering or design.
Your problems lie elsewhere. If you come to the island from a large city on the main land it's going to be a huge culture shock. Getting on and off the island will be very expensive, two operators, not much competition. The place is a cultural wasteland if you like theatre, art galleries etc., although Quay Arts in Newport are trying hard and deserve credit. If you like seeing top class sport forget it. Driving on the Island is almost comical if it wasn't so lethal at times. Many islanders have never actually driven on the mainland. Imagine !
The local council is beyond inept. If you doubt me google the Cowes Floating Bridge saga. The people are very nice but laid back to the point of comatose on occasions. Trying to get a job done is impossible. At this precise moment I am waiting in for a plumber who was supposed to be here 2 hours ago (many aren't just late, they never come at all) and the local garage have had my car 8 days just to fit a new tow bar. If you've lived your life in, say, the London area, it will drive you nuts.
And as you say, the local state schools are bad, mainly due to Island heads who have declared war on their own staff and created toxic staffrooms. TIP. If you are sending your child to a school on the island find out where the head is from. There are three or four good ones, all from the mainland originally.
Then there will be no decent jobs for your kids when they grow up so they will be back to the mainland.
Having said all that....if you're retired with a whopping great pension and you love sailing....it's paradise !

jobhunter7 · 09/12/2018 14:42

which places do people like?

shallwemoveagain · 26/07/2019 13:33

Sunshine0925 did you move then? We are seriously considering a move over and Ryde school looks perfect for our son! Apart from the fact we will be near Yarmouth

Malvinaa81 · 26/07/2019 18:23

It may not be directly relevant, but can serve as a warning, but certain medical conditions are not treated on the IOW and require journeys to the mainland- in the the case of certain cancer treatments this can be daily for some weeks.
This means that most or even all the day will be taken up with travel and hospital. (I think the NHS pay for transport, at least from the port)

Another thing-the crossing with a car can be very expensive.

And any young people leave the island for work on the mainland, as they find the IOW very boring.

LucheroTena · 27/07/2019 10:54

I wouldn’t move there with kids but if you’re going to do it now is the time- while they’re young enough to adapt. The lack of specialist health care, poor schools, lack of jobs would concern me.

Neet90 · 07/08/2019 03:03

We live in Southampton and have often considered it, the main downside is ferry costs as my husband would still work here though you can buy a yearly pass, it's also not cheap for people to visit you or for you to go back to the mainland and visit them. However it always seems so lovely with plenty of beaches and I can imagine it's so nice to pop by the water after picking the kids up from school, you also sewm to get a lot more house for your money. I must admit I hadn't thought ahead to the idea of my children wanting to leave for bigger things as they grow up.

fuglygit · 07/07/2020 09:17

Hello
Well I'm not a "mum" . I'm a dad that does both mum and dad jobs. I do have a wife (of sorts) and she is my best friend. we have three almost grown kids, well, one has flown the other is about to go to uni and the third, according to her she will never leave home ,,,,
We have the opportunity to move to a nice part of the Isle of wight. bought a property exceptionally cheap ( I'm a chippy not a problem). But what is a problem is the 18 yr old girl, she needs to get out and do something with her life. were close to retirement. and that is there for her to do, the middle son is going to medical school and he will be there for the next five yrs or more. We (the parents) really fancy the island. I only need a part time job as does she, money is not the issue it's taking the foundation of the lives away from all that they know and replanting it else were. Not all things take to replanting

fuglygit · 07/07/2020 09:20

I must apologize for my typing skills, and the grammar isn't up to much either.

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