I’m sick and tired of stupidly expensive commuter belt living. Opportunity for DH to work from home 4days. Where can we get much more space for our money but still be close to good schools?

[Lookingforspace]

We live in Snooty Mc Snootville yummy mummy suburban paradise apparently. I’ve grown to hate it. It depresses the hell out of me and we simply can’t afford it. House is worth a stupid amount (I feel) but it needs work and it’s too small for us. We can’t afford anything bigger.

DH has been offered a role primarily based at home. It’s been on the cards for 2yrs but only just been confirmed. We long for space; proper space both inside and out. Trouble is schools. We have 3 children, two of whom are already at seniors (Y7&8) They are at grammar school, Y7 DD at a very highly selective one.

Where can we go and can get what we want for maximum budget of 750k? I was thinking Lincolnshire as cheaper but still a grammar system but I don’t know.

I’d suggest mid-Suffolk - 4 high achieving state schools (Debenham, Thomas mills, hartismere, farlingaye), 1hr 20 into Liverpool Street from stowmarket station, no changes. 30ish minutes in the car to the beach. Quiet and relaxed.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/map.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E7996&maxPrice=700000&minPrice=500000&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=299&radius=10.0&viewType=MAP&viewport=1.10679%2C1.23553%2C52.1734%2C52.2563

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53951874.html

Just realised that’s a beamed farmhouse. Teach me to read properly. Think you’ll find there’s a lot of those round here!

I second Holmes Chapel. Nice village. Big Costa.

Have you considered the Wirral? Your 750k would go far, the grammar schools are excellent and I commute to Westminster once a week - just over 2 hours,

This thread is fucking hilarious.

OP wants to live somewhere posh with super selective schools, but doesn’t actually like posh people or the parents of children at super selective schools.

What a joy you sound!

If you're not going private be very careful as you may find it hard / impossible to get your children places into excellent state schools however bright they are.

I live in altrincham and totally get what you're saying. They schools your kids are at if I'm guessing orrectly are excellent schools it would be a shame to move them. What about moving more towards Northwich? lots more for your money and the kids could stay at the schools where they are?
If I knew what I knew now I think I would have chosen to live in Lymm or Knutsford. Still not cheap but more for your money compared to where we are now.

Yes, I'm puzzled too. It's like you enjoyed the area when you could compete and get your daughter into a super selective. But now your last child isn't so academic, you want to move somewhere cheaper where you can get a larger house than other people.

Well if you roll your eyes at people who are trying to be helpful, then frankly, I'm not surprised you're having issues.

Market Harborough- an hour to London on the train, great housing and schools

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64989883.html

It was actually hard to find property around £750k as that would buy you a lot in Leicestershire but here you go

In addition, Scottish coucil tax is very high generally in comparison to England.

We don't pay separate water bills.

Upperwallop, my eyeroll was at your suggestion that I was saying I lived in two different places.
You said,
I'm confused about where you live. You've said 2 different places - Trafford and Hale. Which is it?
Your tone was rather accusatory.

We did the move to Lincolnshire from Kent when Dd was in year 5. She went from one of the alleged top primary schools to a small village school with 15 in her year. She came on far more in that small school than she had done previously. They were also encouraged to take part in a lot more activities and all levels of attainment were involved.
She is now at a grammar school in the Grantham/Sleaford area not a super selective one) and she is still encouraged to achieve and take part in activities. A lot of her friends represent the county/country at sports etc. The pupils come from all over, including from Lincoln, Newark etc. A lot of them, like us live in villages outside of the main towns. There is turnover due to some families being in the forces, people moving. She has had a few friends join in years 8 and 9. Most of the grammars tend to be single sex but are linked with the other school. The other school in our nearest town is pretty good and friends who have children in both the grammar and the academy have no issues with it.
I commute into London 1-2 days a week by train from Grantham. To keep the cost down buy tickets in advance as they are not cheap.

Quiteunfitbit, actually, I’ve never enjoyed it but my DH has spent many years needing to be in Manchester 4days a wk and London, 1day. When we were moving from Edinburgh lots of people recommended it including people DH would be working with. It seemed ok for a while but I just want out now. The fact that DS2 isn’t suited to Grammar school doesn’t bother me one bit. There are a few independent options we could look at. I just think he would benefit from a slower pace and more space; I think we all would.

I know what you were rolling your eyes at. It wasn't meant accusingly - it was merely seeking clarification. If I was being a snoot, why would I then go on to be helpful.

Anyways...... It's not obvious. Trafford suggests Manchester but it's clear now.

primal - even with the water bill, my sister pays over £125 more than us and we are the second highest band in Trafford. Council tax (inclusive of water) in Scotland is much higher proportionally in Scotland when compared to Trafford and income tax is now higher

I think with older children you should only uproot them if you have to, not just because you want to.
It’s brutally tough making friendship groups and settling etc.
And wherever you go if you are looking for a top performing school you are going to get “those” parents. The trick is not to engage in it.

Live in a area not far from Grantham myself and have some friends move there, part due to the grammar schools there. The London commute is very good in this area as the train is a fast one with very few stops. The issue of the intelligent, achieving and pretty girl was a concern for my friends as well and they did have problems regarding the girls being bullied in the other schools but Grantham seems to be fairing well for them.

But surely all these other high performing schools/grammars will be as hard to get into the ones in Trafford - ie very difficult? Particularly an in year transfer - I would have thought that would be pretty near impossible.

I agree the trick is not to engage. I think moving the DCs now would be really unfair. There is plenty of good provision for your DS who may not get into a grammar - BTH (depending on religion). Altrincham College of Arts, Wellington.

Essex - really nice towns and villages. Great grammar schools in Chelmsford and Southend/Westcliff. Property significantly cheaper than London and only 46 mins from the city by train

I didnt see any suggestions of Yorkshire - Calderdale and Kirklees has very good grammars. Calderdale grammars are not catchment based so you could live more rurally than Halifax. Good links to London by train and you'd get the house and land you wanted for £750k.

Did you say you lived in Cheshire? With that budget you could amazing house here on the Wirral, and you do t lose all your mates!

We live just outside Salisbury in Wiltshire - completely unpretentious and friendly but beautiful with an excellent education system. Grammar schools plus outstanding non-grammars too, spoilt really! PM me if you want any more info.

I commute to Portsmouth from here on the train (1.25 hrs) and rarely have a problem with delays etc or overcrowding. Lots of people going to London (1.5 hrs) at the same time from here.

£750k will get you something very big and even less gets you a good size too: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54077787.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71342450.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53860896.html

A few changes needed re decor etc on this one but it gives you an idea of prices around here. We have a choice of 5 very good secondary schools too. No need to pay more. Good rail links close by, countryside on your doorstep, and a range of small towns nearby with all amenities you need.