Relocating to Durham

[Fourandthedog]

DH has a new job in Durham and we are relocating this summer. We have a DC who will be in Y6 and some family friends have DC at Johnston Secondary School so we would like to live in this catchment for applying next year. Can anyone comment on the places around the city close to this school? We would like to live as close as possible but there isn’t much available in our price range (around £300k). There are some in Langley Moor and Meadowfield but we don’t know anything about these areas.

Other DC will be in Y3.

300k will buy a lovely house in either of those areas. I would opt for Langley Moor, there's an estate close to the Tesco that would likely suit. Alternatively you could look at the Neville's Cross area, much closer to the school and the city centre. Prices will be more expensive though.

Younger DC could then go to Neville's Cross primary. Although if you did choose LM, loads of kids go to the Johnson from there too.

Thank you for the information. We have looked at Neville’s Cross but the houses in our range seem on the small side for the price we can afford. Is Langley Moor considered a decent area to live in? The council admissions map suggests that Johnston is the closest school.

It has nice parts and not so nice parts like everywhere. The estate I mentioned has the biggest houses. LM primary school is very close too and it's rated outstanding.

Thanks KitKatCHA. The houses on the estate are mainly detached and look nice. We are wondering if it would be better to get a smaller house closer to Neville’s Cross.

Possibly, walking distance to school for older DS, although they do put a bus on for the kids which goes through LM. Neville's Cross primary and St Margaret's primary both also walking distance for younger DS, both rated well with ofsted.

The only thing that would put me off is that NC is one of the main routes past the city and gets very busy. If you could get a place away from the main stretch it wouldn't be too bad but personally I wouldn't consider any of the houses on the main road. There are traffic cams on the council website, take a look during rush hour and see what you think.

Feel free to post any you're looking at and I'll tell you what the area is like, I live just past Langley Moor.

Thoughts on these
Newton Hall
Meadowfield
Langley Moor

All similar sized houses and similarly priced.

Newton Hall is a massive estate, it's pretty close to Johnston but there is a closer secondary school, Framwellgate School Durham (where I went!) so I'm not too sure about catchment etc as the vast majority of the kids from Newton Hall go to FSD or the Catholic secondary in Durham.

If you want me to look at anywhere specific stick in a link to a Rightmove listing or something. I've lived all over Durham so usually have a decent idea if it's a nice area or not!

I used to live in both Meadowfield and Langley Moor. My DS went to Langley Moor Primary and all of his Year 6 class got in to Durham Johnston that year. However, in subsequent years, some children at LMP who live in Brandon or Browney haven't got in. I really enjoyed living in Langley Moor and felt like it was a suburb of Durham.

Newton Hall is also really handy for Durham city and the Arnison Centre, but most children who live there go to Fram[wellgate School], which is also a good school, but it doesn't have the same status as the Johnston. However, we are very lucky here that our three state secondary schools (St.Leonards is the Catholic one) are all very good.

That said, quite a few of my DS's friends at the Johnston are from Newton Hall and Framwellgate Moor.