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Original poster

Devon or Kent?

38 replies

silvershells · 22/10/2020 09:57

DH and I are looking to move out of London to live nearer the sea. Our top two locations are Devon and Kent, as we really like both counties from what we’ve seen on various holidays over the years. The problem is, we can’t decide which one to go for!

We both work from home so we’re not tied in that sense. We have a budget of £300,000 and good schools are important for our son, who is currently 8 months.

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 22/10/2020 10:24

If good schools are important, it’s worth thinking about Kent being a grammar county so that’s a bit of a risk as generally either a successful grammar school or a poor non-selective option if your son doesn’t get in. In Devon, you could just near a school of your choice.

A lot of Kent is very commutable to London: is that something you’re after or trying to get away from?

Original poster
silvershells · 22/10/2020 10:55

Thanks JoJo. That’s such an important consideration about the grammar schools - I need to do some proper research I think.

We don’t need to commute to London so Devon would be fine from that POV.

OP posts:
Trisolaris · 22/10/2020 10:58

Devon is also a grammar county - I went to one of three in my area.

Bouncycastle12 · 22/10/2020 11:02

There are grammar schools in Devon but it’s a big county and there aren’t many of them. So if that’s a priority, be careful about which bit you move to.

Original poster
silvershells · 22/10/2020 11:16

Thanks. Of course DS might be lucky enough to get into one of the grammar schools, but what if he doesn’t? Confused

Does anyone have any other insights? What are both places like for bringing up children?

OP posts:
EnglishRose1320 · 22/10/2020 11:20

How near the see do you want to be? Where I am in Devon the actual seaside towns don't have brilliant secondary schools. May not be the case for all of devon. Some of the towns that are about 20/30 minutes from the sea have good schools.

EnglishRose1320 · 22/10/2020 11:23

I personally think Devon is a lovely place to bring up children, but to be fair it's the only place I've bought up children so haven't got any where to compare it with. We love having easy access to the beach and the moors.

Original poster
silvershells · 22/10/2020 11:31

Thanks @EnglishRose1320. Which bit are you in if you don’t mind me asking? Ideally I’d like to be close to the sea, but would definitely consider an inland location if it meant better schools for DS.

OP posts:
Theworldisfullofgs · 22/10/2020 11:35

It depends where in Kent. To be honest with Brent and border stuff, I wouldn't buy in Kent at the moment until its clear what's happening.

JoJoSM2 · 22/10/2020 14:31

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

You can get on overview of schools on the website above.

I don’t know Devon at all, but we know people around Folkestone in Kent and that might suit if you’re after an outdoorsy lifestyle. West Folkestone, Hythe and the surrounding villages are nice places to live with the coast to one side and gorgeous undulating countryside (AONB) to the other. It’s still just about commutable to London but doesn’t feel commuter-belty. The primaries are v good but tend to be CoE. The non-selectives are poor and the grammars v good. They aren’t that selective so you don’t need to be a genius to get in (academically they’re on par with some of the top top comps in non-grammar areas, rather than the London grammars).

chukwe · 22/10/2020 15:19

We live in Bexleyheath (Zone 5) SE London/Kent. A lot of grammar schools around this area and inside kent including St Olaves in Orpington, Kent.

Most of the grammar schools in Kent are accessible from Bexleyheath and it's surroundings.

There are school buses from here to many of the grammar schools in kent from this company www.lewis-school-travel.co.uk/

JudyGemstone · 22/10/2020 15:23

I love Devon but I think it's a bit backwards in some respects, my partner who isn't white has got some funny looks and felt uncomfortable there which I imagine wouldn't happen so much in Kent, although we've not been there.

There's not as much in the way of jobs in Devon either.

EnglishRose1320 · 22/10/2020 15:26

@silvershells I'm in East Devon, nearest beaches Exmouth for a sandy beach, Sidmouth and Seaton for pebble ones. Towns with good schools Ottery St Mary and Uffuculme for secondary or Colyton for Grammar.

ListeningQuietly · 22/10/2020 15:28

Kent : all of the Coastal town have Issues with their Grammar Schools.

North Devon : Beautiful but sodding remote in winter and low opportunities for the young
South Devon less so

Do not rule out East Devon / West Dorset - Sidmouth to Bridport area

Lobsterquadrille2 · 22/10/2020 15:32

I grew up in Kent, left for university in Wales, then London and then worked overseas for 10 years - returned 17 years ago to the same town, when DD was six. Partly because my family are here, partly schools (both DD and I went to a grammar), partly familiarity I suppose. I'd say it's a nice place to live and to bring children up, although it lacks diversity - having been away for so long, I was surprised by how narrow some of the people are, but I suppose you get that everywhere to an extent. I can't compare it to Devon though!

youdidask · 22/10/2020 15:33

Rural living isn't always great for teens.
I know that seems like a long way off but you should think about it.

Investigate the schools in the areas you'd like, look at the stats for teen pregnancies, drugs, antisocial behaviour, facilities, clubs, jobs etc.

JudyGemstone · 22/10/2020 15:37

Yeah I always think of Devon as a place I'd retire to, not somewhere I'd move my teens

floridapalmtree · 22/10/2020 16:09

Devon and Kent are very different counties.

I think the school issue is an important one to consider, risky in Kent with the grammar schools. Devon only has a few grammars, Torbay area and Colyton from what I remember.

Also what you need to consider is what type of people you are and what you like doing and what type of beaches you like. For example if you are really outdoorsy types into cycling, walking, surfing then Devon would be better. If you love long sandy beaches then Devon would be better. If you like being closer to shopping/ London/ more culture then Kent. If you travel over to Europe by car then Kent is easier.

SheridansSmyth · 22/10/2020 16:53

@ListeningQuietly

Kent : all of the Coastal town have Issues with their Grammar Schools.

North Devon : Beautiful but sodding remote in winter and low opportunities for the young
South Devon less so

Do not rule out East Devon / West Dorset - Sidmouth to Bridport area

What do you mean issues with their grammar schools?? I moved from London, taking my four children out of private and moving them to state grammar In a coastal location. I am very happy with their education. It’s certainly a lot more rounded than the hot house I experienced at a pushy selective school growing up and equally as good.
ListeningQuietly · 22/10/2020 16:56

Sheridan
Seaside towns have issues
and the Kent passports will be exciting next year

if you got all your kids into the Grammar, that is fab.
Its a risk not all can take.
What are the SecMods like in your town?

pinkpanther84 · 22/10/2020 16:58

I grew up and still live in Exeter. It's a great place to live with good secondary schools, we don't have grammar schools in Exeter but I am aware there are some elsewhere in Devon.

ancientgran · 22/10/2020 17:05

Some Exeter kids at Torquay Boys and Girls grammars, funnily enough I was in Torquay and saw the tidal wave headed to the station to get a train to Exeter. I know people whose kids go to both schools.

I moved to Devon when kids were young, it is a nice place to grow up, I have fond memories of things like fish and chips for dinner on the beach after swimming lessons, lots of nice places to go for a day out, summer carnivals. Hate it now as kids are all settled in their uni cities, I feel cut off and alone. The area isn't great on diversity, well Exeter isn't too bad, we have fallen foul of this as I'm white and husband isn't, I see all too clearly the difference in treatment when I'm with him.

I want to move to a city, close to kids and with better services, e.g. public transport, hospitals etc.

I don't know Kent so can't compare.

SheridansSmyth · 22/10/2020 18:04

@ListeningQuietly

Sheridan Seaside towns have issues and the Kent passports will be exciting next year

if you got all your kids into the Grammar, that is fab.
Its a risk not all can take.
What are the SecMods like in your town?

That is the case in all selective / non-selective areas, not just a Kent coastal issue? I actually think some of the Secondary modern options here are preferable to some of the ones I saw in London...
ListeningQuietly · 22/10/2020 19:29

Sheridan
Only Kent and Lincolnshire combine coast and Grammars

hence why Dorset is a better bet Wink

Standrewsschool · 22/10/2020 19:37

What sort of place do you want to live in - town, village, coastal? What types of activities do you like doing - outside? Culture? Etc.

I live in Kent and have been happy bringing my dc here. It is a grammar school area, and non- grammars vary in quality, but then all areas have good and bad schools.

What’s nice about Kent is that you have a real mixture - I can get to the coast, countryside, France/Europe or the bright lights of London all fairly easily. Not sure if I would feel a bit cut off in Devon.

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