Help we need to move to the Chesterfield area

[travelingsullivans]

We are looking at moving to the Chesterfield area or anywhere near there with in a 30min drive . I have two I kids age s 15 &13 . And we have no knowledge of schools or the area . Currently living in Madrid Spain so the kids have a lot of freedom in a safe big city. Looking for recommendations on nice areas to live near good secondary schools within the Chesterfield area or south of there as our family live in the south east. With Covid situation we haven't had any chance to go and have a look around so I really am asking for help or recommmendations. I know everyone has different takes on places but we really are coming in blind so any point of reference would be welcome. Thank you

Chesterfield (or Chesvegas as the local sarcastically call it) itself isn't somewhere I'd choose to live. I moved from a cosmopolitan city to about 10 miles from Chesterfield and to be honest, I was quite shocked at the contrast. Think you might find similar if you are coming from a thriving/wealthy city. You might prefer to live in or near Bakewell perhaps, or maybe more towards Sheffield (haven't lived in that direction, but am sure others can advise). Bakewell has Lady Manners school, which has been solidly good for years. The villages round Bakewell are considered upmarket if that's what you're after.

Highfields school in Matlock had been a bit up and down over the years but is generally fine. As is Anthony Gell in Wirksworth. There are some lovely villages around both of those schools, again if that's the sort of thing you're after.

Going back to Chesterfield, there are some good schools, but in terms of where to live, some of the surrounding villages are still pretty deprived following the closure of the mines. There's also some very sought after villages like Ashover. Property prices will give you a clue as to which category any particular village falls into.

Dronfield is nice and Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is outstanding. Easy access to Chesterfield and Sheffield from there plus out to motorway. In Chesterfield itself, the area around Brookfield secondary is nice though the school itself has had a few upheavals in recent years.
If heading to Sheffield, focus on the west side, in an arc from Dore around to Stannington - easy back roads commute to Chesterfield in 25-40 mins.
Lady Manners in Bakewell is good but Madrid to rural village outside Bakewell probably tough for your teens. Bakewell itself is lovely but prone to floods near the river. What budget and size house are you looking for?

Thanks guys. No need to live in Chesterfield my husband is happy to drive into work so it comes down to what's best for the kids basically and we can go from there. My son loves cricket and was very good at it but hasn't played for a year now thanks to covid. For us at present school is no. One priority . Can I take it that the surrounding areas to the school should be good to look for places to stay. As they walk to school here. My husband is there now but with lockdown can't do much but if I can send him some areas to go and look at it will help. It's a really difficult time to be moving. I am taking it one day at a time. Thank you to this of you happy to give some recommendations.

West Sheffield is worth a look. About half an hour's drive from chesterfield and has some outstanding and very good schools. Tapton, silverdale, nottredame.

You need to live in catchment area for the good schools or you won't get a place and even then you might have to home ed till a place comes up.

Thanks guys those are places I hadnt heard of or looked at yet . The school thing is a worry as I did contact some of the schools and were told most have waiting lists. So we need to find a place to rent and get they whole process moving as soon as possible. But at least now I have some idea of where to look .

I was also going to suggest Bakewell and Lady Manners.

What's your budget like? South West Sheffield is nice- Whirlow, Nether Edge, Ecclesall Road South, Millhouses, Carter Knowle etc. Could be a bit of traffic post-lockdown into Chesterfield but it isn't a particularly strenuous or ridiculously long journey. Could also go as far out of Sheffield as Dore and Totley or even further towards the Peak District. I would also agree with PP that suggested Dronfield, a nice area with an outstanding school

Sorry, just seen that you are renting. SW Sheffield is expensive but very desirable. If your budget doesn't stretch that far (think £800pcm+ a month for a decent house in a decent area) look further to Dronfield.

Honestly it massively depends on your budget for a house.

All the senior schools have good and bad points, none are dire which is rare! I have loved here on and off for 25 years. I grew up in London and did uni in Leeds. So I do agree with the comments above above about things to do being somewhat lacking.

Matlock and Bakewell are lovely, but huge tourist draws in nice weather which can have you trapped. Also stuff for teens to do is again lacking. Both are also mega bucks to buy or rent in due to being within the peak national park.

Dronfield is nice, but cheaper, again not much for teens but easy links to Sheffield by bus or train

Certain areas of Sheffield are nice on the Chesterfield side but again depends on budget. Norton, Totley, Dore, bannerdale, Ecclesall all nice and vary from reasonable to ridiculously expensive.

Hathersage and the Hope Valley are lovely and lots of outdoor activities. Hope Valley College has had some ups and downs but generally very good.
South Sheffield has some very strong schools, I know a few who travel to get to High Storrs.

"Matlock and Bakewell are lovely, but huge tourist draws in nice weather which can have you trapped. Also stuff for teens to do is again lacking. Both are also mega bucks to buy or rent in due to being within the peak national park.*

Matlock isn't in the Peak District National Park. Property is pretty reasonable in the surrounding villages.

If you decide in Matlock then make sure you are in Matlock and not Matlock Bath.

Can anyone tell me anything about Kirkby in Ashfield. Is that a nice area for families?

Some parts of Kirkby are very deprived. And the Mansfield area was extremely pro Brexit, which I'm guessing might be an issue for you? The cultural difference would be immense.

Just so you are aware, Matlock is a lovely place but has a huge drugs problem. I work for the substance misuse service in Derbyshire.

Belper is nice. Think the school is Jon Flamsteed for secondary which is ok.

Stapleford or Long Eaton are right on the M1 so you can get to Chesterfield in about 40 minutes. They're also well-linked by bus to Nottingham and Derby for teenagers. The best school round there would probably be George Spencer Academy which is Outstanding (OFSTED).

Kirkby is cheap for a reason, also quite insular. Madrid to Kirkby in A is quite a leap

So not really a place to look ok thank you . Oh my goodness this is so hard . So will have a look at places in the other areas that have been mentioned above thanks.

Would your DH consider a slightly longer commute? I was wondering about Southwell in Nottinghamshire. It's about 40 mins.

Also second Belper, it's a really nice place, lots of small independent shops, very friendly too.

Oadby or Market Harborough in Leicestershire is a really easy commute into Chesterfield or Sheffield by train. Much, much nicer area too and gives a bit of flexibility in that you can commute to London and Birmingham easily too.

What's your budget @travelingsullivans ?
And how big a house do you need?
It would help to narrow down area significantly

Market Harborough is miles away! Over an hour on the train nevermind getting to the station on top of that. Even longer by car. Peak District much nicer than Leicestershire too

Do you want town, city or countryside? You could get any of these within a 30 min drive of Chesterfield.

@TangerineGenie

Market Harborough is miles away! Over an hour on the train nevermind getting to the station on top of that. Even longer by car. Peak District much nicer than Leicestershire too

Lots of people make that commute locally. And for the price of a madrid flat you could probably get a 4 bed in an outstanding school area and access to Leicestershire’s private schools and services.