Chelmsford apartment

[jacjacuk]

We are hoping to move to Chelmsford in the new year from Hong Kong. I have 2 children, aged 12 and 10.

I am looking for advice on the best places is better to live in and around Chelmsford (apartment with lift is better), catchment areas for best "Good" secondary schools, if we haven't driver license is possible living in Chelmsford ?

Please advice, many thanks !

Do you need to commute to London?

Apartments are usually called flats in the U.K. and may be smaller than what you are used to. Is there a reason you want an apartment rather than a house?

There are lots of apartments around the train station area in town. There are lots of new build estates being built that will also have apartments try Googling channels and beaulieu in Chelmsford. There has also been a new secondary state school built on this estate a couple of years ago. However these estates are then a bus ride away from the train station if that is needed.

Are you looking at state schools? Chelmsford is a super selective grammar school area, which may affect the other schools in the area. There is a big independent secondary school in Chelmsford by the beaulieu estate.

Don't worry about the size. Most HK apartments are small by UK standards.

Anywhere in the city centre, just avoid kings road and Melbourne.

@17to35

Don't worry about the size. Most HK apartments are small by UK standards.

Thank you for your reply.

We no need to commute to London.

We prefer flat because we cannot handle the garden and don't want everyday up & down in the house.

I search on rightmove this apartment look like good, any comments ? www.onecanalsidechelmsford.com/

Yes, I found the new school in Beaulieu park, also this area a lot of new built house, but we haven't driver license and this school no Ofsted for reference
www.beaulieuparkschool.com/

We looking for the state schools, I understand the outstanding & grammar school is very full so we try apply Ofsted good secondary schools. Just received The boswells school full in all year groups.

@jacjacuk there will be no ofstead yet as it's a newish school but I have heard good reports. It certainly looks very impressive with great facilities from the outside. You will probably find that all the best schools are all full. If your 12 year old is going into year 9 in September it was a high birth year.

That flat is ok if you want to be close to town I guess, but it depends what schools your children are going to if you don't drive.

Why have you picked Chelmsford out of interest?

@Amijustagrump

Anywhere in the city centre, just avoid kings road and Melbourne.

Thank you for your suggestion.

@17to35

Don't worry about the size. Most HK apartments are small by UK standards.

I'm not worry about the size, i only worry the flat no lift.

[quote alrightfella]@jacjacuk there will be no ofstead yet as it's a newish school but I have heard good reports. It certainly looks very impressive with great facilities from the outside. You will probably find that all the best schools are all full. If your 12 year old is going into year 9 in September it was a high birth year.

That flat is ok if you want to be close to town I guess, but it depends what schools your children are going to if you don't drive.

Why have you picked Chelmsford out of interest?

[/quote]
In Hong Kong 12 year old also a high birth year.

I need the council tax bill to apply school so I need rent the flat first.

Chelmsford is a very nice place, low crime, good transport links and good schools, recommended from my friend who lived in US.

I live in Essex but not in Chelmsford.

Although there are good schools, there is very much a lack of school places in Essex as there has been so much building of houses over the last few years.

I just wonder there may be other places that are better for you to live if you don't need to commute to London. The fact that it is a commuter town makes it more sought after and expensive.

I do feel that you are going to struggle to get into the good schools with in year applications.

Thank you for your advice.

A lot of Hong Kong people arrived in Birmingham, Manchester, Reading, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Colindale.... they said very much a lack of school places above the area, all oversubscribed.

I have done some research into tunbridge wells Kent before but in the town center there are not many choices for rent flat with lift.

Any suggestions for more areas/places in the UK ? Secondary school admission is our main considerations.

Thanks again.

You might need a council tax bill to apply to the school but you may find that the local authority will tell you which schools have places at the moment, although it wouldn't be guaranteed they still have places when you move.

I have friends that live Lincoln and love it there. Very good schools apparently and would be cheaper to buy/rent than Chelmsford as it's well out of London commuting distance?

Hi Jacjacuk, we also plan to move to Chelmsford in Sep 2022. Have you finally settled yet in Chelmsford? My son is going to Year 7, would like to join The Beaulieu Park School, but missed the 11+ entry exam. Don't know any chance to apply now. Would like to get your advices. Thanks a lot.

@Angie13H You don’t require the 11+ exam for the Beaulieu School. The 11+ is for the grammar schools which are very very hard to get into. I have a DS at one of the grammar’s so I am familiar with the process. You will have missed the normal cut off date for applying for the non-selective state schools so you need to contact the LEA and check the application process with them but I belive that you will need to be living in the area before they will offer you a place.