Cambridgeshire/Lincolnshire living with good schools

[SMJ21]

Hello

Wondering if someone could help us please. We are currently thinking of where to move for better schools and also bigger space

We have 6, 4 and 2 year olds and a safe neighborhood with good schools is key.

We are aware of Lincolnshire and the great outstanding schools including Grammer schools. We are familiar with Cambridgeshire areas such as Warboys, St Ives, Sawtry, St Neots too..most of which have 'Good' schools according to Ofsted but with our budget, we can easily get a very generous sized 4-5 bed with massive garden in Linc's Vs smaller but OK 4-5 bed in Cambs ...

We are mostly working from home and would be for a while etc... Not sure if moving to completely unfamiliar Lincs is worth it or just stick to Cambs..

Help please lol

The family side of living in Cam isn't much talked about. It really is a great place to raise a family (have 2 school aged DC and love it here) safe, diverse, lots of clubs, activities, parks. Many young families and a community feel, yet doesn't feel like everyone is in each others business. You can cycle everywhere. So it's a really good trade off as it has a city feel but still small, safe and beautiful. Downsides are traffic (during non covid times), house prices can be expensive and currently they sell so fast.

@SMJ21

Not too fussed what part of Lincs as long as transportation isn't so horrid and with good schools

Do you mean public transport? because that rules out most of the middle of Lincolnshire. We're a big black hole when it comes to trains, and a lot of places still only have a couple of buses a day. It's pretty essential to be able to drive.

I've seen Louth mentioned, the primary schools are all absolutely fine but be aware there's been a 'reshuffle' with the secondary schools in the last couple of years. The two non-selectives have merged under the umbrella of an academy trust which resulted in the loss of the sixth form college in town. The grammar school still has a selective sixth form but only really caters for traditional A levels so the majority of students now travel to Grimsby after GSCEs. This will hopefully have resolved itself before your children get to that age but it's worth pointing out.

Some villages just north of Lincoln are lovely - Welton, Nettleham etc - with access to excellent selective and non selective schools. However, if you stray too far from the nice areas, people do tend to be pretty rough, insular and/or prejudiced.

I say this as someone who grew up there, and who has many relatives spread across the county. It was idyllic growing up, but having been away to university I couldn’t have returned. I now live in a rural area of East Sussex, but its proximity to London avoids the above issues. I don’t know Cambridgeshire well, but maybe its proximity to the university city helps too.

[quote SMJ21]@Bluesheep8 I think I am becoming to that conclusion....[/quote]
Then Grantham could be a really good option. Some good schools and on the A1 and major station for the East Coast Mainline and a 4-5 bed detached house under 300K.

Also a big bypass is being built around the town and will connect to the A1 with a massive retail shopping outlet similar to Bicester village.

I have a good friend who lives there and have visited quite a bit, it's an alright enough place if you overlook the fact Margaret Thatcher comes from there

Really good access to countryside and nice National Trust place there - I think it's called Bellton.

@Whatafuss

Lincs might have good schools but nothing else. a terrible place to live in from what I've seen and heard. Racism, unemployment, drunkenness. Cambs is obvsly highly cultured and intellectual, diverse, vibrant, young, and beautiful. No brainer really... Good schools too. In private, perse, Stephen perse, St faiths, St. Mary's. In state, look for St. Albans, cam uni primary, St. Matthews, St. Bedes. Hills Road 6th form. Is it primary or secondary you're after?

I grew up in Lincolnshire and worked in Lincolnshire up until last year and I agree entirely. The hospital trust came last in the staff survey and poorly managed COVID. Good schools can be found anywhere.

I'm from south Lincolnshire and it is still a grammar area. Be warned tho op, if your DC don't get in, they will go to the secondary modern. My dad taught at one and had some tales (not good ones). Maybe things are better but I dint see how tbh.

It was very rural and lacking in investment and on the few occasions I have been back, not much has changed. Public transport more or less non existent too. I wouldn't live there again for a gold pig.

DH is from Lincoln which is much nicer tho still kind of isolated. William Farr in Welton is highly rated.

I'm Lincolnshire born and bred and I don't recognise the racism. Insular in parts yes but not overtly racist. It's not the Deep South.
Grantham is a bit limited but it's well connected and offers a lot as a family location.

@name7852 that is a very useful insight as Bourne seemed middle of nowhere... Apart from the Grammar school etc.. Stamford is better but schools hmmm didn't seem great from Ofsted .

I am really thinking of staying put in Cambridgeshire... Seen some outstanding Primary... I can then reassess when the kids are closer to secondary... If it means traveling far etc... So be it .

@RaptorInaPorkPieHat thanks for pointing that out ... Useful info regarding the reshuffle