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Moving to Suffolk - advice on villages/schools!

4 replies

JunoSparks · 10/05/2023 12:12

We are planning to move to Suffolk next summer from London, ideally somewhere near Ipswich where my husband is from. We will have a daughter going into year 6 and a son into sixth form for A Levels, so we do need to think carefully about schools - both sixth form for him and which secondary school our daughter can then go on to. We do also ideally need somewhere which is not a nightmare for my husband to commute into London a couple of times a week. Thinking about villages north of Ipswich mostly but also looking at places further up near Eye as have heard such good things about Hartismere. Ipswich-wise wondering about Northgate, then also places like Thomas Mills in Framlingham. Any advice on villages and schools very welcome! We would ideally be in a village or near one - rural but not too isolated. Feels like a big move with lots to consider but a long time in London we are ready for a change!

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SweetChilliGirl · 11/05/2023 19:21

Hartismere is an excellent school. My two are I. Y9 and Y11 there.

Xrays · 11/05/2023 19:28

Hartismere is very good but keep in mind public transport around Eye is practically non existent so you will be forever running your teens around to friends / events / clubs etc as there won’t be any way for them to get there otherwise. Diss has a train station - direct to London - and schools relatively well thought of, but again transport is an issue - the last train back from Norwich isn’t particularly late (thinking ahead for teens) and taxis etc have to be booked weeks in advance and are costly. We moved from London and as our dd has got older these things have really impacted on us all.

janefondofu · 11/05/2023 19:39

Name-changing for this but I actually left Northgate last year... I'm on here for health and social care but this caught my eye. I didn't feel at all like the pastoral team were helpful in providing support for anxiety or depressed students. There was a suicide in the year below me, staff constantly moving around pastoral appointments etc. They also only seemed to care about your education if they thought you would get basically straight 9's. Of course, there are some amazing teachers there that made it okay, but I couldn't wait to leave and joining Suffolk One College is the best decision I've ever personally made. PM me if you have any questions

JunoSparks · 15/05/2023 10:25

Thanks all for thoughts! @Xrays yes the ferrying about of children is definitely something we have to think about. We do a fair bit of that in London anyway but of course they do also get public transport a lot. Lots to think about! And @janefondofu thank you for frank thoughts re Northgate, I appreciate it ...

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