Teignmouth Move

[walkingonsunshinekindof]

Hi, I was just wondering about Teignmouth in south Devon as a place to live? There are a couple of threads on here but they are from several years ago so it might have changed.
Also does anyone know what the secondary school is like? My DC is starting year 6 in September so he will likely be going to that one if we move there.

I was born there and wouldn't go back to be honest. There was a fair bit deprivation back then and alcohol abuse, unemployment etc was common. I still know a couple of people who live there and apparently the secondary is not very good at all, it was recently deemed inadequate by ofsted. I wouldn't return but I do know people there that enjoy it.

Teignmouth is okay, if a bit run down and shabby. Dawlish is nicer in my opinion or Brixham.

It's gone massively down hill recently, not a lot for teens to do at all and the schools are average if not slightly below.

I find dawlish the same, would avoid with teens.

Torquay is good as there's the grammer school and a couple other decent ones.

Or exmouth/Exeter.

Agree with the PP, it has gone downhill a lot lately, everything seems to be closing sadly. It has always had a lot of issues with drunkenness - it had those when I lived there 15 years ago as well. https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/documents/s11700/Consultation%20reponses.pdf
Drug use isn't uncommon either and the secondary is crap! It's definitely nicer than Paignton and Torquay but I'd say it's on a downward spiral sadly.

Teignmouth and Dawlish have issues with county lines and have high populations of alcoholics, I wouldn't want to live in either. In the Teignbridge part of Devon I would recommend Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, both have great access to Dartmoor, aren't too far from the sea and are just generally far nicer with far less social problems.

I'm local to the area and I would say anywhere in Torbay (Torquay, Paignton, Brixham) is nicer than Teignmouth but have you considered Newton Abbot, Totnes, Dartmouth and the wider South Hams area?

The grammar schools in Torquay/Brixham are very good and much easier to get into than in the South East. Around 1 in 3 taking the 11+ will pass here, as opposed to 1 in 10 where we used to live near London.

I'm Dawlish and say it's not ideal for teens. There's just nothing for them to do and there is a huge drug problem!

When people say there’s nothing for teens to do, where are places where there are things for them to do - and what things? Trying to think (genuinely) where the best place for teens to live is.

Places where there are things such as cinema, bowling, water park, arcades, high street shops, climbing centres, gyms, swimming pools etc

Places like teignmouth have nothing and teenagers end up spending weekends drinking strongbow in a park. (I speak from experience😂)

Funny how perceptions differ, I like Teignmouth but think Dawlish is a dump, although I may be swayed by being served my worst meal ever in a bistro there.

Haha, I do too but got me thinking about what the options would be. We used to get the bus or train to Exeter but suppose that’s a bit far and expensive for younger teens. Drinking outside the arcade or I the bandstand was sadly more likely.

Yeah this was my thought Exeter has so much more. The longer I can keep my kids away from the bandstand the better- I need to get them some hobbies.

I wouldn't look at teignmouth, it's a bit of a dump in all honesty, loads of other places in Devon that are far nicer like Kingsbridge, Totnes, Sidmouth etc.

Why do you want/need to move? That will affect the where. As will your budget. In many parts of S Devon public transport is an illusion - especially for young people wanting to join up with mates of an evening (think taxi of mum/dad). There are inherent problems of deprivation all over.

It's my dream to live in dawlish or teighmouth, but after reading all your comments I don't know now.

What's the attraction and budget perhaps we can suggest alternatives?