Relocating to Plymouth

[FrancescaSwan]

Looking for advice on where to live around Plymouth.

My husband has a job at Derriford hospital starting at the end of summer. We have two children (2 & 4). We currently live in the Jordanhill area of Glasgow.

Our main criteria for location is schools. Our children would be going to Jordanhill so I’m a bit upset they aren’t going there now (league table wise it’s the best state school in Scotland).

Obviously my husband needs to be able to commute to the hospital.

We have a good budget. We think our current house will sell for around 640. We made a very quick visit to Plymouth a couple of months ago but other than that I’ve never been so would appreciate some advice. It’s very daunting moving your whole family somewhere you’ve never really been. Also finding it difficult to find time to visit with having young children and both working.

We have a drive around Mannamead when we were there but it maybe seemed a bit busy. I’m looking at Plympton and Plymstock. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between these places it terms of what they have to offer? Also what about Ivybridge?

Can anyone give any advice on specific schools that are good in the area?

Does anyone have knowledge of both Glasgow and Plymouth that could compare the areas for me?

We don’t know a single sole in Plymouth so to say I’m terrified to make such a big move would be an understatement.

TIA x

I'd look at Ivybridge and Plymstock. Getting to Derriford can be a nightmare from the city. Always bloody roadworks and generally very busy. Ivybridge is a good commuter small town, nice primary schools although the secondary doesn't have glowing reviews. Plymstock in places is more affluent also good schools but traffic can also be an issue.

Hi,

I live in plymstock and work at derriford hospital too.

We have lived in Plymstock for the past 8 years we moved from Plympton, Plymstock is so easy to get to Derriford and I never have any trouble.

My children are 4 and 6 and they did go to morley meadow but moved to pomphlett as it's a better school for our children.

Hope this helps a little... x

How rural do you want to be?
From Derriford, there are some lovely villages on the edge of Dartmoor - Yelverton, Buckland Monachorum. You will need a car and be prepared to ferry your kids around for after school club but if you're after village life, community and nature, it could be for you. Most of the village primaries are good and there are still grammar schools in Plymouth as an option for secondary.
If you want the use of public transport, you are best off with Plymstock.

Thanks that does help. Why did you move from Plympton to Plymstock? Also can I ask why the school is better?

Have a look at Saltash if you want something less city-ish.

My sister and brother in law live in sherford. Its a town thats being built with schools ships etc. It's lovely. My sister works at the hospital.

I just came on to say lucky, lucky you. Plymouth is my home town all my family are there. Is a great city, lovely people. I'd give my right arm to move back there. You are going to love it. Geddon janners!

Do you drive OP? The whole Dartmoor and Tamar Valley area is very beautiful with lots of small villages on both Devon and Cornish banks of the river. If you'd prefer a small town, Tavistock is lovely, with several primary schools.

Tamerton foliot is a lovely area not far from derriford. Husband could commute easily and schools are apparently very good (I'm from Plymouth but live in Cornwall now). Plymouth is lovely, the hoe in summer cannot be beaten! Aquarium is amazing and you get a years entry on a ticket. Beaches, dartmoor, Cornwall on your doorstep!

I’m originally from that neck of the woods. I’d recommend nowhere in the city itself or out towards Plympton/Ivybridge due to the awful traffic. The best areas for travel to Derriford will be out towards SW Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley. Tamerton (on the river and nice in parts with a range of housing) Yelverton (quite a lot of bigger detatched houses, school is in Meavy about a mile away) Meavy (beautiful if there is anywhere for sale, villge school) Buckland Monachorum (lovely but bigger houses don’t really come to market unless probate, village school) Crapstone (lovely houses, some victorian, and right on the moor but not isolated, no school), Burrator/Dousland (larger detached houses, no school), Horrabridge (a bit bigger, larger houses on the outskirts with AMAMZING views and a village school). Or anywhere else on the A386 towards Tavistock. Tavistock itself has large and varied housing stock, modern, Georgian, victorian and everything in between, primary schools are generally good but the only secondary school (which has a massive catchment, and is huge) is currently not very good and was in special measures until recently.
if you wanted to live nearer the city Eggbuckland is OK, but not very exciting. Some of Crownhill is OK, and Glenholt. All near-ish to hospital.
if I were you I would try and rent and get a feel for the traffic/areas before buying. 600k is a good amount for anywhere down there really and the market isn’t moving much at the moment. Good luck!

Ide look at Tavistock or yelverton, good bus links for schools, not too far in a car, short drive up on to Dartmoor, beautiful area, and derriford hospital is that side of the city. I have huge love for derriford hospital, spent a lot of time there in 2023, they were amazing last year with my dad, saved his life!

Thanks for all your messages. Am I right here when I say that there is t like the “best school” in Plymouth? In Glasgow there is a clear two or three schools that everyone gives there right arm to get the kids into.

We found a nicer house, but school wise we ended up paying for a private tutor to help my son but the school should have been doing the basic things to help him with his learning. But a few people had the same problems in his year and also moved. X

Schools in terms of secondary are a bit odd here because we have three grammars that cream off the top %. That said I would suggest that Plympton, Plymstock and Ivybridge probably have the most 'comprehensive' and higher achieving secondaries. I've met quite a few parents, living in central/Mannamead area who have paid the bus fare to send their kids to Coombe Dean or Ivybridge (I think Coombe Dean in Plymstock has a surplus of places because at the moment there are not enough locals). The city centre schools are good but they do have a lot more challenges due to poverty/social issue.

So the grammar schools aren’t a catchment area thing? I’m guessing there is an entrance exam?

I heard it rains a lot in the Tavistock area? And it’s a much nicer climate in South hams area?

My brain is scrambled

No, @FrancescaSwan. Anyone in Plymouth, the South Hams and SE Cornwall can sit the 11+ for the grammar schools, and they do; there are mainline GWR trains from Liskeard and Saltash, plus a branch line serving the Tamar Valley which determines the catchment area. There are three grammars -- Devonport High School for Boys, Devonport High for Girls and Plymouth Grammar School in Peverell, also for girls. Peverell is very central with quite nice Victorian houses, but has a busy main road with a park and botanic garden. Devonport isn't the nicest area, although Stoke is said to be up and coming. Plymouth is a naval city, and the dockyard is still a major employer.

And, yes, it rains quite a bit (there's a reason for all the livestock farming) but no more so than in Glasgow! It is a very foodie area.

Ivybridge is a great place to raise kids. Schools are very good, lots of activities for them and easy access to moor/coast. It's useful to be on the A38 for getting to other places, and you can get to Plymouth very easily for cinema/theatre/shopping etc. Lots of people live here and commute to Derriford or to other health based jobs in Plymouth so it's definitely worth a look. Good luck and it's great that you're coming here, I hope the move goes well.

One of my best friends is a primary school teacher in Plymouth and originally from the outskirts of Glasgow.
Are you looking for primary or secondary school? Rural suburbs or city?
We are very rural but still within 30mins of derriford and could probably run a small hospital. So you have a wide range of options depending on which you prefer.
Like pp have said 3 grammars 2 girls and a boys. Lots of kids get public transport or school buses. Ivybridge and Coombs Deane in plymstock are probably the better non selective school. There is also Plymouth college which is fee paying which provides buses from here

I would say that I would choose the school first then the house around the school. That’s what we have done now (before we knew we would have to move). We knew where the best school was so we bought a house in that catchment area. My children are 2 and 4 so I’m looking for primary but also thinking of the future and where they would go after primary.

I would love to rent first and get a feel of the place before making a big decision to buy but my daughter starts school in September and we need to decide which schools to apply for before the end of Feb. I would ideally not like to move her primary school once she has started. So the clock is ticking to make a decision.

Could you ask your friend what area is similar to Jordanhill?

As well as the 2 girls Grammars and one boys grammar school, the private options are Plymouth College (Plymouth), Mount Kelly (Tavistock) and possibly St Joseph's ( Launceston).
State schools vary hugely - Ivybridge has a good rep but is massive.
Hele's on Plympton is also well thought of.

I wouldn't consider Sherford. It's a giant building site with poor facilities. There are still no shops (not even a corner shop / Tesco express). Most people I know who moved there have moved out again.

Ahh that's a shame that you feel like that. My family live it there. Lovely walks, community feel, cafe and community hall and good tansport. Each to their own though 😊

OP - given the ages of your children, please don't move to an area just because of the school. A lot can change in a very short time.

5 years ago everyone was desperate to live in Ivybridge because the secondary was one of the best in the country. Sadly it's gone downhill in the last few years (combination of a change of leadership and catchment area has increased which in turn has changed the demographics) and I would be gutted if I'd based my whole life in the town for the secondary school which is no longer amazing (it's not awful, but not the shining star it once was). That said, Ivybridge is still a very good town and the primary schools are wonderful!

The nicest areas in the city itself imo are Stoke, Peverell and Mannamead. I've had a quick look at Jordanhill online and these are where remind me of it the most in terms of housing stock/being more affluent areas.

Looking ahead to secondary schools, the grammar schools are where you want if your children are able. The boys school is in Stoke; Devonport High for girls is in Peverell/Beacon Park and Plymouth High for girls near the city centre. But of course children travel from all around to the grammars. DD is at Devonport High and lots of girls travel in from Tavistock, Cornwall etc.

So on balance I'd look at Stoke and Peverell as a starting point if you want the city itself.