What's Belper, Derbyshire like?

[Posieralmer1]

Hello, we are considering a move near to derby (work for DH 4 days a week in Leicester and work for me 2 days a week in Sheffield). What is Belper like to live in? We have a 3 y o so both phases of school are important. I like an active social life, lefty, liberal. We like countryside and walking but also all the benefits of towns, convenience, social life etc. Thanks

Also, same questions for duffield please!

Both are nice - Belper very small town , Duffield has Ecclesbourne secondary - people love however had a dreadful Ofsted . Belper primaries all good Belper high none uniform school or John flamstead blazers very different schools .

NC for this…

Belper is a lovely town and its folk are generally lovely too. Lots going on for a small town-there’s a thriving community of independent shops with a ‘shop local’ ethos, farmers market, a great arts community, local football, rugby and cricket teams, nice cafes and restaurants, lovely River Gardens, nice local walks as it’s right in the edge of beautiful countryside. Lots of local history too.

Travel links are good for M1 for Leicester and Sheffield. It has a good local bus service and there is a train station.

There is a great mix of housing - beautiful period houses, new builds and everything in between! It’s on the expensive side - because it’s a nice town!

Belper primary schools are generally great and most are rated Good by OFSTED. Belper (secondary) School Requires Improvement but historically has been good. It’s getting a new Head in September and is joining an Academy so changes are afoot. As pp said, the non uniform is either loved or hated amongst parents but personally, it worked for us and my child. Many parents send their children to John Flamsteed, which has a formal uniform.

I know a few people who live in Belper and they love it. It's a lovely little town in itself but also near to bigger cities like Derby or Nottingham. Regarding the non uniform at the secondary school, I've heard rumours there may be uniform introduced along with the new head.

Belper is lovely - loads of little independent shops, gorgeous parks, breathtaking countryside. Fantastic antiques place we go to.

It won the best high street in the UK or something not long back.

Having said all that, I know literally nothing about the schools and stuff.

Not lefty and not liberal.

Both are nice but the commute to Leicester isn't great, there used to be some direct trains though. Not sure about to Sheffield, similar i suspect. Nearer to the motorway would work better

The local primaries are all very good, some smaller and some much larger, so worth a look around to see which you prefer. As mentioned Belper school (secondary) is a very big school and currently doesn’t have a uniform and teachers are known by their first names. Some parents prefer to send their kids to John Flamsteed school in nearby Denby which is smaller, has a uniform and is just different in terms of feel.

Housing in Duffield is quite a bit more expensive than Belper, so that may determine where you look too. Both primaries in Duffield are very good and the secondary appears to be generally well regarded, although there were some concerns raised at a recent ofsted inspection.

Travel wise, Belper is 10mins from J28 on M1 if travelling north (can get to Sheffield city centre within 45 mins if driving at quieter times). Leicester is probably similar. Trains run from Belper to Derby approx once/hour I believe.

Off topic but interesting re Ecclesbourne.
I worked there many years ago, my first teaching post, and it was always very highly thought of, top of the league, type school.
Might have to go and look out the later OFSTED reports.

Belper is lovely. Possibly avoid the area with tree named streets to the south which is not so nice, but none of it is really bad. Having looked very carefully at the primary schools the level of achievement does not necessarily compare well to primaries in other areas, in terms of pupils reaching expected/higher than expected standards in maths and English. It used to be very poor, particularly Herbert Strutt, but this was a few years back, it may have changed.
The high street is really nice and there is access to lovely walks. I would live there again.

Belper is beautiful but from growing up in a quaint, picturesque village nearby I would not advise moving to one. Village people are very into each others lives, lots of stigma if you don't fit and not very left wing and not very understanding. You really need to stay there for a bit to see if it's for you.

It depends what you like but i much prefer a big, suburban estate where you say hello to your neighbours and nothing more.

Yes all the previous comments are true but you won't find a small Derbyshire town that is either of those things tbh!

it was always very highly thought of, top of the league, type school

It still has its academic reputation, although they didn’t get their
usual “best GCSEs in Derbyshire” last year. They got downgraded to inadequate for not dealing with bullying. Like a lot of outstanding schools it didn’t get inspected for about a million years.