I’m from Preston, like others I couldn’t wait to get out of it when I was younger, not necessarily because of the town (as it was then). I do enjoy visiting and feel very defensive over the place when it’s put down. Most of my family are still there and there are some lovely areas, sadly though a lot of it looks run down which gives an impression a lot of it is rough.
Back in the 80/90s I went to school in Longridge, it was very easy to get to and lot of kids did the journey, as with other non central schools. My understanding is it’s still an easy commute. I’m only guessing but I assume most schools will have some form of transport that leaves from the central bus station.
You mentioned Lytham/St Anne’s, there are rough spots everywhere you go. Both have had some teen antisocial behaviour but nothing major, the usual board teenage stuff you get in most places.
I like both Lytham and St Anne’s, I’d move there in a flash if I could, we considered it recently, but decided to stay put. We are in Kirkham, we would have to double or triple the cost of our house to get the same kind of house/space we have.
Kirkham has a nice feel overall, it’s very community orientated, got a new town centre after a lot of investment. The local high school Carr Hill has a reputation but apparently a new head determined to turn it around, he's convinced a few parents I know to send their DCs there and I already know a lot of good families who send their DCs there. Mine go to school in Lytham, there are dedicated school buses that the children can catch or easy public transport, mine catch the public bus and take the short 5 min walk to school. The train is also an option.
The train from Kitkham goes straight to Manchester Airport, Preston & Blackpool. I like it as it’s easy to go places. I’ve got a weekend in Glasgow coming up with my dd, it’s 15/20 min to Preston then change for Glasgow which is just over 2 hrs away. My DH regularly has to do meeting in London so catches the train.
One thing you need to be mindful of is there are new builds everywhere but no accommodation has been put in place for schools and medical needs. Lots of GPs are overwhelmed and I don’t know anyone who has been able to find a nhs dentist in Preston, or some of the more densely populated areas. I recently found a good private dentist in St Anne’s after needing emergency treatment, after I signed privately they took my DCs on as nhs patients.
i forgot to add. Look at the schools you want the most, look at the catchment and enrolment criteria then try getting your primary aged children into a feeder school if you can. I know it will be harder for your eldest but they might have a better chance getting in if they have siblings in the school.
My DCs school St Bedes in Lytham takes children from 5 surrounding feeder schools 1in Kirkham, 1 in Medlar-with-Wesham 1 in Warton/Freckleton, 1 in Lytham and 1 in St Annes. Two thirds of places are taken up with applicants from the feeder schools, even after Catholics are prioritised they have apparently never had to turn down a child from a feeder school.