Where to move near (ish) to the coast? Cornwall?

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Where would you move that is near the coast for an outdoorsy family with 3 kids 12, 8, 6? Would have to have decent private school options. Is Truro school in Cornwall any good?

Brighton ?

Where are you moving from, what about work? Cornwall could become very remote for your kids as they become teens, depending on what they are used to e.g if you are moving from a city.
How about somewhere near Exeter? Bit more going on, better connections with the rest of the country and beyond as they grow into teens/young adults and probably decent school options (not that I know anything about private schools but back in my day had friends who went to Exeter School).

Work is full remote for both of us. Moving from the midlands.

Plymouth has some grammar schools. Plymouth is right on the border of Cornwall so might open up more options if you'd be happy to take a punt on them getting into, and travelling to, these.

Job prospects in the SW aren’t great. With 3 kids are you happy for them to flee the nest but that mean never living close to you again?
it’s such a beautiful part of England but the reality for your children could be tough.

Look at the Hampshire and West Sussex coast perhaps?

We live rurally now but would prefer somewhere like a big village or the edge of a town. Kids moving away seems fairly inevitable no matter where we live. Jobs are so global now and our kids can live/work in multiple countries. We wouldn’t use grammar schools but would like an a rounded private school for secondary with solid pastoral care.

If they are sporty there's Mount Kelly near Tavistock and Plymouth College (I think that's what it's called where Tom Daley went).

I don't have a scooby as to.how good they are though. My two went to the local comp. And have moved away...and have good jobs. But have always been grateful they were born and dragged up here.

Wealthy friends here used private but they went away..Sherborne, Marlborough and Winchester, if I remember correctly.

I'm also not entirely sure Cornwall will offer what you want. You need to come down and stay. I fear you'll be disappointed by our towns, villages, access and private school options tbh!

@Feelingstrange2 Why do you think we’d be disappointed? We only need one or two (depending on if single sex or not) schools. Boarding wouldn’t be something we’d be interested in for our kids. We’ve been to Cornwall loads on holiday and always love it.

Look at Fowey.

@Movinghouseatlast Fowey looks lovely but I don’t think there are any Indy schools close enough to it.

York / North Yorkshire coast?

Cornwall too busy for me although granted , the weather is great . How about Northumbria coastline ?

Truro is a great place to live with kids. Both Truro School and Truro High for Girls are very good schools. The local states are good, too. Bosvigo or Archbishop Benson would be our choice for that sector.
The state Sixth form college is excellent.

OP

Have you been in winter?

I live in the Midlands and my brother is in Cornwall. It is very different in terms of what is available eg I have to send packages of samosas because there are no sweet centres.

It can also feel a long way away if you have to do the journey on more than the occasional visit eg when my mum was getting to the end of her life I think my brother found it a long trip, there are no motorways in Cornwall and the train line is fairly slow, stopping at every station.

I would say avoid Newquay but you are never really far from the sea in Cornwall.

West Sussex coast and parts of Hampshire could be an option. Though Dorset has better beaches plus lots of countryside too, weather will be same as Cornwall/Devon and Dorset has the grammar school system in some areas. No motorway but closer to everywhere else than Cornwall.

Friends of mine moved to Cornwall, that school,lots of friends, great life. The kids did move away after uni and so did all their friends.

Carmarthenshire - St Michaels School Llanelli, lots of outdoor activities and attractive villages beaches etc not far to Brecon Beacons, Swansea and Cardiff too. Diverse school and opportunity to learn Welsh.

The usual Cornwall naysaying is out in force. Having raised very happy kids in Cornwall I would have no hesitation in recommending it, even in the depths of winter. If Truro School is your fixed point (and the school is really excellent) then look at nice places to commute from. Truro itself has a lot of good points but isn’t on the coast as such. Malpas is popular, as are St Agnes (good if surfing is your thing), areas around Playing Place, Feock and Devoron. Falmouth has a lot going for it. Redruth is very up and coming, still a bit rough round the edges but affordable with an emerging arty vibe.

Do consider public transport options or else you will be stuck in permanent taxi mode. E.g. Flushing, Mylor, Constantine are all lovely places but not on a train line. There’s a new line which will link Newquay to Falmouth via Truro when it opens in a few years time.

House prices are softening in Cornwall right now as they are doubling council tax on second homes so it’s an excellent time to buy. Good luck!

Cardiff / Vale of Glamorgan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgj545j52wno

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/western/mid-cornwall-metro/

@PaqThanks so much!

Winter is awful everywhere in the UK. At least in Cornwall there’s a beach to walk and not the endless boggy fields we currently have.

Has anyone had kids at Truro school or Truro High?

Yes, my DD went to Truro School and I know several who sent their daughters to Truro High. I would say Truro School is excellent and suits a wide range of children - academic or sporty or arty or musical for example. Truro High is smaller, also excellent but seems to appeal to a narrower range of girls. It’s just about “fit” I think. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions.

I agree Truro school seems excellent,I'd go and visit and get a feel for it.