Moving to the Peak District: best family-friendly areas and schools?

[Angeldelight1555]

Evening All,

Not sure if this is the correct category but couldn't find anything else relatable but I was hoping for some advise on a location move.
Me and my partner are thinking of moving us and the kids to the peak district next year. I spent the best years of my childhood particularly in Matlock, Wirksworth, Ashbourne, Buxton and love all those areas but I'm wondering how they are for growing families e.g schools, clubs, hospitals etc. Has anyone got any suggestions on somewhere picturesque and family friendly? Thanks in advance!

We just moved away from Buxton and miss it terribly. Most of central Buxton you can still get into lady manners which is the best high school and in Bakewell. Buxton is much more family friendly and cheaper with lots going on. Further from motorway though which is a pain but does have the train. All the village schools there have space - little class sizes , no catchment and Flexi learning to ks2. Look at coombes, kettles Hulme and wincle as examples.its a great outdoor lifestyle for kids.

@Nodwyddaedafedd Thank you for your reply! We live in a big city at the moment. So plenty to do but the crime rates awful and we want to escape it all lol. Thanks for the advise, especially with schools as my other concern was waiting lists etc so that's abit of clarity 🙂

Have you considered south west Sheffield? I live there and the edge of the Peak District is a 10 minute drive away. It’s not cheap but it’s lovely 😊

i think the best family friendly villages are Bamford and Hathersage because you can access Lady Manners secondary and it is super easy to get into Sheffield which is good for work and for teens. Not cheap tho!

Hathersage is beautiful

I second Buxton, Bakewell and Hathersage. Tideswell is also lovely, with a good community. As others have said, Sheffield isn’t far away, with lots of shops, hospitals etc. Manchester is also quite close, with plenty of culture.

I moved to Matlock from Leicester last summer - best decision I’ve ever made. I’m from Derbyshire but has moved to Leicester when I met DD’s dad. It took some time but eventually was in a position to relocate last summer and was deciding between Buxton (I have immediate family there), Ashbourne, Cromford and Matlock and settled in Matlock Bank. There are a few schools to choose from, the town is nice and Matlock Bath is a nice afternoon out, there are plenty of extra curricular clubs for children to be a part of, a great leisure centre with gym, soft play, swimming pool and courts and it’s a stunning place to live.

@WheresMyOtherSock My partners originally from Leicester too! We don't have any family up there but we will still be in 1 and half commute so won't be too bad. It's so daunting but it's always been my dream to move up there. Matlock is a good shout thank you!

@lolawasashowgirlI haven't to be honest. Which areas would you recommend? 🙂

We chose Matlock (moved from London a few years ago) and love it here. No regrets. Kids totally settled in the primary schools, we're happy with the choice of secondary schools for when that time comes in a year or so, the leisure centre has loads of stuff on, loads of Brownies/Scout groups, DH and the kids have started supporting the town football club, great summer markets and Christmas markets, regularly use the bus or car to get into Chesterfield if we need anything from a bigger town (cinema, clothes shopping, etc.).

The one thing about Matlock is the hill. We'll walk down it, but usually get the bus back up! It's a serious hill. Wouldn't have the views without it though.

I've got nothing against the towns over by Buxton-way, but for work, family, and hobby reasons it works for us being just 20 minutes from the M1, and easier access up to Sheffield and down to London.

Sorry, missed the bit about schools in more detail. Off the top of my head....

Primary schools
All Saints (Infants on one site, then Juniors on another site): just slightly undersubscribed (think it's around ~55-ish intake for 60 places with two-form entry)

Castle View: a bit more under-subscribed

St Giles (technically in Starkholmes): not sure about places, but it's a much smaller school

Secondary schools
Highfields: in Matlock proper (over two sites, lower and upper) where 80-90% end up going. Seems good for sports, performing arts; very strict on things like uniform and having your books / folders (good for some kids, not for others). Pastoral care...I've heard mixed things - some think it's totally fine, other have had issues.

Lady Manners: the one in Bakewell people mentioned above; bus goes from Matlock. More academic, also good for sport. Maybe 10% go there rather than Highfields. Have friends with kids who love it there; also have friends who started there but moved to Highfields as they prefer it. Pastoral care is supposed to be stronger.

Anthony Gell: in Wirksworth and quite different. Only a couple each year go there. Non-uniform, more casual, good for music.

My friend had excellent experiences with the primary school in Bakewell, including them being excellent with her child with SEND. It was a nice place to bring up little children.

I have quite a few friends with Teenagers who are at or have been to Anthony Gell most seem to have done well, especially sporty ones.

If you are looking for an academic secondary Ecclesbourne in Duffield would be worth considering, but might be a bit far south for you.

Which city do you want/need to commute to? The transport options would be worth considering. If you want to get to the East Midlands cities Matlock, Cromford, Ambergate, Belper, and Duffield have good links.

If you are heading to Manchester then Buxton area is good.

For Sheffield places like Grindleford, Bamford, Hathersage, Edale and Hope would be better.

Links into the west Midlands aren't so good, places like Ashbourne are fairly poorly connected by public transport.