Moving to Manchester - and I have no idea where to go. HELP ME PLEEEEAAAASE

[Ohforfoxsake]

So, we are going to Manchester, DP has a job in Salford.

So far I have investigated Altrincham but the LEA have told us that its highly unlikely the children would get into the same school. Its really important to me that they do as they are upping sticks and leaving all their friends behind. I don't mind home educating until places come up, but not as a long term solution.

Or, we could move further out and move out from the city (currently in London so that appeals). If DP can do a maximum one hours commute, its possible.

We have 4 DCs so want to base our search around good schools - they are in primary at the moment, but will soon be in Secondary and we don't really want to move twice, so we'd like to get it right first time round.

I am stumped and have no idea where to look. Any suggestions, words of wisdom or pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Oh and just to say that should we be doing the same move, please don't worry about being 'outed' if you do want to come for a pint.

What goes on MN stays on MN.

I'm in Macclesfield and I used to commute to Salford.
FWIW, I used to leave at 8am to get to work for 9, and it took about an hour to get home. The commute was relatively easy, just jumped on M60.
Also very good rail links with Manchester and Salford as the Virgin trains stop here too so its not just the slow local trains which go from here.
The schools here are also universally good and think most are not oversubscribed so you would have a good chance of getting them both in the same one.

OFFS, yup, we are part of that move.
Thought you might be too reading your earlier thread. Nice to know there's someone else going through this too!

I have been so stressed about it I could barely think about it without breaking out into a cold sweat.I think need that pint!

BTW, I'm happy to be 'outed'. I need all the support I can get

I have found this thread really useful. We went up for a familiarisation trip last year, loved the city and most that we saw though not keen on Didsbury/Chorlton. Loved Ramsbottom but the commute does look tricky.

JTH, Macclesfield sounds nice. God OFFS, how do you make your mind up??

Now I'm thinking Heaton Moor and see that you have been thinking along these lines too OFFS.

I am not stalking you. Honest

To be absolutely honest, I've largely relied on strangers on a parenting forum to guide me . This thread has been incredibly useful, and I have taken every single piece of advice and looked into it. Its been an enormous help.

I agree about Ramsbottom, lovely place but wouldn't fancy the commute.

My email is further down. Please feel free to make contact and I'll help if I can.

We looked at Heaton Moor. I like it a lot.

Have you narrowed it down OFFS?

DP & I are plannng to go up this summer for a proper look/see.

I've also got to find a job alongside all of this.

This thread is gold dust. Completely invaluable. My kids have been neglected whilst I pour over every word...

Will email you too. Ta for that

Hello Mummyisamonster

Yes it's an easy cycle ride (cut through Trafford Park, past Man United and then over the ship canal and into the Quays). Anything info you need about schools etc I can do Urmston Flixton Davyhulme and a bit of Altrincham (I'm catholic and as Trafford still has the grammar school system, the nearest catholic school was Altrincham so we all got bussed out there).

Off to bed

I was on this thread earlier this year talking about places in Salford itself. We live in Monton. There's also Worsley/Roe Green. Children from round here can take the Trafford Grammar exams. There are some decent high schools.
Added bonus is speed into work and transport links.

I'm still reeling from someone saying earlier in the thread that Gatley is nice

Hi notbloodybranston

Thanks for the info, very useful. [DP dusting down bike as I type..].

I've seen some nice looking places in Urmston, Flixton & Davyhulmer. What are the infant & primary schools like? Any to avoid??

NO, thesecondcoming, I'm not a Catholic.

Ta for the lowdown on the whiffy factor of Davyhulme! Don't really want to be livig with the waft of shi sewage in my gills.

I would choose to live in Flixton over Urmston/Davyhulme. I don't think there are any schools to avoid necessarily but there are some I would choose over others. Depends on your dc as well. Have you enquired about places?

I don't think the smell is that bad at all in Davyhulme BTW - have never noticed on my frequent trips to the Trafford Centre!

I haven't enquired about places only because the Urmston/Flixton thang is a recent enquiry on my part.

Two DCs: eldest will be year 4 when we move, the other year 1.

Any thoughts/opinion?

Thank you very much for all of this, really helpful stuff

didsbury and chorlton are great

Yes Didsbury fab but ££££

Scottishmummy are you a manc?

I felt that pockets of Didsbury and Chorlton were lovely, and DP and I really liked them, but on the whole it was a bit hit and miss (more miss for me I'm afraid) and the secondary school is huge. We friends there, but they send their children to private school, which isn't an option for us.

Are you any nearer making a choice now then?

There are 2 properties in Sale we are really interested in, one near the centre and one closer to Sale Moor. We'd be happy in either. The houses have led us to the area. I'm not entirely convinced, but it ticks a lot of our boxes, and there's simply not a choice of properties.

The houses are fabulous, the schools are great, the transport is excellent. If I run out of Greggs sausage rolls, I'll be alright

Sale is fine - the Town centre has had a lot of redevelopment lately. There's a really nice pub in Sale Town centre that is yob free and some nice restaurants. The border of Sale/Sale Moor is also really nice I think. You can always get a taxi into Hale for posh restaurants anyway! Sale is also closer to Town. Which schools are you looking at?

St Annes and Springfield are on my radar. Ringing around the schools is this weeks project.

Sale Grammar and Ashton-on-Mersey would be my top two schools, but thats a few years off yet.

And, Cornsilk, thanks for the reassurace of Sale town centre