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

(Hides behind MMJ)

Ohforfoxsake, look at Lymm!
All info on previous page. I don't know if you missed it or it doesn't float your boat!

Oh no Lobsterlass, I've been looking at it on Primelocation Its on my list.

Next thing I'll do is look at schools in each area (1.5 pages of A4 Pad ) and then try to shortlist.

I do so like a project.

I moved from east London/Essex borders to Sale 18 months ago. I haven't found it racist (DP is asian,2 mixed race kids)
The town centre isn't great compared to what we had in London but I always feel 'safe'. My dc are only little (2.4 and 10 mo) so don't know a lot about schools but from what I hear at toddler groups (loads of stuff for kiddies here) the schools are pretty good. The worst thing is that everything is closed on a sunday, we tried to get a fry up when we first moved here and couldn't

What? Closed? On a Sunday?

Oh good! I can't tell you how friendly we found it. We lived there for about four years and loved it. Made lots of good friends in the short time we were there.

I'm in Bramhall. We've been here seven years - moved up from Oxford. I think you need to book yourselves a Travel Lodge-type thing and come up for a weekend and travel round a bit and see what suits.
About 12 mins into Piccadilly on the train and 7 into Stockport. Primary schools all very good indeed, not up to speed on secondaries as yet.
We went walking around Bakewell today (Debyshire) took 45 mins mins to drive there. Peak District 30 mins away. Trafford Centre 20 mins.

lol
Seriously it was a shock to my London born and bred system. I had to cook my own fry up

Hello Judd, I'm also in Stockport, but the Heatons. Bramhall is lovely i've been recommending it!

hehe, had the same thing in Didsbury once, wandered in to get breakfast, even a coffee....nowhere open until 9:30am and had to wait for the machine to warn up. I went through a period of boycotting eateries left, right and centre for various reasons but I am over it now .

I don't why I love this thread so much but I do

I second Ramsbottom/ Holcombe Brook area. Its fab! Very close to Manchester, lovely village feel, schools are great and best of all its in the countryside surrounded by hills so loads of walks/ bike rides and you feel like you are in the lakes or somewhere!

here it is

Hi Lucycat, I've seen you before on the camping threads but I didn't know you were so close though! I had a read through the thread carefully to see if Bramhall was getting a good name or not - yay!

Well, I moved from the SW to Hale last year after copious research plus a few weekends of scouting SW Manchester from Wilmslow, Knutsford, Lymm, Appleton and finally settling in the borders of Bowden/Hale (sampling a particularly fine Italian lunch in Danilo's helped to make up my mind). I have 2 children, the eldest started reception last Sept and I made sure that our house was in catchment of our 1st choice state primary - especially since we made a late application for a place. The trouble with Trafford is that the excellent state schools are oversubscribed (no surprise there) so classes are usually maxed out so can't help you on that score. Hale is really quite cosmopolitan and dare I say it - has a West London feel to it. Also a major factor for why it's fairly pricey but having relocated for DH's job - I decided that our priority was schooling. I really like the area and we've lived all over including the SE(Surrey & Berkshire), Midlands & Warwickshire plus Gloucs & Somerset. HTH.

If it helps, I'm aware that if your child passes the 11+ in Trafford, the next criteria is distance from your 1st choice school - consequently, it's pretty expensive to live near the top state grammars in Trafford - looks as if there are plenty of people hedging their bets in Trafford to me! And yes, Hale/Bowden/Altrincham must be full of champagne socialists (no offence intended).

Rossendale is nice - good local schools and grammar school (Bacup), might be too far. Helmshore is a lovley village, excellent schools and you would get a great house for your money.

I would defintley recommend Rossendale over Whitefield, Prestwhich, although transport links better.

Re. getting into a Grammar, there is no 11+ as such now. The schools all set their own examination and have different admissions systems. Some let the top 20 scoring applicants in regardless of distance, then go to anyone who passed in order of distance.

Thanks everyone

MN rocks! It really does, honest opinions and good advice. You've all given me so much to think about - it really is very much appreciated.

I am happy with good state schools or grammer schools. As long as the children have the opportunity of a good education, I'll be happy.

Ramsbottom looks amazing - thanks for the photo Hotpotmama - I can't believe that I could actually live somewhere like that.

Yes, we've got a few trips up to do I think, and I will take all your good advice about the schools.

Thank you everyone I can't tell you how much more positive I feel about it.

Last week I cried walking down the street just thinking about it You've made a difference.

Will stop with the gushy-mushy stuff now

You are welcome, glad to have helped. It really is great here, everyone is so friendly, we love everything about it.

We can walk from our house and be in the woods or up Holcombe Hill (where the tower is on the picture) in ten minutes. Fab for us as we just love being outdoors!

Ok thats my sales pitch for Ramsbottom over!

Just reread the thread and i'm sorry but it doesn't rain all the time in Ramsbottom. See my picture above! The sun is shining.

In the 5 years I have lived here we have been snowed in about twice. My boys loved it when we did get snowed in cos all the kids on our close spent all day sledging and building snowmen!

Good luck with wherever you decide, am sure it will be lovely. Let us know where you end up.

I thought it rained a lot in Ramsbottom, until I moved to Rossendale, we've been snowed in twice this year already

It is beautiful here (that's Ramsbottom/Rossendale area) and I do feel at home.

Gosh Ohforfoxsake, you've lots to think about, but it must be nice to know that there are viable options for you.

Hotpot - how long does it take to get to manchester city centre (not a rush hour) from Ramsbottom?

This thread is making me want to move (again!)

are there niceish pubs?

Noonki nice restaurants, some bars and some nice pubs in Ramsbottom (we lived there up until 4 years ago and loved it)
Takes about 40/45mins to Manchester I guess, depends on traffic