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Original poster

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

491 replies

Ohforfoxsake · 30/01/2009 21:10

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

OP posts:
Lilyloo · 03/02/2009 21:27

i thinking now you could be a mum on the school run

Lizzylou · 03/02/2009 21:34

Yikes!
DS1 isn't at Crawshawbooth, he's catholic.

Lizzylou · 03/02/2009 21:43

Just looked at your profile pics.
Preschool last year, our DS's are called the same name? YOur DS is a couple of years older than my DS1.
Jeez, will stop posting on sex threads now!

Lilyloo · 03/02/2009 21:59

ooh lol glad i haven't any secrets on here
promise not to look for yours!
how weird!!

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 04/02/2009 12:12

LOL!

No,this hasn't stressed me out. Other things have, like booking a train ticket. God knows how I'm going to arrange and co-ordinate a house move to another part of the country when I can't shagging well book a train ticket!

OP posts:
noonki · 04/02/2009 21:07

hotpot - don't call it grimsbottom

I am getting dh to read this thread to persuade him to move there!

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 04/02/2009 21:30

Wilmslow has some interesting house!

OP posts:
Berries · 04/02/2009 21:44

If there is any particular area of Wilmslow you are interested in let us know as we may have insider info. They are building an extension to the bypass to go round Alderley Edge so there may be some houses v near there that are priced competitively (for a reason!). Most of the areas are lovely BTW

myredcardigan · 04/02/2009 22:31

Pownall Park and South Wilmslow are nice, popular areas which have good schools. Be careful with Handsforth and the area north of Styal Road.

hotpotmama · 05/02/2009 08:13

Sorry Noonki!

Noonki's DH if you are reading this:

5 great reasons to move to Ramsbottom:

  1. It ahould really be called best kept secretbottom

  2. The gorgeous hills

  3. The people are lovely and down to earth

  4. Great schools, good pubs, restaurants

  5. Its fab!!!

( It has steam trains too, the kids love it!)

There, does that help?

Lizzylou · 05/02/2009 09:14

Agree with Hotpot Noonki,also:

Lovely park, also lots of green hills and walks (I suspect they're white at the moment!)

Great centre, very pretty and nice shops

Good transport links

Agree with good pubs and restaurants, you can have your choice of Italian/Thai/Indian/Chinese and good pub grub

Good swimming pool/gym with cheap creche facilities

Great nurseries (if you have littlies)

Why did I move from Rammy???

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 05/02/2009 10:46

DP has said he'd rather not live north of Manchester but I am still insisting we look.

Berries, yes please

I am very grateful to you all. If anyone would like to share any info/tips/ or just tell me how to go about relocating, my email is laineyjbe at hotmail dot com. I wouldn't normally put my email on here but this is the one I use solely for MN purposes.

Our first trip up is in April, and we are looking to move next Summer if we get the go ahead from DPs work. If not, it'll be the following year, although I think the best time to go is when DS1 can have a couple of years of Primary school.

Do you think there is a better or good time to move children?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 05/02/2009 10:46

DP has said he'd rather not live north of Manchester but I am still insisting we look.

Berries, yes please

I am very grateful to you all. If anyone would like to share any info/tips/ or just tell me how to go about relocating, my email is laineyjbe at hotmail dot com. I wouldn't normally put my email on here but this is the one I use solely for MN purposes.

Our first trip up is in April, and we are looking to move next Summer if we get the go ahead from DPs work. If not, it'll be the following year, although I think the best time to go is when DS1 can have a couple of years of Primary school.

Do you think there is a better or good time to move children?

OP posts:
myredcardigan · 05/02/2009 11:16

I would def move whilst the DCs are still at primary school if at all possible. They'll settle in so much better and it'll give you a chance to meet other local mums. Check out the local secondaries though as you may want to be in in a particular catchment and therefore choose a feeder primary.

I was talking about this thread to DH last night and he said he would say to anyone thinking of moving up here to look at Didsbury, Hale/Altrincham, Bramhall and Wilmslow. All nice but all offering something a bit different. He also said what looks a reasonable commute on paper can actually be horrendous such as the A6 or A34. So visit mid week if possible and try and check out the roads.

Oh and it's bloody cold up here but the water makes a lovely cup of tea!

myredcardigan · 05/02/2009 11:18

Oh and don't move whilst heavily pregnant like I did!

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 05/02/2009 11:21

Thanks Myredcardigan (and Mr Myredcardigan).

I was looking at Wilmslow last night and Cheadle Hulme school, but I don't think we could afford 4 lots of fees.

My email is dot co dot uk, not dot come BTW!

OP posts:
Watchtheworldcomealivetonight · 05/02/2009 11:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Ohforfoxsake · 05/02/2009 11:58

Saddleworth comes up as 'Location unknown' on Primelocation how odd! I'm looking at the website now. It does look lovely.

OP posts:
LackaDAISYcal · 05/02/2009 12:15

foxy, we have friends in Saddleworth and also in Poynton. Both lovely.

Poynton schools are good but our friend didn't get his DD into their first choice school so competition is high.

and don't forget I'm only about an hour away for meet ups

LackaDAISYcal · 05/02/2009 12:16

35 mins if you are in saddleworth

nannyogg · 05/02/2009 12:23

Only skimmed thread but hijack to wave to all fellow Rossendalians.

Good luck with the search ohforfoxsake.

do you want some links to local estate agent sites?

Lizzylou · 05/02/2009 12:25

Saddleworth and the villages (Diggle? Is that one?) around there are beautiful, really lovely.

I moved up pre DC, so no real advice, just to come up beforehand as mush as possible to get a feel of places, where you'll feel comfy.
I know I joked about Wilmslow, it is a nice place (just really not for me).
My friend who moved up from London (again pre-DC) lives in a small vilage/hamlet near Lymm (hence my love of that area) and loves it, she was very worried about leaving London but I don't think she'd ever move now.
Her DC are going to a prep school in Hale and then hopefully Altrincham Grammar.

Lizzylou · 05/02/2009 12:26

HI Nanny!
Blimey, Rossendale and Ramsbottom are very well represented here!

nannyogg · 05/02/2009 12:30

Hi Lizzy, think we've 'met' before ages ago - do you live near Clowbridge?

nannyogg · 05/02/2009 12:49

Just reading thread properly ohfor....

re the house in Haslingden - I live in Haslingden and while there are some nicer areas, that house is not in one of them unfortunately.

It's ok here but you could do a lot better. Ramsbottom/Holcombe both lovely and really close to Manchester so easier commute.

Irwell Vale is also lovely, a really tiny village surrounded by hills, with steam train running through it. I've no idea about the schools there though.