Exeter/Newton Abbott/Torquay seeking inspiration for finding balance between home/school

[curiousfather]

Hi all. We are planning to move into area soon 2+2 family, kids will be still in primary education. They attend catholic school and we would want them to continue attending catholic school. I can see choice is limited, with single schools in Exeter/ Newton/Exmouth and Torquay. It is even worse with secondary schools, where I'm only finding 1 catholic school St Cuthbert Mayne on Torquay outskirts (sadly in 2023 also their rating was dropped to requires improvement....) I am still exploring all possibilities and would be grateful for any suggestions. Initially my thought was to live in Exeter, but given that my kids may need to be in North Torquay for their further education, I do not see myself doing school run in the morning from Exeter to Torquay and still try to get to work on time. My other thought was to possibly live in Newton Abbott which has also got catholic school and is way much closer to north Torquay.
Does anyone want to share their thoughts/knowledge/experience of being in a similar situation of trying to send children to primary/secondary catholic school in the area?
Also how is Newton Abbott in general to live in with kids? I know exeter better but a friend of mine used to live there and recommends outskirts of newton without doubt. I am trying to find a balance between being relatively close to schools and don't live in a tiny village (but happy to give up on Exeter if a better balance can be found) - we should both drive so somewhere that we can relatively easily get from to the seaside/country park/any attractions for kids within easy reach. I would appreciate any comments/suggestions. Thanks!😀

Thank you all so far for great ideas and comments, much appreciated. It makes me think outside box more and consider options I wouldn't consider to start with. I will look at villages along a38 too, Bovey seems nice. I wonder how you guys used to(or still keep) your teenagers entertained and away from trouble in these smaller villages if you say choices are limited. I want to know the trick and recipe for that 😋 I guess being close to Exeter may do the trick as it would have much more to do that in a village.

I grew up in Torquay. My parents still live there.
I have also lived in London for over 15 years.
Trust me when i say that although Torquay may appear safer, you really do not want to live there.
Faded seaside town places with a large amount of deprivation and antisocial element and big drug problem depress you in a unique way.

The grammar schools are VERY competitive so definitely don't bank on it

So I wonder who still lives there other than these drug addicts, smugglers and deprived society?:) maybe people who have no other choice other than stay where they are... But little people moving in as a choice. Thanks :)
So you say that grammar schools are competitive and possibly still worth sending to if we were to live slightly further away from Torquay ?:)

I wouldn't rule out Exeter because of the lack of sixth forms, Exeter College is good enough (or there is the Maths School if your kids turn out to be that way inclined) and you get a really good choice of subjects because it is so big. My youngest has just left there and gone to a Russell Group university - she was very ready to leave high school!

It is possible to transfer into one of the schools that offer sixth forms too, if your children end up with a preference for that - a friend's child went to one of the Torquay grammars for 6th Form, and they can commute there on their own at that age.

Really good points, thanks. I literally said the same to my wife last night, let's not rule out such option completely.
Good to know you can still apply to any 6th form school even though you attended 6 years to a different one.
I will explore Exeter College too.
What alternative colleges to Exeter one do people recommend, widening the radius? In case I needed to be outside of Exeter. Thanks 😊

I think you are very much misguided to dismiss Plymouth so readily! What have you heard and from whom that makes you so adverse? It's my home so obvi oh sky biased but you have everything in Plymouth you are looking for. Proximity to moors, coast, with all the benefits of a city without feeling like one. There are a few good catholic primaries to choose from, plus two single sex well regarded secondary schools, one of which my daughter attends. It's very worth considering.

Hi, well there are multiple reasons, but again you can't throw everything in the same bag when you hear about bad reviews and feedback from people living there. It very much depends on what your own agenda is. However, other than bed reviews, I also see Plymouth as a very far location from nearest international airport, access to South East/Dover which I need for driving to Europe etc. I know it is only 1h ish extra but somehow anything beyond mid Devon seems to me too far from everything else. Maybe that's me, but that's how I see it. And yes, I agree, I am surprised that Plymouth offers so many schools at both primary and secondary level. But it's not enough I think to convince me to live there permanently...

Colyton grammar is an option for sixth form study from Exeter. Maynard (independent girls’ school) offers two fully funded sixth form places and Exeter school (co-Ed independent) May offer similar.
Exeter college is rated outstanding by Ofsted and offers a great variety of courses including the IB diploma.

Thanks. Yes, I have had a look at Exter College rating and they seem good. Colyton seems far, minimum 1h on the bus one way. Shame as it seems a very good school. But good that there is still bus connection with Exeter. I have 2 boys so need either boys or mixed sex, and independent school is not for my pocket :)

As for newton abbot estates, I would avoid buckland, broadlands, Bradley Valley is not great but Bradley Barton OK,
Milber has nice bits as does highweek
Some of the new build estates are a bit out on the edges, so depends if you want things in walking distance for teenagers
Kingsteignton is generally nice everywhere

But as with every where it can go on a street by street basis
Chudleigh and Chudleigh Knighton both very nice, bovey even nicer, but not great public transport if thinking ahead for the teenage years
Avoid heathfield, some nice streets but overall not good, terrible transport links, nothing to do, just a housing estate sandwiched between the dual carriageway and an industrial estate
I don't know exeter estates at all, the city itself is nice and safe,
Torquay Town, terrible, alot of deprivation

Although there are places further out that are nice like babbacome but I've never lived there so can't really comment,
Any other questions happy to help if I can

Thanks ! Useful to know.
Bovey seems nice but like you say, I need to think ahead of the time- some areas are lovely for couples or singles, but for kids little to do.
I am definitely moving away from Torquay suburbs.
Grammar school in Torquay is still considered but we would need to live around Kingsteignton the farthest to avoid school run drama. I don't think asking young children to spend 1h on a bus twice a day, 10x a week is reasonable. I am also thinking of Colyton but think being in Exeter would be again too far for it. Maybe living in Ottery would be better for Colyton.
Unless I accept good secondary school without 6th form and stay on Exeter outskirts, with option of Exeter College and then Uni.
I like the conversation going so far - I had very limited horizon and options, now I have too many and need to do even more research 😀

Exmouth is also an option for Colyton.
Re Exeter St Peter’s is probably the secondary school with the best reputation. West Exe may be worth a look too. If you move to the Exmouth area and don’t get a place at Colyton there is just one secondary in the area (exmouth community college) which I would avoid.

Yes lots to consider, I agree bovey is lovely, I would love to live there, but my children are all grown ups now so public transport wouldn't be an issue for us, unfortunately a little out of my price range though
You're right to factor in these things as they get older, as you don't want to be constantly taxiing them around, some things in walking distance or a reliable regular bus service is ideal, that's why we like Kingsteignton and newton abbot
But you've got the added decision on schools to consider
I hope you find somewhere suitable that ticks all the boxes
If you need any more local info, feel free to ask x

Clyst Vale also has a sixth form, but I don't know much about it.

I definitely wouldn't bank on getting into Colyton - personally I didn't want my kids going there and didn't even suggest it as an option to my two. The system in Exeter works pretty well for the thousands of students here and the comprehensive schools have been fine for us, my children did well at St James' and St Luke's.

I don't think you can go far wrong in Exeter, really, especially if your children are well motivated and you are generally positive about the importance of education, which it sounds like you are!

Thanks for your comment.
Exeter has always been top of our list and still is. Just need to understand other options and what to lose out/compromise on.
What secondary schools in Exeter are recommended these days? I come across Southbrook, Barley Lane, ISCA, West Exe mainly. I know At Thomas quite well and Barley Lane I know is on that side. I wonder what other good residential areas of Exeter are good for families? Heavitree someone said to me the other day? Thanks 😊

Heavitree is nice, lots of families, nice parks, good schools and facilities nearby and it's on the right side of town for getting onto the motorway easily.

Children here tend to go to St Luke's, St James' or St Peter's (all easily walkable) though some do go further afield and there is a bus to Colyton. St Peter's is usually said to be the favourite, but I thought St James' was the best.

I guess ‘nice ‘ in Exeter is quite subjective. What is your budget and how big a house do you need?

Any other recent experiences with Exeter's secondary schools?
Any ideas what other areas to consider to locate other than Heavitree? Also thinking of outside of m5 short distance but commutable. So that I have more than 1 option for Exeter 😀

I guess this apllies everywhere:)
We will need 3 bed for sure, budget will be a subject to lots of variables as this is not the decision I can make as we speak. I suppose 350k? I'm roughly estimating ...I hope that is enough for more than a decent garage ! 😂

Isca has a new head (2nd year in the role) and is very ambitious for the school and pupils.

Topsham is very nice, but houses are expensive and parking is a nightmare. It does have a pool, train station and is on a frequent bus service to Exeter and Exmouth. Isca is one of the closest secondaries to Topsham.
what about Pennsylvania?

@curiousfather
with a £350k budget, forget Topsham and probably Pennsylvania.
terraced house in St Thomas?

Please do share similar thoughts and what you may have heard about secondary schools:)
Not sure if I want to live close to Uni campus. I guess the area is full of student rental properties?

I don't mind St Thomas, I will join gang of those living on 'wrong side' of the town 😀 as I have been told :)

The bottom of Pennsylvania has houses converted to student accommodation, but less so at the top (big hill)
I lived in St Thomas in the 1970s and have fond memories of the area. There is a train station and a decent amount of bus routes in this area. Secondary would be West Exe which I think is part of the Ted Wragg trust and seems to have some good exam results for 2022.

Nah, I think I'd prefer St Thomas or Heavitree vs Pennssylvania.
Wouldn't I find anything with this budget around Heavitree ??