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!😀

Have you looked at some of your potential areas on Rightmove OP? That might rule some out as it's a very expensive region to buy property. Or just put a radius around Exeter, see what you can afford and what schools fall in those areas.

Which exactly option on Rightmove you're talking about?
I am prepared to live close to Exeter and commute/have longer school run if this means I can afford bigger house with garden...

I've got two kids at Colyton and one at Exeter College. Very happy with all.
If I were you I'd look at Ottery St Mary or Whimple to live, both offer an easy commute into Exeter, Whimple even has a train station. Keep fingers crossed that you get into Colyton but if not, Kings in Ottery is good and has a sixth form.

Thank you. What is Colyton like? Maybe compared to other schools if you have the knowledge. What is their CV/what do they put accent on? I am considering Ottery as well, can see by car it is super close to Exter and main roads. I guess there is decent bus link to the school from there too? Thanks x

Just put Exeter in the search (+15 miles), min 3 bed, max 350k and you will be able to see on the map which properties you can afford and what area they are in.

Oh yes yes I know what you mean:) will do, I wasn't comfortable searching around Exeter as I don't know the area well. But I guess it won't hurt, may only help to look from different perspective. Thanks

Would you say what Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot have to offer for kids both indoors/outdoor activities? I can see all parks water areas close everywhere which is great. And also how about access to bigger shops/supermarkets/couple of restaurants? Do u need to go often maybe to Exeter to catch up with this or that or is it generally speaking sufficient amount of shops and amenities to suit average person? :) thanks x

Would also be grateful,as you recommend smaller towns or villages around Exeter and Newton Abbot, what is it like to live there from kids entertainment/shop access point of view? Do you/your friends or family go to larger nearby town often to do weekly shopping or when upgrading wardrobe with new clothes?:) I mean mainly Bovey Tracey, Ottery, Chudleigh, Buckfastleigh.
Thanks x

I live in Torquay and people are talking a load of crap 😅
Torquay has loads going on, lots and lots to do. 4 theatres, cinema, 7 beaches, great restaurants, good public bus, boat, train service.
Torquay academy and the grammar are v good schools.
Yes, we have our share of crack heads! But quite frankly what area doesn't!?
Great surrounding countryside anda really fabulous place to bring up kids.
My 4 kids don't know what people are talking about re county lines. Regards that, it really probably depends on the click that your kids fall in with. But has not been an issue for mines or their friends growing up
Newton's OK, but no beaches, so deal breaker for me.
If going to tq, look at babbacombe, wellswood and chelston. You can walk to the sea from all and all have a village vibe a its the benefits of a decent sized town.

Wow what a 180 deg comment about Torquay 😏 I agree, you can't assume that all children are being swallowed into the drug industry. Thanks for your message. Schools is what keeps this idea still alive.

If you are moving from London I would stick with Exeter as it has the M5, mainline trains to London and an airport.

I did not grow up in Exeter and I find it odd that no schools have sixth form. Two new secondary schools had opened in recent years but still no sixth forms.

The only catholic primary in Exeter is St Nicholas. There are no catholic secondaries in Exeter, but there is St Peter’s C of E which is massively oversubscribed so you would either need to be religious (not necessarily C of E) or live very close the school. St Luke was taken over by the Ted Wragg Trust and us now St Luke’s C of E but I don’t know how religious it is. Children do commute to Colyton or the Torquay grammar schools from Exeter. Torquay is easier to to especially if you live near St Davids as you just hop on the train to Torre.

King’s at Ottery St Mary is meant to be a great school but you would need to live locally to get in. Whimple and the surrounding villages in East Devon are popular. Whimple is also has a direct train service to Waterloo.

Between Exeter and Tiverton is a popular option as you have Clyst Vale Community. College which is a well thought of secondary just outside Exeter with a Sixth Form. You can also jump on the train at Tiverton Parkway and get to Paddington in 2 hours.

Thanks for suggesting train connection from Sr David's to Torre.
Regarding Exter - my only worry is that it may not be easy to find decent property within the budget, what could be doable outside of it. I am not yet certain whether village living is for us, like in Whimple, it looks tiny. May not be easy to entertain kids or let themselves entertain.
Ottery is not bad, still close to Exeter, bigger and has well regarded school.
With this 6th form it is funny that no school in Exter has one, but a village outside has! I wouldn't mind living in Exeter, as the college and Uni are good. I'd still probably need to send older one for max 2 years to primary, younger one would stay a little bit longer. So I am going to be stretched between primary and secondary for a while... it is not easy search, honestly! 🙃

Honestly, from what you are saying and budget wise. You might as well have a look at cranbrooke. it’s catchment for clyst vale, good transport links into Exeter. There’s a train station and it’s near the M5, cycle routes, bus routes, lots of activities and things like that for the children. It has a bustling community, but not as claustrophobic as a small village. Personally I absolutely hate it. But I know quite a few professional people who have moved their families there from large cities after the pandemic. And they all rave about it, and are very happy. It seems quite easy for teens and non drivers to be independent and pop on the train or bus to city centre daily. It’s basically a brand new town. It’s less than half an hour drive to lots of beaches, 45 minutes to the Moor. 10 minutes to the airport. 20 minutes to haldon Forrest which is basically countrywide for townie people (think massive car park in the woods. Cycle tracks, walks, go ape, woodland cafe, adventure playground etc.
If you’re moving to Devon, don’t want Plymouth, can’t afford Exeter city centre areas, don’t want a village and again can’t afford what you want in the nicer market towns like ottery, then I think Cranbooke would tick a lot of boxes. You’d probably get a detached 3 bed new build, with a garage and parking. The boys would still be able to sit the 11+ for colyton as that doesn’t take into account catchment and there’s a private bus that takes the children there so you’d not have to do school run. And if that fail the 11+ or don’t get selected youve for clyst vale. Which does have a 6th form. It’s also close to the vocational sites for Exeter college.

I’ve just looked at Rightmove and there are 220 houses with at least 3 bedrooms for 350k or below in Exeter. I don’t know how many of these houses have garages as quite a few are Victorian. 350k won’t buy you a 3 bed in the poshest areas of Exeter but it will buy you a 3 bed in some nice/decent areas of Exeter.

I was looking yesterday too. I can see lots of terraced houses within range. I guess I can only afford semi decent size outside of Exter in one of the villages... So I take both into consideration.

Thanks for a great post!
I did look at Cranbrook some time ago as my friend was saying that they were building lots of new homes there. I know, it looks like a new town. My only worry is, and I think people can agree with me (was also reading comments of people living in Exeter in FB groups) - there isn't still develop infrastructure there I.e GPs, shops, schools, nurseries etc. It is easy to build thousands of flats or houses but without infrastructure, you end up waiting longer to see doctor, harder to get to school, more traffic etc. But it has been a while and I have some time to plan this major move, so maybe things will improve there...? But geographically it is good location for all the things you have mentioned.

As for shops, there's a lidl in Kingsteignton, big tesco on the edge of Kingsteignton, asda in the town centre, and aldi and sainsburys on the edge of town, so all within a 5-10 minute drive of where I am
There's a cinema, lots of places to eat, ranging from weatherspoons, to orsini lounge, naz Indian, meddy bar, twelve twenty and everything in-between
On the edge of Kingsteignton are 2 retail parks, with home bargains, pets at home, Next, Boots, halfords, matalan, pavers/cotton traders
A small library in Kingsteignton and a larger one in Newton
Outdoor pool in the summer, leisure centre in Newton with indoor pool, kids sport activities and school holiday childcare clubs
Tennis club, Rugby field, football club in Kingsteignton
Cricket, tennis, in Newton

It's only 15 minute drive to teignmouth beaches and parks, and about 15 minutes to the park and ride for exeter or 20 minutes to the city centre, we rarely need to go to the city
These are also linked by regular buses
Newton does lack clothes shops so we might pop to Exeter maybe 3-4 times a year for primark!

Thanks Mummiepig:)
Seems like most amenities are available at the doorstep:) What I like so much about these towns, also including Exeter, that you are within 30min drive to multiple lovely places, beaches, country parks etc. Pretty much wherever you are, you are close to these places :)
It is the school/home balance that needs to be sorted in first instance:)
Thanks for taking time to summarise your area's amenities :) x

We've just agreed a sale for our 3 bed for just under 300k in Exeter. The market is pretty stagnant here and we had to reduce heavily to get a sale. You might be able to get a good deal.
Try looking in the Clyst Heath/Newcourt areas if you want easy access to the m5, good train links and a nice community feel

I have seen houses for around 300k, I know what you mean. But I guess this also depends on the area, size, amenities etc. Lots of variables that influence the price. But it is not easy market at the momen, also from interest rates point of view...

Thanks again for all your comments and suggestions;) I think we're stick to the original plan which is to move to Exeter suburbs, to keep the balance between amenities accessibility, choice of schools and entertainment for kids. Plus you discouraged me for sure not to love close to Torquay:) I would like to get your opinion also about Heavitree and East and NE suburbs - Pinhoe, Monkerton, possibly Digby. I know Pinhoe and generally East suburbs along m5 have had boost of multiple developments. I would like to know what it is to live there, what to be aware of. Also - do we know further officially announced or started developments in these areas? I wonder how far they can carry on digging and taking green areas away...M5 is a boundary for sure, but from Pinhoe and West clyst side, I hope it is not going to be development after development until Exeter will grow bigger and swallow all villages and fields around...:)

Hi there, just got sent this thread from someone as under offer in London and looking at moving to Totnes to be closer to family. Have 2 year old and pregnant with second. Can’t see Totnes mentioned on here but would love to know thoughts? Thanks!

Never mind.

Totnes is really nice place to live. Good transport links to all the schools/ colleges. Can be pricey, house wise.

Totnes is really nice place to live. Good transport links to all the schools/ colleges. Can be pricey, house wise.