Relocating to West Sussex - Primary Schools?

[IndiaRose87]

Hello everyone! I'm new to Mumsnet and was hoping I might be able to get some advice please on Primary Schools and their surrounding areas in West Sussex.

Myself, husband and two children (5 and 2 years old) are wanting to relocate to West Sussex from London. We're looking for more space, cleaner air, countryside - the usual!

We like the idea of being between London and the coast, and myself and husband need to commute in 3 days a week. For this reason, we're looking at towns on the London train line (Hassocks, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill etc).

My most important criteria is the primary and secondary schools in the area. We are very lucky that we're next door to an outstanding primary school currently, so it's a wrench to leave it.

As such, I would be INCREDIBLY grateful for any tips/suggestions/info on schools in West Sussex and what the community's that are local to that school are like.

Thanks so much.

Overall, I'd say Burgess Hill is the poorest choice in terms of schools, and unfortunately, a declining town centres. The Gattons/ Southway, St Wilfred's etc are okay, and some people like Birchwood Grove and Sheddingdean, but Manor Field and London Meed tend to be less popular (although some ah e good experiences). The secondary academy, however, is very unpopular, and lots of families try for secondary places elsewhere which doesn't always work. If you are Catholic, St Paul's (secondary) is amazing, but you'd get in from anywhere in your search area if you hit criteria.

Haywards Heath is a slightly nicer town centre, and the schools are better. Both Warden Oark and Oathall are solid secondaries and most of the primaries are okay. There are also lots of nice village schools close-by - we have friends who have loved the primary schools in Cuckfield, Staplefield and Lindfield, which are also all nice villages and feed into the HH secondaries. Some people like Balcombe too, but I understand it's a bit Marmite. It seems a bit of a party village and quite closed. There is a lot of a money and a lot of playing cricket etc to fit-in from what friends have told me.

Hassocks is generally the more popular for schools. It seems to have a nice community and all of the schools - Infant, junior and secondary are well regarded. Be careful where you buy though, as the secondary catchment can be quite tight. I believe it is also not as good for neurodiverse children (the secondary). In that area, Ditchling and hurstpierpoint are also popular villages with nice schools, but again, but again, look at distances for where children actually got places.

If you're happy y one a bit further off the Trainline, places like Chailey are quite nice, and have a smaller secondary school which lots of people seem to like.

If you don't find what you like here, an alternative might be the Horsham area. Again, good schools, a nicer town centre and good links, although maybe not quite so great, to London. I can't advise on specific school I'm afraid, but I do know that again, there can be incredible pressure on the most popular.

Wow @Noidea2024 i can't thank you enough! So kind taking time out to help me with such detailed info. I will do some googling now!

Hassocks has good schools and a great family atmosphere, on train line to Brighton and London. Very safe and friendly, a bit old fashioned. Lots of building going on here and so I'd expect the already tight catchments to get tighter.

Late to yhe already, but it'd a local trope that there aren't any bad schools in Horsham. Broadly speaking that's true, but it's a very catchment based area!