Moving to Devon

[Smilesaplenty]

Hi, I know there have been many posts on this site regarding moves but as you were all so helpful I thought I would ask. We, as a family, are moving to Devon/Somerset for my husbands work. As we have 3 children, 1 in secondary and 2 in primary. Where would be the best places to look. We initially thought Plymouth but were thinking more inland maybe Exeter way. We would like semi rural and both drive but are open to anywhere if it's a nice area for families. Thank you for reading and your help x

State or private?

State x

Thank you x

Ah - well plymouth has lots of choice of types of secondary school (1 boys grammar, 2 girls grammars), catholic schools (boys & girls), a wide range of comps & there's also a free school - the very different Plymouth School of Creative Arts.

Ivybridge comp just outside plymouth is also very popular and currently takes a lot of kids from plymouth as well.

Currently most people get their first choice secondary (this year the only full year 7's were the grammars & PSCA - but PSCA which selects mainly on distance took kids from 20 miles away - so anyone living in the city who put it first choice would have got it). That is expected to change over the next few years as there has been an increased birth rate from around the current year 4's.

If you had said private I would have said Exeter or east Devon as there's a much wider choice of private schools in that area - but I don't know much about the state schools there. I know they have a free school (a free Steiner school no less) but I have no idea what age range it covers.

Thank you so much, that is a lot of help. A lot to think about!! Do I approach the school or the council? I appreciate so much you taking the time to comment x x

I'm not sure how in year applications are handled. But contact the schools to have a look around. Primary schools can be harder to get a place in because of the increased birth rate but I think that's true everywhere

Thank you, I think I will. You've been really helpful 😘

Good luck!

There are lots of grammar schools dotted around Devon. From Exeter, lots of children go to grammar schools out of the city. If you think your eldest would be suited to grammar, get in touch with the schools directly and see if they can do anything. If you have a child in year 6, they have missed sitting the 11+, so again contact the grammars directly.
The good news is, the grammars take children from large areas. Therefore they do not take large percentages of the school aged population, so the other schools are not sink schools. There are some excellent comps.
For 6th form, there is also the Exeter school of mathematics, which is the one of only two such specialist schools in England. (Many years ahead, but state education in Devon are really good)

Oh wow!! That all sounds great, thank you x