Honiton or Sidmouth?

[Tat2010]

Hi - really hoping someone can give me some tips please! I’m moving to either Honiton or Sidmouth next year..with my 10 year old. Really hard as no address to put down for one of those secondary schools (Sidmouth College or Honiton CC) as won’t be there til July! Apparently I just need to wait and go on the list??? Also thinking Sidmouth is quite expensive tho do love it so thinking Honiton - hoping it’s a friendly and active town for my son?! Thanks for any advice...

Sidmouth was oversubscribed last year so the chidden from outlying towns that normally get in did not.

Honiton is the cheaper place to live. The high school wasn't amazing a few years ago when we were looking but we were too far away. There are some places in Honiton which are not very nice.

In your position, I would look at the catchment for Kings in Ottery. It's lovely school with a great Head and reputation (I worked there a few years ago under his predecessor). West Hill is the most expensive place to live but Ottery itself is nice and there are developments in Feniton (also on the Waterloo line which is useful for getting into Exeter or to London slowly).

Thank you so much! I’ll look at Ottery - will need to take another trip down from London! It’s a big thing as have been in London for 30 years! I do want a town as a village (perhaps one day) would be too much of a shock for us at present. Thank you...

Having young kids we decided to take the leap of faith and move down from a big city up north.
I spent years researching where to live before my eldest hit secondary school. We initially thought of ottery, obviously because of the school. On paper it looked the obvious decision.
Well, we arrived in Sidmouth and thought the slight difference in school results was outweighed by everything else sidmouth had to offer. 4 yrs later i can safely say sidmouth primary and the college have been a great environment where my kids have excelled whilst enjoying the location.. Walking / cycle to the beach, coastal walks, folk week, tennis , cricket & rugby etc and the general atmosphere of being popular destination for visitors made this place feel just a bit different and we love it..
I'm sure ottery would have also have been great.
Good luck with everything, its a big leap of faith but you wont regret it.