Looking at moving to Hollindean in Brighton - Any good> What are the secondary schools like?

[FutureBNResident]

Hi everyone,

I (45F) live with my husband and 2 kids (boy and girl both 10) and husband (48) in the Reading area and my husband has been offered a job down in Brighton.

We're looking at moving to the Hollindean area as he's got a friend who lives there and loves it but have heard mixed things about it. We have a budget of around £750k - £800k so could we get a good house and road there for that amount (that money would get a great place in Reading!). We saw a nice looking place on Rightmove on Hollingdean Park Avenue but is that a nice road? Are there any bad roads in that area? We also looked online at Preston Park but would we get more house for our money in Hollingdean?

Also, what are the secondary schools like? Is it in a good catchment area?

Sorry so many questions but not sure of this area at all!

I think you need to read the reviews of the junior/high schools yourself. Also check out whether it is true that Brighton still don't allow you to pick your schools - you go into a sort of raffle - so phone the local education authority. It was well meant in a way so middle class people didn't move into a catchment and the schools would be more mixed, but it meant IMHO some children travelling more than meant to.

OK thanks, I've read about the lottery system. If I moved to an area with a naff secondary school though would I have any chance of getting a good school in a different area?