Moving to wales

[Chloeelsie]

Good morning everyone, I am new to net mums so please bare with me. I am 37 been married for 17 years with 3 children who are 15,11,6. we feel it's time for a fresh start and a change. We live in Birmingham and have all our lives but now wanting to move to Wales for a different life style. The only concern I have is will my children be happy and settle. I have been looking to see if there are any group posts to join so they can make friends before we go, i know that may sound crazy but i am a mom and love my kids so much hense the move for a better life style for them. Any help and information will be so welcomed. Thank you in advance.

I grew up on the Gower, so rural but close to Swansea. Most of my friends had moved from England during primary school. I started secondary school from a primary that wasn't a feeder, so knew absolutely no one there and it wasn't a problem at all. That school actually got the best results of any state comprehensive in the uk last year, and its English medium, so I'm not sure where people are getting the idea from that Welsh medium schools are academically superior. Also, very much depends on where you are, but most schools around where I grew up were English medium. I see no reason why you'd need to speak welsh to work as a TA in an English medium school...most people in Wales don't speak Welsh so schools would be creating a bit of a staffing crisis for themselves with that one. Be aware that most public sector jobs will state that an ability to speak welsh is desirable, but they're unlikely to actually be bothered... Also as PPs have said, you can't send your kids (possibly with the exception of the youngest) to a welsh-medium school if they don't speak welsh. It's literally all in welsh.

It has certainly put somethings to rest this morning so thank you all. I definitely think your right about the change for city children. I am thinking a bit more about things now so thank you everyone. Maybe Wales isn't the right move for the children after all xxxx

Welsh education tends to have less in terms of resources than English schools - partly because of the need to maintain two systems and children transferring from Welsh to English primaries are often quite behind or at least they are in our area. The borders are lovely though.

Why not look around Swansea? It's got the city thing so it's not such a shock to the kid's systems but is right on the doorstep of the Gower which is (imo) the best place on earth!

There are a lot of nice affordable areas around here.

Also, DH and I like the area around Cowbridge which is commutable to Cardiff (we visit here for weekends and at one point there was a possibility of DH transferring to. Cardiff office so we looked into it here) and we quite like Llantwit Major too, on the coast, smallish town but close to bigger areas for work.

I feel a little confused about it all now as half and half opinions but definitely helped with the good points that we forgot about but also given us food for thought. Thank you all so so much for the help and advice it really has given us a lot to discuss xxxx

DH and I like the area around Cowbridge which is commutable to Cardiff

Most expensive area for housing in South east Wales though!

Fair point re the cost!

More confused than ever now but definitely a lot to consider now.

Use the Wales Online school checker for more information about schools. The 6yo would manage at a Welsh primary school but probably not the 11yo. All schools teach basic Welsh anyway. I don't think you would struggle to get a teaching assistant position without Welsh knowledge as at primary school you are only taught the basics which you could teach yourself quite easily. There are plenty of decent English speaking schools anyway! South East Wales is probably a better idea if you are concerned about language though.

I think people are being reasonable here but scaremongering a little wrt your childrens' job prospects. Even if they decide against university there are the same opportunities for tradesmen and apprentices in Wales as there are in other places. And they could always move a few miles closer to a bigger city when the time comes anyway.

Agree with others, Gower near Swansea or Cowbridge near Cardiff give you best of both worlds. Lovely rural scenery but city near by for teenage shopping and entertainment. Good schools in both these areas. Much of the population will not be Welsh speaking so easier for you to find jobs.

You might want to have a look at the Pembrokeshire local board - it's not very active, but there's a couple of recent threads that might be relevant.

I live in North Pembs and don't know Saundersfoot/Milford Haven really, but I think people are maybe being a little over negative.

Welsh - South Pembs is really not very Welsh speaking at all - a quick look at the Pembs schools list and Milford Haven secondary & as far as I can see all the primaries in its cluster are English medium. Basically go south of the Landsker line and 90%+ of the population is English speaking.

Jobs are the killer though - you'd definitely want to make sure you had work before coming here. Having said that TA / retail are two areas where there is at least the chance of work even if it's not maybe as well paid as in other places.

Teenagers - really it depends what they're like / what they're into. If they're outdoorsy surfer girls/boys then they might be much happier in Pembs than in the city. If what they want is to go out clubbing then obviously that's not going to be an option.

I've lived here 13 years and always found people very friendly and wouldn't want to live anywhere else now.

I'm grew up in Coventry and moved to E.London after university. Once I got married DH and I moved to Gwent to start a family and I bloody love it. I'm not too far away from big cities like Cardiff yet my little village gives me the space to relax. And compared to my childhood in Coventry my children have such a lovely space to grow up and explore. I full recommend the move.

I'm from that area. It's not Welsh speaking at all, the secondary school would be Greenhill in Tenby. It's a really beautiful place but having lived in cities now I'd find it difficult to go back as it's quieter than I'd like.

I moved from the Midlands to live in South Wales. It's probably the best decision I ever made. I live in a semi rural village, with views of fields at the front and rear of my house, but I'm only 20 minutes from Cardiff. I regularly visit the Midlands to see friends and family but can't wait to get to Wales. I wouldn't rule out a move to Wales completely but do research the different areas. Nowhere is as built up as the Midlands so you can get a rural life while being very close to a city, such as Cardiff or Swansea.

I made the big move from Oxfordshire nearly 4 years ago to near Swansea, with then 14,11 and twins 8. I'm not going to lie and say it's been easy especially with the oldest when we first moved but have all settled now and love it hear, the English speaking secondary school is really good and my eldest got really good results, and the second is expected to get good results, the primary school is duel stream and again I couldn't fault it at all, they have both been to the same standard if not better than their previous schools in England. My husband worked in food distribution when we moved here and has had no problem finding work, I worked in a school nursery and am now a nanny, the are jobs in retail,but have noticed that a lot of Ta jobs need at least basic Welsh, but Welsh is spoke alot in this area, so not sure elsewhere. I can say we all love it here we are 20 mins from some lovely beaches and countryside the Children have all made friends and find the is plenty to do but we are on a good bus route to Swansea, the Welsh people are lovely very friendly and welcoming and I can truly say I wouldn't go back to our old life, we definitely have a better quality of life, my best advice would be to research the area really well, visit schools don't rely on just the reports, if I can help in anyway as someone who has made the move don't hesitate to ask

I'm a teacher in West Wales and all TAs need to be able to speak Welsh. All schools even English Medium schools are still bilingual and there is a big focus on learning Welsh. I'm in an English Medium school and most of our basic teaching is done in Welsh - it's what is expected now.

Welsh medium schools do not have the best academic results.

A child who hasn't been in a Welsh medium primary for two years will not be able to attend a Welsh medium comprehensive school.

If you're going as West as Saundersfoot, expect to have to drive anywhere. Areas in Carmarthenshire are better as you are closer to Carmarthen, Llanelli and Swansea and only an hour from Cardiff unless you want a very quiet lifestyle (other than tourists).

Milford is an area to avoid IMO and most of the locals feel the same. It's horrid!

All sounds a bit random to be honest.

What do your children think?

The move from West Midlands to Tenby / Saundersfoot is, as I'm sure you realise, a very well trodden path for some reason and there are loads of Brummies there already. Many find it difficult to settle and don't stay. It really is very remote. Kids seem to like it or loath it but you really need to move away after school if you're going to get more than seasonal work - very difficult to get reasonably paid year-round work there (although obviously some people do). What would you do for work - would you be able to get a job? There's a new welsh medium primary school in Tenby (and a definite move towards more welsh medium in the area) but most primaries and the secondaries are English Medium. Greenhill is better than it was but not brilliant.
Personally I love the area for holidays but wouldn't want to live there.

HI Chloeelsie. Did you ever make the move? We did. Not loving it if I'm honest. I think the plague would have had a warmer welcome than we got and we're friendly and outgoing but hey ho their loss!

I'd say Swansea or
Just outside Cardiff.
Vale of Glamorgan is lovely.
Cowbridge is lovely, but you have only to see the expensive shops and houses to see you're in a very expensive area.

My favourite area, after N Yorks. Third is Dorset/ Somerset / wilts

Hi I'm new to this.I wonder if anyone can help me with advice.I currently live in West mids with my 2 lads and I have a 2 bed council flat.anyone know how I could do an exchange with someone in Wales or far away.any help/advice plz xx

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