Moving to Eastbourne. Advice needed.

[Eibbeddebbie]

Hi everyone! The last time anyone's asked this question was 13 years ago. So, here goes: my husband and I are thinking of moving toEastbournenext year. We are going to be looking at houses very soon but would love to hear which areas locals and anyone else think are great places to live in! Just a bit of information: We are a family of 3 (3.5 year old kid) with a budget of 300k. That said, I also do not intend to blow my entire budget on the house alone. Would like to refurbish (some) and have some left for furniture.

Currently I'm interested in living near Eastbourne train station because my husband will need to commute toHastings. Therefore, I would like everything to be within a reasonable walking distance. And if possible, also areas with good primary and especially secondary schools for the little one. And areas with a low crime rate. So what do you say? I've heard the following are worth considering: Old Town, Meads, Roselands, Langney point?

Thank you very much! (sorry if this was too wordy!)

Sorry just seen this so may be too late, old town area/ upperton area would suit you., easy walk to station. Meads is lovely but most expensive area to live. Personally I wouldn’t choose Langney or Roselands although they are cheaper areas.

If I had to choose an area It would be

1. meads
2. old town

Avoid seaside too

Old Town is very pricey. For your budget I would consider Redoubt area. Its about 20 min walk to station, close to beach and schools. It's a lovely town.

Since posting this, I've increased my budget and am in the middle of purchasing a house in old town. Heh. It's going for 375k but we're absolutely in love with it. Thank you so much for your suggestions though! x

Old Town is great. You are spoilt for choice with schools. I hope you are in by the summer to see the best of Eastbourne.

We love Old Town too! Have you started looking at schools?

We love Motcombe Infants, I can't recommend it highly enough.

However it's linked to Ocklynge (which had an absolutely dire report last time) which I can't say we're very happy with. We had issues with DS's teacher that were just not resolved. I felt fobbed off. Others seem to like it even so. And to be fair some of the things we had issues with are improving. (They now have a lovely and effective SENCO for example).

Pashley Down Infants also feeds into Ocklynge. I went to the open day and really didn't like it! But it was an ethos thing, totally personal. Our neighbours DC went there and they seemed to really like it.

We've just looked at secondaries. I was really impressed with Cavendish (I had low expectations tbh) and loved Willingdon although we decided it was a bit too far. If I'd known how much I would have liked Willingdon I think maybe we could have moved out there for it!

Others liked Ratton but personally I wasn't at all keen. Again, it was a gut feeling, ethos thing that was the difference between Cavendish and Ratton for me, as they're not dissimilar on "paper". Some people really love it, by all accounts.

Cavendish goes through all the way from nursery to 16, and I've hear people say good things about the primary school, so definitely worth checking out.

Then there's the free school, Gildredge House which I don't know well. Ir's also both a primary and a secondary. Some seem to love it some are less impressed. I met someone who loved it for primary but was moving their child before secondary.

Definitely go to the open days to get a feel for them.

That’s for school info.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

police.uk can help with safety.

maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019/default/BTTTFPT/12.963496934133099/0.2715/50.7911/

This website also has useful info.

I have DS at Ocklynge, DD at Motcombe. Motcombe is such a lovely school. The Head teacher and deputies are amazing. Despite the Ofsted report, Ocklynge is really good. It's huge, but that allows for loads of opportunities. The clubs list includes everything you could hope for and they do wonderful topic based days.

MummyItsallaboutyou I wonder if we know each other in RL

Ocklynge was criticised for failing both brighter kids and those with special needs. My DS falls into both categories. However when DS had a lovely teacher, we didn't recognise the description of Ocklynge in the report.

But then, when things went wrong for him (largely to do with one poor class teacher), the back up was missing.

The situation has been resolved by a new class teacher and the school taking on a new SENCO, who we think is great but senior management never took my concerns seriously - we felt fobbed off - and DS's education really suffered. We very nearly pulled DS out.

To be fair it didn't get as far as the head, who I do like and I have considered letting him know what went on last year anyway.

It may be that we just had bad luck but because our concerns weren't listened to this particular teacher is still there no doubt treating other DC in the way they treated mine. They're a person who has favourites and treats different DC very differently so it's possible many other parents of DC in the same class will not even be aware of any issues.

To be fair, when we had a problem with bullying by a child, Ocklynge really did listen to my child and nipped it in the bud very effectively.

Also I can see that the timing of the report was perhaps unfortunate given that there had been the same (much loved, by all accounts) head for 17 years followed by a period of a couple (or more?) years of acting heads and when OFSTED came, the new head hadn't been in post very long, certainly not long enough for his changes to be embedded.

I do like the new head and it'll be interesting to see what the next report says.

OP it's fair to say our experience possibly hasn't been a typical one, but I only have my own experience to share!

Having said all that I'm still sending my DD there as there isn't really another option as it's the only junior school in the immediate area. But it can't be that bad or we wouldn't be sending DD!

If I was new to town, I'd have a good look at all the local schools and keep an open mind to all of them.

Motcombe is such a wonderfully nurturing place. The head teacher and the staff are brilliant. DD loves going to school.

Lovely, good luck with the move. I work near your new home 🏠😊

Honestly one of the reasons we chose to buy a house in the old town area is because we have noticed there are a lot of good schools there.

We've chosen gildredge, cavendish and motcombe. Now I can only hope my daughter gets into at least one 😅

Thank you once again for your suggestions! I'm very relieved to know that I've made the right choice (albeit expensive 😅)

Living or working in the old town area? Hit me up! Let's hang out 😄

Oh sorry I totally miscalculated your DD's age, I thought she'd be in the 2021 intake but if you've already done your options for September 2020 then I guess all that isn't quite so relevant!

We also chose Old Town for the schools. It's great to have a choice of good schools rather than all the stress of trying to get into the one school everyone wants to go to like in London (where I'm from originally).

I'd be up for a coffee! Let us know when you're settled and I'm always up for coffee and cake.

When I first came here, I met a bunch of mums through Mumsnet and also Netmums, which despite having annoying tickers etc etc did used to have a great meet-a-mum board which I found really helped with finding my feet in a new town.

Eastbourne is a place that's relatively easy to make friends in my experience and I think it's party because there are so many of us incomers - families with young children, who are here for the good schools and affordable housing, compared to London and Brighton - so lots of other parents in the same boat.

Sleepy, that would be awesome! Yes I'm not moving there until this August, but I'll be more than happy to meet up! I'll contact you again then. Can't wait! (Also thank you!) ♡

Eastbourne is HORRIBLE, depressing, full of alcoholics and eastern european drug gangs and the other half is a graveyard. I lived in the area for years and it really got me down working there.
You would be better off in Seaford or even in Hastings. At least Hastings is moderately trendy and you can get a really massive house for that money.
Rye is much nicer all round, beautiful, lovely scenery and walks and nice shops. Also has a train to Hastings...i think, don't quote me on that.

I've moved out of county now, last year.

madcatladyforever it's like we live in different towns. I don't recognise this description of Eastbourne at all.

Weird that you think it's full of alcoholics and suggest Hastings. I love the arty vibe of Hastings but I find you're much more likely to come across street drinkers in Hastings than Eastbourne. There's a lot more deprivation in Hastings and St Leonard's than in Eastbourne.

We seriously considered Hastings when we were looking to settle here, but the schools aren't as good (or at least didn't seem to be when I was looking). A good friend teaches at (and is trying to escape) one of the Secondaries in Hasting & St Leonard's and the stories I could tell you about what she's seen there are hair raising!

Old town, where the OP is moving is lovely. It feels safe and a good place to bring DC up.

Do you have young DC madcatladyforever?

Been here 11 years and never come across a drug gang!

I've never said this before but I think madcatlady is on glue!!

Been here nearly 15 years & do not recognise anything about her descrption of Eastbourne.

Eastbourne is a lovely town. It has the sea and access to the downs and some stunning countryside. Nice parks, loads to do with little ones - The Eastbourne Miniature Stream Railway was my favourite when mine were small. The splash pad at Princes Park in the summer is fun too. Lots of lovely cafes - my favourite with DC in tow is Love All Cafe at the tennis courts in the park. Very, very child friendly with toys inside and out.

Some great pubs - the Lamb in Old Town in beautiful and Britain's oldest working pub - the cellars are from the 12th century.

A fair bit of cultural stuff for a small town. The Towner is an excellent art gallery and has great events for DC. The new cinema at the gallery has cool films on. Saw The Song of the Sea there with the DC which was lovely. And I've really enjoyed plays at The Printers Playhouse (small
indy theatre space and bar).

Never had any issues with street drinkers or been aware of drug gangs of any ethnicity.

We have a choice of good schools, lots of families with young DC moving here.

Hi madcatlady!

Thank you for your telling me your views on Eastbourne. I'm currently living in St leonards and i go to Hastings' town center nearly on a daily basis. There is a lot of deprivation everywhere but it feels slightly worse than eastbourne's because hastings is a smaller town.

I'm very much encouraged (and relieved) by this thread posters' love for Eastbourne but one of the main reasons I'm moving there is because the schools in Hastings and St leonards just aren't as good as Eastbourne's. To be honest, I've also met a lot of locals who would rather live elsewhere than be here. Thank you for your input though. I'll definitely keep it in mind.

I'm honestly just looking forward to moving there now. 😅

it feels slightly worse than eastbourne's because hastings is a smaller town

It's not just that it feels more deprived - Hastings is the most deprived area in the South East by a long way.

It ranks 13th most deprived out of 317 local council areas in England. Eastbourne ranks 106th.

hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk/news/how-deprived-hastings

It's partly because Hastings has been used as dumping ground for "problem" families in the past.

Having said all that, there is something I really like about Hastings. All the events you have over there are great fun. Eastbourne doesn't have quite the same sense of the town pulling together for big events - but you can always jump on the train for Jack in the Green etc.

We seriously considered both and, like you, the schools were a major deciding factor.

Thank you very much sleepy! What you and others said have only confirmed what I thought of Eastbourne. I do like Hastings and St Leonards but there is so much more to do and see in Eastbourne. I'm definitely eager to meet up with you after I've settled in!

Thanks again! ♡