Relocating with children

Kabazzzz

Hi guys


I'm hoping for a bit of advice, not sure if this is in the right place on the forum but can't think of where else to put it!


I am hoping to relocate to Gloucestershire, possibly even Gloucester itself, from SW Wales. Any of you lovely peeps from the area that can advise on decent areas or anywhere that should be avoided?


I work in finance and so am hoping that I should be able to find something at least equal to the salary I'm currently on.


I have two children, 14 and 12 and so schooling is very important, especially as DD will be due to start working towards her GCSE this September so it would ideally need to be before then or I may have to wait for a few years.


Their Dad lives here in SW Wales but they would still see him regularly, weekends and holidays etc on a similar basis to the arrangement that we have in place now. So there is no issue there.


I will be going on my own so no partner, just me, the kids and the dog. Any advice from anyone who has done it? Timing is critical with schooling, finding work (obviously wouldn't go until work was secured), finding somewhere to rent in the interim etc...


I just don't know where to start!

Morglin

You might get more advice also putting this post on the buying, letting and renting board, as there are usually people from all areas happy to give insider info on all areas.

Lin

Kabazzzz

Thanks Lin... I'll put it on there

Carl31

Why are you relocating? Seems a lot to remove your children from their friends and life to go somewhere for no reason? Would make sense if it was a job opportunity or family reason

Morglin

Well, the OP probably has her reasons.

Lin

POPPYOSCAR

Carl31 wrote: »

Why are you relocating? Seems a lot to remove your children from their friends and life to go somewhere for no reason? Would make sense if it was a job opportunity or family reason

That was my first thought.

But perhaps the children want to move.

Kabazzzz

Well the list is extensive:

• I have no family here - the children have their Dad obviously but as I said in the original post, the arrangements wouldn't change that much from what they currently are
• I am not from around here
• No job opportunities here as it is a semi rural area
• unemployment is already high and it is set to worsen over the next few years

The children aren't going to be ripped away from their friends, it is a small town and when they come back to visit their Dad, they can see their friends then. Plus I have friends here so it won't be a case of going, never to return.


I have discussed moving with the children and they are both happy with the idea.


I am from a military background and so am fully aware of the upheaval of moving children from place to place and so wouldn't do it on a whim. Myself and my siblings did it regularly, made friends wherever we went and I am still in touch with some of them. I can't say that it impacted on my life negatively in fact, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

MoradoJess

I don't know the area you're moving to so can't help with that but my family moved when I was 14 and my sister 10 (this was 6 years ago so relatively recently). I joined the new school a month into year 10 and I think if it had been too much longer than this I think I would've struggled to catch up so wouldn't recommend leaving it any longer than that.

You need to find out what exam board she would be on where you are now (most likely WJEC) and whether any schools in Gloucestershire area use that exam board. If you can move before September (or soon after) then you can go to any school no problem. If it takes a while to arrange and you move later in the year then she should go to a school with the same exam board as the curriculums can be completely different. Although saying that even within the same exam board schools can choose to teach the curriculum in a completely different order so she could still end up struggling.

That was very waffly but essentially schooling wise it's best to move as close to the start of her GCSEs as possible, otherwise you limit schools she can attend and therefore areas you can live in.

Really though I think your first priority has to be finding a job as you said otherwise the move isn't an option. Depending on your job now could you transfer within the company to a different area? Do you own your house or rent?

Kabazzzz

Thanks MJ - very informative. The intention is to go during the summer holidays so they can both start the new school year the same time as everyone else.


I have just sold my house so have the equity from that although will rent for a bit until I am familiar with the area and can make more of an informed choice re buying a house.


Unfortunately, moving within my company is not really an option but there are similar jobs in the area with better salaries so that's positive.

alias*alibi

Kabazzzz wrote: »

Hi guys


I'm hoping for a bit of advice, not sure if this is in the right place on the forum but can't think of where else to put it!


I am hoping to relocate to Gloucestershire, possibly even Gloucester itself, from SW Wales. Any of you lovely peeps from the area that can advise on decent areas or anywhere that should be avoided?


I work in finance and so am hoping that I should be able to find something at least equal to the salary I'm currently on.


I have two children, 14 and 12 and so schooling is very important, especially as DD will be due to start working towards her GCSE this September so it would ideally need to be before then or I may have to wait for a few years.


Their Dad lives here in SW Wales but they would still see him regularly, weekends and holidays etc on a similar basis to the arrangement that we have in place now. So there is no issue there.


I will be going on my own so no partner, just me, the kids and the dog. Any advice from anyone who has done it? Timing is critical with schooling, finding work (obviously wouldn't go until work was secured), finding somewhere to rent in the interim etc...


I just don't know where to start!

Coney Hill, Matson, Tredworth, Kingsway all in Gloucester. Avoid like the plague!!! Hesters Way/Princess Elizabeth Way in Cheltenham too. I don't know too many other areas but parts of Tewkesbury (Northway) aren't great either.

Nice areas I know are Churchdown, abbeymead, abbeydale, up hatherley, Longlevens, tuffley, quedgeley, stone house, cam/dursley.

Just remember that Gloucester and surrounding areas (namely Tewkesbury) are prone to flooding; early this year saw floods similar to that of 2007 so do your research in to flood prone areas (Longford/Sandhurst being a couple).

Hope that helps.

bigmomma051204

I live just outside Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire) - If you can afford the villages, then go for them! I wouldn't live in Gloucester (city) if you paid me big bucks! Its an awful place! Tewksbury is okay, although its a small town - check out the flood risk on any house you look at but just to clarify from the previous poster, there are LOTS of areas which don't flood :cool: Northway in Tewks isn't great although I don't think its as bad as it used to be..... Depends on your budget?

Cheltenham is a lovely town, if you are wanting town rather than rural - but again, rurality is what Gloucestershire does best! Bishops Cleeve is like a mini town outside of Cheltenham so good if you want a "new build" type of area with shops etc on tap, that may be the way to go... Similarly, Walton Cardiff estate in Tewks is like that

I live in a village called Bredon and its lovely here Literally on the Gloucs/Worcs border AND 5/10mins from the m50 and m5 (though you would NEVER know it!) On the doorstep of Bredon Hill - we are like the gateway to the Cotswolds Haha, I am like an estate agent! :rotfl: