Relocating with children

Kabazzzz

Hi guys

I am hoping to relocate to Gloucestershire, possibly even Gloucester itself, from SW Wales. Any of you lovely peeps from the area that can advice 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!

SailorSam

I imagine kids settle in to a new area quicker and easier than adults do.
How many threads have we read on here from people asking they go about meeting new friends once they've relocted, but kids soon get together with new mates they've met in school or clubs they join.

Pandilex

What's your reason for moving? Are you trying to move specifically to Gloucester or do you just simply want to move out of Wales?

You could live at the top of Bristol, in Patchway or Bradley Stoke (which is technically South Gloucestershire). That gives you immediate motorway access for commuting north, the bus services or cycling to get into the city, and it's also by Aztec West which is an industrial park that may have employment opportunities for you.

Kabazzzz

Thanks for the replies.


There are quite a few reasons but the main one really is opportunities for both myself and the children. Where we currently live, there are no opportunities and I think that unemployment will rise within the next couple of years. It is more a retirement area and apart from that, doesn't really have that much else going for it.


I want the kids to have as many opportunities available to them as possible.


I have been looking along the M4 corridor but a lot of it is just too expensive ie Oxford, Bath etc... I would like to be somewhere relatively central with good transport links, close to an airport (my family all live abroad) etc.. I thought of Gloucestershire as a friend of mine is also currently looking to relocate there from up North - she used to live there and loved it. As I hadn't quite made my mind up as to where exactly it was that I wanted to go, I thought I'd research the area a bit more and so far, I like what I see.

silvercar

First step is to research schools and see if the good schools have places in the appropriate year groups. Otherwise the idea is dead in the water.

LADYXXMACBETH

I have just moved areas with 3 children 12,10 and 7. My 12 year old is struggling a bit with a different, posher school and has already encountered bullying. However, my son who was having difficulties in his old school is now doing well.
I was moved as a child between year 6 and 7 and it was not pleasant. I couldn't help moving I had to move. If I didn't have to move I wouldn't have as I think my children were happier closer to their friends and what they knew. Unless you have to move I personally wouldn't change everything they know. Trust me I've been there and for me it wasn't great. Sorry to put a downer on it. Education is important but happiness is more so.

Strapped

Can't you wait until after your 14 year old has done their GCSEs? Moving now would be very disruptive. And as mentioned above, don't imagine that the "good" schools will have places.

AndyT678

Kabazzzz wrote: »

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

As anybody from Cheltenham will tell you;

decent area = Cheltenham
should be avoided = Gloucester (occasional trips to Kingsholm excepted)
here be dragons = forest

There's very little else in Gloucestershire.

Kabazzzz wrote: »

I work in finance

Not sure exactly what you're looking for here. I'm a management accountant and basically that means working in Bristol cos that's where the jobs and money are.

Having said that you have Endsleigh, Lloyds (was C&G) and Zurich in the area + public sector stuff, Glos CC, Chelt BC, GCHQ, police etc...

Davesnave

AndyT678 wrote: »

As anybody from Cheltenham will tell you;

decent area = Cheltenham
should be avoided = Gloucester (occasional trips to Kingsholm excepted)
here be dragons = forest

There's very little else in Gloucestershire.

Great summary but I'm not sure Charles, or the inhabitants of other nice areas, would agree.

As a kid, I was forced to move in the other direction, from London to Devon. It was life-changing....for the better IMO, but I did have Keith Moon as a near neighbour!

My kids grew up in Bath, and that was great for all concerned, They don't live anywhere near there now though, and neither do I.

University scatters youngsters far & wide these days.

Pandilex

Might be best to apply for jobs around somerset that will be commutable from somewhere with a decent school, and go from there.

I'd never move somewhere without a job already lined up.

AndyT678

Pandilex wrote: »

Might be best to apply for jobs around somerset

Sorry, don't get that. Why look for a job that would be a 2 hour drive away in an area with very little commerce or industry?