West Buckland School

[Gatita1980]

Hey, does anyone here have kids at West Buckland, if so - what do you think of it and how far from it do you live?
I am contemplating a move to North Devon and like the school but could do with some help in working out where to live.
Thank you :)

[ivykaty44]

there was a thread on her about west buckland, shebear and kingsley about two three weeks ago - quite a lot of information

[ivykaty44]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1819177-Recommended-mixed-private-North-Devon-Schools-for-ages-3-18

here you go

[Gatita1980]

Lol thanks that was mine, I was just hoping for more info on where ppl lived in relation to the school :-)

[ivykaty44]

Oh gosh - I am sorry bit like coals to Newcastle! Although I know North Devon, Bideford and stuff well as grandprents were down there and all my family, not well enough to advise you where to live.

[Trufflethewuffle]

Look at somewhere like Bratton Fleming. It is easy to get to the school by car or on the school bus. Also easy to get to Barnstaple, the link road or Exmoor. Likely to have classmates relatively nearby too.

[mary21]

hi
We have relatives that have been all the way through and others we know there.
As an outsider looking in I would say the senior is better than prep. The senior does very well by the students it gets. It is not very selective but they get good results. Its not a very oversubscribed school (north Devon is not that wealthy)so the exam is more to weed out those they don't want rather than pick the best.
The prep benefited from another n devon school closing down a year or so back. That is partly why the numbers are healthy. They do weed out those who they don't want in the senior at about year 5.( another school may be more suitable nudge nudge).
The children come from all over North Devon so its worth thinking about friends, playdates parties etc. You can end up doing lots of miles. and because many are bused it there may not be so much camarardery between mums at pick up drop of in the early years. Further up the school there is also getting them to matches etc.
The do have a lot of snow days in winter because the coaches cant get up the lanes.
saying that everyone we know there has been happy.
if it was me ,unless it was on my doorstep . I might think of finding a village with a very good primary. Build up a good set of local friends for the kids and a mums network for primary. Then use it for secondary

[Gatita1980]

That is really good advice, when we visited our DD and DS fell in love, they are 5 and 3, so would potentially go into reception and Yr 2 - the facilities are amazing and I could see how they would love it. It's all about the balance though as we want to be near the coast, but I am not going to make them commute an hour each way every day!

[burnsie]

Hi Gatita,
Have you had any thoughts on where you would like to live?