Oxfordshire and surrounding areas

[LoopyLily]

We currently live in the South east but really want to move, have been looking at Oxfordshire, is it nice, where is the best areas and where to avoid?

We do need good schools, primary & secondary, any info on schools would be good too.

Love country living but would like a town within driving distance.

[LizzieMacQueen]

My brother is in Witney and loves it there. I'm sure the state schools are good there or he wouldn't have moved.

[FemaleDilbert]

Abingdon is nice (and surrounding villages) Oxford itself has great private schools but the state schools are a real mixed bag.

[LoopyLily]

Thank you, I will have a look at both areas, any suggestions for good state schools?

[Bearsinmotion]

We've just moved to a village outside Witney and love it! The secondary, Henry Box, is supposed to be good. Most of the villages have their own primaries, which are variable Ofsted wise, but you can check those.

[LoopyLily]

Thanks bearsinmotion I was just looking at Henry box school, I think we need to visit the area, where's the nearest big town with shops etc.

[Blondie1984]

Avoid Barton and Blackbird Leys

[Sinkingfeeling]

Where do you work?

[Bearsinmotion]

Witney is the nearest "big" place (has a cinema and a couple of supermarkets!) then Oxford is about half an hour away.

[Bearsinmotion]

Should add, we've just moved from Wheatley over the other side of Oxford, which has a secondary and primary but they aren't great. The village on other hand was really nice and friendly with plenty of amenities. We only left because the commute was a bit much.

[Mum2KSS]

Kidlington is very nice - has all amenities on your doorstep and Oxford is only 5 miles away. We have an outstanding nursery and primary and the secondary has recently had a bad ofsted but lots of changes are now taking place.

[ivegotdreadfulpmttoday]

bearsinmotion did your kids go to the Wheatley schools?

[Bearsinmotion]

No, the oldest only starts reception this year. Several friends did though - it had a poor reputation but seems to be on the up now

[Peaceandloveeveryone]

It is on the up I think, also Barton includes a really nice new housing development with some semis for 625k and also Sandhills which is actually a really nice place to live with a bus stop which goes straight to London or middle of Oxford. There has traditionally been a lot of snobbyness about living outside the ring road but that's changing as people are having to live further out.
I have lived in East Oxford, North and Headington, the last place was officially in Barton and the one that I liked the most.