Chiltern Edge School or Highdown High

[uprootedmum]

Hi everyone,
We are moving from Edinburgh to Caversham area in Reading. My DH job is now located just across Caversham bridge and he has started last month. We plan to move the rest of our family in January.
We have 2 children of primary school age and one in year one of secondary. We have just been offered a place in The Hill Primary School for our 2 youngest and are still waiting confirmation about Highdown High for my elsdest DS.
I heard Highdown High is oversubscribed and that means we might be offered a place at Chiltern Edge instead. I heard that Chiltern Edge is a smallish school and with small class sizes which I see it as a positive thing.
We still haven't commit to buying a house (my DH lives in a temporary serviced apartment in Caversham) and I am wondering if we should stick to Caversham (Caversham is our first choice for my DH likes walking to work, for being near the river, near the country side north of Caversham, near the city centre and for being near the swimming pools as our 3 children will train in Reading Swimming Club 4-5 times a week) or if we should go to Wokingham for the schools (Forest for our DS and The Holt later for my DD)....
Are Forest and The Holt so good compared to Chiltern Edge that it would justify us living in Wokingham?
Thank you so much for any thoughts/help!

[Mumtogremlins]

Not sure about Chiltern Edge but Wokingham schools are good. The Holt has always been good apart from a blip with results this year. Forest not so good in the last few years. Some primary schools ie St Paul's are good but do your research. I would definitely send my DD to the Holt if I lived in Wokingham

[uprootedmum]

Thanks for this Mumtogremlins! If Forest not so good and I know St.Crispin is full, that leaves Bulmershe and Embrook for a secondary school for my 2 DS, which I'm not too sure about those last two... There is maybe Waingels that seems a bit better but it's more out of Wokingham...

[Mumtogremlins]

Would probably still go for Forest over Emmbrook or Bulmershe if Crispins is full. It was only a few years that Crispins was known as Crisbins so schools can change quick. There is also The Piggott in Twyford/Wargrave that is quite good, and not far from Reading or Wokingham facilities. Twyford has excellent primary schools too