Any advice of where to move to from London?

[Maria011]

Looking to move to county side with good school, job and housing prospects. Two boys 10y and 7y. Selling a flat in west London and looking for a 3 bed house. 10y old is being tutored and is quite academic. We also need a decent primary for a 7y. Any advice/ ideas would be greatly appreciated. We are hoping to make the move during summer.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Hampshire?
Pick your area right and you will have a variety of good schools to choose from. All comp area so none of the stress of 11+.
6th form college system with wide variety of options available.
Can be pricey though depending on area.

[sleepismysuperpower1]

Ashwell? there is a primary school in the village. I think your nearest secondary would be fearnhill high, although you could consider the private route if you wish as there is St Christophers secondary nearby also.

[sleepismysuperpower1]

sorry forgot to add, jobwise you could commute to Stevenage, St Albans, Letchworth or into London

[BigSandyBalls2015]

I’d stay put with kids that age, loads to do in the country with little kids, not so much with teens. They’ll be off on buses and being more independent in 4 years or so whereas you’ll be the constant taxi in the sticks

[Maria011]

Thanks all. Have been googling both Hampshire and Ashwell for schools and houses. We are nature lovers and would appreciate a bit of a community feel in our surroundings. Any particular place in Hampshire you can recommend as I notice the housing prices vary enormously?

[AtomicRabbit]

Why don't you google best schools in hampshire and then find a place close by? Westgate in winchester looked good.

[Maria011]

Will try that way If anyone has local knowledge of places and schools would love to hear hear from them.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

All the schools in Winchester are good, and you have Peter Symonds 6th form right there too.
Perins in Alresford.
Both Romsey & Mountbatten in Romsey
Thornden in Chandlers Ford (you'll have to be in catchment, very sought after).
Toynbee in Eastleigh seems pretty good too.
All the above you can get to Symonds from, but Barton Peveril is good too for 6th form, plus there is Eastleigh College for BTECs and also Sparsholt for random agricultural/animal stuff.

My DD's are at one of the above and I know people at or who have recently left most of the others.

Winchester is £££ due to commuting links to London.
Other places less expensive (though all things are relative).

[Ionacat]

Another Hampshire person here. Second all of the above but I would add East Hampshire to your search - Petersfield - TPS, Liphook - Bohunt and Alton - Eggar’s and Amery. All fantastic schools.
Bohunt now has a sixth form, Alton College is also great and some get the bus to Peter Symonds or South Downs.
I would avoid Basingstoke/Aldershot and Farnborough as the schools there are more hit and miss.
I live in East Hants and it is a fab place to live. I have two DDs and the eldest is very academic and is doing very well at her primary.

[Maria011]

Thanks Hampshire ladies for detailed insight. We will be driving down over the weekend to explore. I was initially thinking Buckinghamshire or Hartfordshire but this looks more than interesting.

[Toomuchtrouble4me]

Harpenden - best schools in the country and easy access to London mainline train.

[Hersetta427]

St Albans has fantastic schools both selective and non selective.

[Nodressrehearsal]

Cotswold School Bourton-on-the-Water & Rissington for primary. Both amazing. Also within easy distance of a few grammar schools so if your DS is a real high flyer PATES in Cheltenham or KES in Stratford great but be warned as they aren’t many grammars it’s really competitive. Cotswold admission purely on catchment and results/reputation excellent.

[winetime123]

We thought seriously about moving to Petersfield a while ago. I visited The Petersfield School, a state secondary and absolutely loved it!! Only thing was there wasn't a lot of houses on the market. I would still happily move there if we did go countryside.

[IceCreamFace]

If you don't mind 11+ you could go for Kent. High speed rail into London and grammar schools. The non-grammars in many areas are bad though so it is stressful if you have a borderline child.

[OrangeCinnamon]

DD goes to one of the East Hants schools pm me if you need advice. If you are looking for countryside that area of South Downs is stunning plus not far from sea. From the Petersfied area lots of children also choose Godalming college just over Surrey border for sixth. The choice is really down to what suits the child.

[Settlersofcatan]

Where would you be working?

For schools, I would go for Hampshire or South Cambridgeshire. Both expensive but fantastic non grammar options. I wouldn't risk a grammar school area, if your kids don't get in, you're then screwed

[PotteringAlong]

Do you need to be within commuting distance of London, or can you go anywhere?

[Didsomeonesay]

Cobham, esher, Thames Ditton. Loads of schools both state and private. 3 bed house In Thames Ditton is £950k-£1.2m!!! But easy commute to london, airports and great schools.

[SW16]

When is your 10 yo due to go into Yr 7? If September you will need a place with undersubscribed schools, too.

[OrangeCinnamon]

@Maria011 how did you get on?