Private to state (secondary poss in-year move) can relocate

[MumintheMidlands]

We are looking to move our children from private to state secondary schools. One going into year 7 following year and one will be 6th form by the time we move them. We can relocate anywhere in the UK. Both boys, both bright at academic selective school now and both sporty and well rounded. Any recommendations for good Grammar schools or good state schools with good academic results and sports facilities. We don’t want to be in London but can be anywhere from Berkshire/Glouc across Midlands to East Anglia and would look towards Leicestershire/Northants/Lincs and poss higher up. Ideally good commuting, near city, but ideally after village or market town. Any hints, tips and recommendations welcome. Thank you.

[PresentingPercy]

Bucks has state grammars. Not sure if you are talking about grammar for y7 start in 2022, but you are late for 2021. The grammars recruit into the 6th forms. Anywhere around a railway station will be no more than 75 mins from London (various options and speed of trains) but plenty of stations are no more than 30 mins. Budget would dictate where you live and Aylesbury and North Bucks are much cheaper than the Chilterns and South Bucks. They are Closer to faster trains though! Plenty of nice villages and smaller towns with good communities. If you want to know more, let me know.

[Whistle73]

Lincolnshire has loads of top grammar schools. And because the population is lower and there are one or two in so many towns, the demand isn't as great as the Home Counties.
Grantham and Sleaford both have boys and girls grammars and there are some beautiful villages within easy reach of both towns. House prices are very low too.

[Whistle73]

Oh and in Grantham you are an hour on the train from Kings Cross and 45 minutes drive from Nottingham and Lincoln.

[MumintheMidlands]

Thank you. Yes 2022 for year 7. We are looking at Aylesbury and King’s Grantham as both look like good options but I haven’t explored much further into Lincs. Off to investigate!

[borageforager]

We can relocate anywhere in the UK

We don’t want to be in London but can be anywhere from Berkshire/Glouc across Midlands to East Anglia and would look towards Leicestershire/Northants/Lincs and poss higher up.

Which is it?!

[user1471428628]

Would you consider Yorkshire? Lots of good schools in the Otley, Ilkley, Skipton areas. Skipton has true grammar schools but there are also some fabulous comprehensives.

[scaevola]

Harrogate has good secondary schools.

You need a church reference for St Aidans, but Harrogate Grammar (a comp despite the name) is mainly by dustance, so if you can afford to buy close to it you should be fine

[bubbletrouble1]

Pates in Cheltenham might be worth a look. You'll be hard pressed to find sports facilities in state to come anywhere near the private schools though. I think you're going to have to let that one go. QE boys apparently has defend facilities but haven't seen them myself.

[Ellmau]

Starting sixth form at a new school is fine, but I wouldn't want to move a year or even a term in - the new school might well not be covering the curriculum the same way.

[PresentingPercy]

Aylesbury has 3 grammars. Two single sex and one co Ed. Don’t rule out The Royal Latin Grammar School at Buckingham. Co Ed and a great school. You have a big catchment area for that school. Good primaries all around too. You could live in a village south of Winslow and still be in catchment for there. Also east with access to Milton Keynes.

The other inside tip is to look at Waddesdon. In catchment for the Aylesbury grammars but has the huge advantage of being catchment for Waddesdon school too. It’s a top performing secondary modern but better than the others in the locality by a long way and better than very many comps. Tiny catchment though. Check it out.

Sport is taken seriously here. Chesham might also suit with Chesham Grammar which is co Ed. Also consider Tring or Berkhamsted in Herts which have great schools and Thame in Oxfordshire with Lord Williams school. It’s very good.

[Whippetywhippet]

Are your kids academic? Have you thought about Sir William Borlase Grammar school in Marlow? Great for commuting (I usually go in by quick 30 min train from High Wycombe station though at the moment I’m driving cos of Covid - also a doddle cos the M40 is so good). It offers 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry, is mixed, fabulous and v creative. Marlow’s lovely too. Good luck!

[PresentingPercy]

We have talked about other Bucks grammars so I assumed the dc are academic. Otherwise it was a pointless discussion.

House prices within catchment of SWB are high. They only take 120 dc. This year the catchment was 3.2 miles from the school. It’s notoriously difficult to get into when compared to the Aylesbury grammars. Or RLS at Buckingham. If you could live anywhere in Bucks, your money goes much further if you go North of Aylesbury. Not as pretty as Marlow and certainly not as chic, but down to earth country areas with great schools.