Moving to Buckinghamshire for good schools

Appeals tend to be when children have achieved a result of anything from 115 to 120.

Usually, it will be because they had an off day, extenuating circumstances or really did not perform to expectations.

In all cases, the schools will have given them a 'grade' beforehand. It's just an indication of their suitability for grammar school. The appeals board will then decide which are the most suitable candidates for the final places.

Waddesdon does have transport nearby at Haddenham. It is a train line that goes direct into London Marylebone but isn't exactly a fast route... The train would take over an hour I would think, if not longer.

I think (but am not sure) that there is quite a lot of competition for Waddesdon places as well so you'd need to look carefully at catchment (maps all online at Bucks CC website).

Boys wise, in South Bucks, you have lots of choice and your commuting distance will be reasonable.

Aylesbury Grammar and Dr Challoners are both great schools as is Waddesdon but much further out for commuting into London. Even Marlow is a bit of a push if driving and you have to be in catchment for Borlase or you'll have difficulties come 6th form time unless your boys are very academic.

Wycombe schools are a good option because you have the RGS as the high academic school and JHGS is the more nurturing, art and design focus school. Both have the same 11+ pass rate but have different skills IYSWIM. Nice to have a choice. Commuting is easy to London, even from the outer villages.

Having said that, Marlow is next to Maidenhead and Crossrail is going to make it much faster (and unfortunately more expensive and it's already bloody pricey!) so commuting from there would be ok too.

In terms of secondary schools, Great Marlow and Highcrest in Wycombe are considered to be good schools. Beaconsfield is also good. Princes Risborough is a good school but then you'd be looking at a much longer commute (though my Dad does it from around there and he manages ok!).

Really what I'm saying is that is depends on your house budget and how long your other half is willing to commute for. If he wants to drive in to London, you'll need to make different choices to the train etc.

The areas with good schools are priced accordingly, unfortunately.

There are NO comprehensive schools in a Bucks. Only in Milton Keynes. However the grammar schools in Buckingham and Aylesbury make up their numbers with loads of children from MK.

The overall pass rate varies according to what area of the county you live in. Generally the Aylesbury Vale area pass rate is much lower than Chiltern and South Bucks. Always has been. This appears to reflect income and educational background of the parents. (From the research I have seen). There are plenty of primary schools with a meagre pass rate but they are still good schools. However your child will not have lots of very bright classmates. In very many primary schools, passing the 11 plus counts more than SATs test results, as far as parents are concerned! Many parents care deeply and definitely don't want some secondary schools. Bucks now call them all ability schools but in reality this is not the case.

Every year there are parents who cannot believe their child has not attained a grammar school place and many do not see it as "easy". If only! It is easier than a London super selective though. All the grammar schools have the same pass mark but some fill up on appeals. There is a 1st and 2nd division of grammar schools! In choosing an area it is best to look at the quality of the secondary school available. Most have improved but some, eg in Aylesbury, wobble quite a lot! Some schools such as Waddesdon are continually outstanding. That is where I would go. Not so good for commuting though.

Regarding primary schools I would look at their data dashboards. This will tell you if they are doing well. Lots of private schools exist to cram for the 11 plus so tend to get the type of child who will thrive on this diet and have parents who have the money to make it will happen. It is not an indication that the state schools are not good. I would look at your transport options and then work out where you can live and look at schools in that area.

The grammar schools in Aylesbury are great. Particularly Aylesbury High School (for girls) and Aylesbury Grammar School (for boys).

I know children in Amersham who are very happy - think it's a comprehensive. Amersham is great, and on the Met Line.

As regards Herts, the schools are part selective and all have some distance places.

St Clement Dane's catchment is most of Chorleywood (my DS didn't like it at the open day, but I know dozens of children either there or starting this year who seem happy with it).

Rickmansworth has a smaller catchment, but if you bought at the top end of Croxley you should be okay.

No, sorry I meant in primary school. So it's nothing to do with the grammar school system.

That's a shame. Def one of the downsides of the grammar system.

Yes, it probably does make a slight difference. for the majority no difference but for the borderline pupils it helps a bit.

My DS went to one of the schools that routinely very few pupils pass the 11+. It didn't stop him passing. But it did mean he didn't have any peers in his maths class which he would have had at a different school.

I see what you mean but still maintain that it does make a difference. Not for all children, plenty would have got into grammar school regardless, but there will also be some who are tutored from their natural ability at maybe 117 to the coveted 120-123, thus getting them into the grammar school over a child who hasn't had the same opportunities.

Anyway OP, by all means use the information about primary schools, I certainly agree that having plenty of your cohort going with you would be a beneficial thing.

You know I meant 100% of private school students can afford the fees

Ie I'm not convinced that tutoring makes that much of a difference at all. Everyone I know who passed / failed got the result I would have expected whether they were tutored or not.

I'm not convinced the teaching at a private school makes the difference. I think their results mirror their cohort to the same degree as a state school does. Given pretty much 100% of a state school can afford the fees a 60% pass rate isn't brilliant.

I think the teaching at private schools does make a difference to the number of children that then go on to grammar. Most around me are trained (intensively) to sit the test.

State schools, definitely not.

Agree that it is still useful information, was only suggesting that you use it with caution

But that's the same with every school! Harpenden only has good schools cause it's so expensive.

It still tells you a lot. It tells you if you're likely to be have peers who will pass the 11+ or not. If you're aiming for a grammar you're better off going to a school where lots of other parents are aiming for a grammar......

I don't think teaching is the difference in any school. Almost all schools results mirror their cohort very very closely.

Teen I think that's an entirely sensible supposition (and I say that as a Bucks Primary teacher of well over a decade).

Also, wrt number going to grammar from each primary, I could imagine that it might reflect the 'middle classness' of the primary more than the teaching. ie Those with parents with the time, money and energy to sort out appropriate tutoring etc.

(Disclaimer, this is only a supposition, I have no evidence).

Milton Keynes has good comps and you can take the exams for Bucks 11+ if you don't mind a commute.

I would also use caution when looking at the primaries to see how many go on to grammar school. State primaries do not teach for the 11+ All they do are familiarisation papers, hence the reason that the private school children achieve so well - the schools do teach and tutor the pupils. Bit of an unfair playing field IMO.

There are plenty of good upper schools, though many are now academies.

My opinion on good grammars would depend on whether you have boys or girls. In some areas there is very little choice for girls so you need to pick carefully.

Harpenden has good schools, although the houses are pricey. It's on a good commuter route.

I don't personally like Bucks though.

Oh has it? It used to be really well though of! Shame.

I wouldn't recommend Slough grammar. It's changed its name to upton court. Have a look at its lunch / after school clubs. Not a very integrated school.

Bucks is way nicer than Slough. And the pass mark for the 11+ is considerably lower.