Info on Marlow, Henley, Thame, Chalfonts

My eldest DD I think would be a bit lost in such a big school. She's not loud, she gets on with tasks she's set, she's just sort of 'there' in class. Like she could be easily forgotten about.
My other DD is the opposite and would probably be fine.
But I don't know if it has that 'personal touch'
The Headmaster of TBS has so far been outstanding and he really seems to treat every child as an individual. Every parent I know who has a child there hasn't a bad thing to say about the school.

It might be worth looking at some census information just to get an overview of different areas. HERE is 2011 census info for Henley. It shows there are more than UK average no of elderly people (not surprising) but also that there are an 'average' number of young people. It also shows a much higher than average level of people with degrees (not surprising) and a very low number of people in civil partnerships (I wouldn't have guessed that 🤷🏻‍♀️)

I love a few facts and figures and I remember going through the population stats for various areas when we chose where to live.

I also found the ofsted school reports useful. We didn't even get a chance to visit the school my DCs ended up at before they were enrolled as we were living overseas but found the info in the ofsted report describing the atmosphere and ethos of the school to be accurate.

It always risky paying too much attention to different people's views on different schools as every child has such a unique experience.

Gx ain't posh.
amersham would be my choice or the countryside around beaconsfield.

There is a knack to the 11+ and there are a lot of small prep schools as primaries that prepares the kids.
I live in the gerrards cross area and really dislike it. It is tedious and suffers from being near London, so there isn't much to do. Plus the 4x4 drivers unable to drive or park well.
Keep in mind Marlow and some areas are close to water and flood periodically.
I am not the person to ask as I had to move there for work and am grumpy about it.

Bracknell centre has recently undergone a massive redevelopment, with lots of new / big shops. Schools wise, there's Ranelagh that's supposed to be excellent - but it's a CofE secondary and has quite strict admissions rules I hear.

Wokingham is supposed to be the happiest /best place to live in the country according to articles I've seen in the last few years Lots of secondary schools and smaller villagey places if you're not in Wokingham proper. The town centre is quite small and not as nice as places like Henley or Marlow IMHO.

Personally if I could choose from your list, I would steer clear of Bucks because you've missed the first round of the 11+. A late sitting would put your yr 6 son in the second round of allocations and I don't know how likely it is to get a place in your preferred grammar school (assuming you have one).

Have you looked at Wargrave? Near a lot if the places you seem to like, The Piggott School is well regarded. Still within Reading Boys catchment if you want to try for a late application / mid year entry.

Lots of Lane End kids go to Frieth school, though, depending on how full they are. My son went to Frieth and at least a quarter of his class lived in Lane End at that time.

Prices in Lane End are much lower, as there's a very large and slightly rough estate in the middle of it. It's much bigger than Frieth, has a couple of pubs, and at least 10 shops/businesses. Parts of it are fine, there are some quite nice larger houses on the outskirts.

Lane End quite big - doctors, shops, 2 garages, pub, take always.

Lane End catchment for GMS not Borlase (Frieth cross roads the boundary). There are some lovely bits to Lane End and some less lovely- you wouldn't want the primary. The new houses are near the main road but on the ok side.

I grew up in princes risborough. Unless you are certain of a grammar place, I wouldn't move there. Princes Risborough school is not great. In that area, Thame has a much nicer feel, High Street and better school.

I don't think it's a 'bad' school, it's just not a first choice round my way for some reason. Not one of DD's year 6 classmates is going there this year but then we've got Khalsa and Beechwood now so more choice.

My friend has recently moved to Bracknell, not quite sure exactly where but you don't have to go M4 to get to Stoke Poges. You can go through Ascot and Old Windsor.
You get much more for your money over Bracknell way.

There are some beautiful areas around Princess Risborough but PR Upper went into special measures quite recently.

Harpenden would be quite a drive! I used to work in St Albans and the traffic (M40 / 25) was horrendous and tgst was 14 years ago.

Unfortunately for the OP I think any half decent school in the south east is going to be full so would require over subscription appeals.

Re Bucks 11+ - yes do prep - there are no past papers- Smiths not best place to get books - go to 11+ forum and read about CEM. Your year 8 may have CEM or may have curriculum based depending on the school so speak to schools concerned.

Has anyone suggested Princes Risborough. It's Between Aylesbury and Wycombe, unspoilt town centre. It has a secondary school and is in catchment for the grammer schools in Aylesbury.

It would be a long commute (although M1 - M25 so might not be too bad if go early) but Harpenden in Herts could be an option. Has 3 outstanding schools and any of them would be good if you got into them. Also really lovely town with nice shops, Waitrose & M&S food, prezzo etc. Links to London and Luton airport. Might be a bit far though.

It does change! SHF was the old Technical High School and therefore the less glamourous cousin. It used to fill up with pupils who couldn't get into the High or the Grammar in Aylesbury ie second choice. Although some parents always preferred it. When my DD took the 11 plus, 29
Passed and one went to SHF. Aylesbury Vale also has a much lower percentage of children getting 121 than the Chiltern or Wycombe Districts and therefore had spare places in some grammars until MK children appeared in large numbers. It used to be a similar situation with Chesham Grammar. It was a Technical High School. You just have to take it year by year.

SHF was seen as the poorer cousin; it was only founded in the 1950's as opposed to AGS appearing in the 1500's. AGS has a much more traditional feel (rugby, latin). It's horses for courses, some people strongly dislike one or the other. If you look at the allocation profile of Bucks Grammars 2006-2017 www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=50694 you will see that although SHF had been offering to everyone who qualified that is no longer the case. You will also see that this year AGS offered to people from further away than SHF did.