Info on Marlow, Henley, Thame, Chalfonts

31st October sould be your deadline, as that should allow your younger child to be treated as a 'normal' applicant.

We are just about to go into a period of living apart because both DCs are in non-moveable periods in their education.

I'd second the 'move as soon as you can'. Y8 is a bit of a 'nothing' year in many secondaries - whereas quite a lot now start at least some GCSE courses in Y9 - and being in place to get your younger child in with a chance of being in the normal application round to secondaries (or at least the second, which seems to be a 'thing' in bucks whereas most places just have a single allocation day then random shifting around as places become available) will be invaluable.

In your place I would be looking to have an address in Bucks for application deadline day in the coming term, so with any luck (if you can get an 11+ exam in ASAP) your younger child can just progress primary to secondary as normal.

As someone who has had to live apart from DH on a number of occasions over the years and is currently doing so, I would definitely advise against that option as a long term measure.

I would think better to move the boys sooner rather than later. Are they particularly sensitive/ anxious children do you think? Otherwise, I think most children are more adaptable than we think (barring obviously bad things like moving mid GCSEs/ A levels). I think you sometimes have to have short term pain for longer term gain, at least that is what we have been aiming for!

Anecdotally we know some people who have kids at Waingels, they're not over thrilled - there were some issues about class management. They had a lot of money spent a few years ago, not sure those parents felt the money had been well spent / saw much improvement.

And in the same area Waingels have been surpassed by Bulmershe apparently. Have you had a look at Bulmershe school?

Maiden Erlegh is the most desirable Wokingham secondary in this part of Reading (of these 3 schools), house prices around it reflect that.

But all three are quite different in style I believe, and although Maiden Erlgeh gets good results (again anecdotally) I hear good and bad things about it.

I see, sorry, I have never lived anywhere with this system before. I didn't actually know that there were any counties where all pupils took the 11+ until I started researching this area so have never used the term 'secondary moderns'.

I don't think there is any substitute for actually going to the school and speaking to current parents in the area. I will try to arrange a visit or two in September. Mumsnet is a great resource in the meantime!

Apologies for that outbreak of educational pedantry!

It can be useful, when comparing different types of school, to look at the outcomes for different groups of pupils rather than for the school as a whole.

So a school with 85% high attainers will, at the 'average raw results' level, have better results than e.g. a school with 25% or 15% in this group. However, if you look at the results for middle attainers at each school, you may find that they are much more similar than the difference in 'headline' results may lead you to expect.

"The grammar school system does seem to result in some really poor comprehensives secondary moderns sadly."

You can't have a comprehensive in a grammar system - comprehensives take the full range of ability, which the 'other' schools in a fully grammar system (traditionally called secondary moderns, but now disguised under a range of terms such as 'High schools', 'Community collges', the catch all 'academy' or simply 'school) obviously don't.

In fact, it looks as if some of the secondary moderns in Bucks do do surprisingly well, given the removal of their high achievers more or less en masse - but comprehensives they are not.

It's definitely less than ideal but there doesn't seem to be much option unless you can afford private or are very lucky.
I have two at senior school so will focus on them more as there seem to be plenty of pretty decent primaries. The grammar school system does seem to result in some really poor comprehensives sadly. I have explained the system to my older two and they understand. We are particularly trying to sort things out for my oldest who is GCSE age so absolutely not an ideal time to move for her.
My DH's job also means that he can't be too far from work so Reading/ Henley, etc are out for us.

Have Bucks cc been able to tell you which schools actually have spaces? Is there info on their website?

Hi Spanielmad,

I have been reading your thread as we are also likely to be moving to a similar area at some stage probably next year due to DH's job (not 100% yet as he needs to be offered a permanent post) which is also v near SP (he has already started there). We have 4 children so having even more fun with the school situation! I have been doing a lot of googling or areas/ schools, etc too. I think it's going to be impossible to get them all into a first choice school moving 'in year' like this. Marlow looks lovely but house prices probably just too high as we do need a large house with such a large family and commute is a little on the longer side too. I'm also wondering about Burnham/ Cookham/ Taplow or considering the South around Ascot as schools there good (not too keen on the middle schools in Windsor). I'm starting to wonder if renting might be a good idea too..

You can apply to any of the grammars, but there is no point if there is no hope of getting in.
FWIW most people seem to be very happy with The Beaconsfield School.

I live In the river area of Maidenhead after formerly living down the road in Cookham. DS goes to John Hampden in High Wycombe. There are four private buses that go from the Maidenhead area taking both John Hampden and Wycombe High pupils to and from school. He would've have got a place in Sir William Borlase too as many of the Bucks schools are in catchment in Cookham/Maidenhead.

My DD goes to Newlands. Despite being in catchment we had to appeal for a place as the school is heavily oversubscribed. Thankfully she got a place on appeal. It is a fantastic school.

No but the new HT does seem really good and he cares about the pupils which goes a long way in my book.
I think I said before on another thread that my friend's DC go to a school with Outstanding Ofsted but it isn't a nurtering or caring environment, it's all results driven.

My friend's DD was at Burnham Academy and transferred mid-year to The Beaconsfield School so maybe they'd have spaces which is a good back up for not getting grammar.
Not a massively large catchment area though I don't think but you'd still have choice of Burnham Grammar, John Hampden.

The bad floods were 3 or 4 years ago - if it didn't flood then you'll be ok.