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Original poster

Best state secondary schools in Hampshire and can we afford to live in catchment?

287 replies

NellyJames · 06/08/2020 12:39

We are relocating to Hampshire. DH needs to get back into London just 3 times a fortnight so commute not really an issue.
Our eldest will be finishing GCSEs when next DC moves into Y6. Youngest will move into Y4. So we’d like to be in catchment for an excellent senior school for the younger 2 and where older one can do Alevels. I understand there’s far less pressure on 6th form places.

2 snags: we need 5 bed as it’s very likely that infirm MIL will move in within a couple of years max (she has no property so can’t contribute)
We have a max budget of 700k which I know will limit choice in very expensive SE.
DH has suffered a mini breakdown and whilst work have been phenomenal with regards working from home on a permanent basis (he’s quite senior) he’s very keen to be near the coast. Not to live on the coast but to be able to access it within an hour or so.
But schools will really determine where we end up.

OP posts:
ListeningQuietly · 08/08/2020 16:12

Swanmore catchment
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-92424263.html

BoxhillBertha · 08/08/2020 16:12

2 hours on the train to Waterloo where i am in dorset. Cheaper and less suburban than Hants.

ListeningQuietly · 08/08/2020 16:11

Nelly
The Causeway is not a busy road
it has the cycle route to the school running along it :-)

Here is another option
Thornden catchment
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-95647094.html

Original poster
NellyJames · 08/08/2020 15:35

Thank you @ListeningQuietly. The second one looks good. First one seems virtually on an A road and small with half the bedrooms downstairs.
Thanks to everyone who have given advice. I’m taking note of all of it.

OP posts:
Original poster
NellyJames · 08/08/2020 15:29

@Pikachubaby, we’re moving from up north so our budget isn’t great by SE standards but hopefully we’ll get something. Budget is 700k and we need 5beds for us plus MIL. So I don’t think we can afford Winchester or NE Hants but then we don’t need a regular commute.

OP posts:
ListeningQuietly · 08/08/2020 15:06

This is (just) within the budget in the OP
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71593338.html

as is this
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62310348.html

ListeningQuietly · 08/08/2020 15:02

If you want a 6th form then Lymington - Priestlands - it worth checking out.

For Value Form Money, have a look at the Romsey School and Mountbatten areas

For the best combo, look at Alton, Petersfield, Alresford or outskirts of Winchester - Kings Worthy has reasonable bits

The Symonds catchment covers the whole of Hampshire, Isle of wight, parts of Wiltshire, Berkshire and Dorset !

If driving to a station is not a hassle then do look at Swanmore

Basically anything south of Basingstoke you'll be able to buy a house and find a decent school

thatistheway · 08/08/2020 15:02

lloe7 so did anything happen to the perpetrator? Wonder where he is at now?

What a terrible traumatic experience.
I am so sorry for what you were put through.

I was looking at places to live and saw your post Thanks

BoxhillBertha · 08/08/2020 14:57

Dorset?

Pikachubaby · 08/08/2020 14:54

Peter Symonds are good and have a very wide catchment, as does the secondary comprehensive “Kings” in Winchester.

From my own experience, we think Westgate and Thornden are even better comps (Westgate never gets “outstanding” but we really like it and our eldest had a happy time there getting good grades)

Everyone moves to separate 6th form, so that is not an issue in terms of friendships ime

Other DS is at Barton a Peveril now, which we rate even more than Symonds, it has been amazing during lockdown too.

The comp in Romsey is good too (and houses not as £££ as around Winchester)

Our nearest nice beach is Bournemouth where I normally only ever go on school days (back when schools were open) it’s a 50 minute drive. Another nice beach is West Wittering (other direction) both unbearably crowded since lockdown though

House prices in Hants are a bummer, but in terms of location it works for so many people I guess...

Can I be blunt and ask what your budget is?

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2020 14:39

And the traffic issue may not matter if you ferry across to Portsmouth and can travel by train from there.

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2020 14:38

@NellyJames

What is Alverstoke like? It seems in catchment for Bay House School.
That might be the one I linked to above?

Alver Stoke is lovely. Really nice area with Alver valley nature parry, beach near and really good schools

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2020 14:37

@Knittingnanny

I love hillhead, it’s on our lockdown circular bike route, alverstoke, Lee, alver valley, hillhead via the jigsaw lady in old street and back through tanners lane! My boys loved the sixth form at bayhouse and didn’t even consider the local college as they had built up good relationships with staff, enjoyed the sport and music etc £700k will get you a lovely house on the coastline here, but check the catchment carefully as the 2 other secondary schools have no sixth form and are not so ....... good. I’m a recently retired teacher, ask me anything! As the other thread goes!
We don't live on peninsular but my da went to Crofton as I got it named on his ehcp.

My other choices were the 2 town academy's (which are shocking and another secondary that wasn't right for him!)

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 14:08

Sorry about the typing errors , I’m in the hairdressers and hot and sweaty with a mask on and have forgotten my glasses.
I live in Alverstoke so ask me anything and I will be truthful with answers

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 14:06

There are areas to avoid as any other town of course

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 14:04

Road not round!

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 14:04

That round is lovely and quiet and about half a mile from the beach. The local junior schools are both good and near that house
Alverstoke Juniors and Gomer Juniors
The other local juniors not quite so
Most of Alverstoke is Nay House catchment. You wouldn’t get in if out of catchment as too popular. Eg if you went for a harbour side house in Priddys Hard you are in Brune Park catchment which is..... not like Bay House
Lee on Solent is partly bay house catchment

EasilyDelighted · 08/08/2020 12:51

It is lovely. Gosport is a very mixed area. Traffic getting in and out used to be horrendous but I haven't been there much in the last few years.

OrangeCinnamon1 · 08/08/2020 11:11

I've heard it is lovely ...the posh part of Gosport? There used to be issues getting around from that part of the coast but who knows now everything is changing with Covid. The roads are much quieter now ...except when it is a hot sunny weekend day.
Outdoors life is great.

Original poster
NellyJames · 08/08/2020 10:29

What is Alverstoke like? It seems in catchment for Bay House School.

Best state secondary schools in Hampshire and can we afford to live in catchment?
OP posts:
Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 09:15

Teacher, but excuse the lack of capital letters! No excuse.

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 09:14

I love hillhead, it’s on our lockdown circular bike route, alverstoke, Lee, alver valley, hillhead via the jigsaw lady in old street and back through tanners lane!
My boys loved the sixth form at bayhouse and didn’t even consider the local college as they had built up good relationships with staff, enjoyed the sport and music etc
£700k will get you a lovely house on the coastline here, but check the catchment carefully as the 2 other secondary schools have no sixth form and are not so ....... good.
I’m a recently retired teacher, ask me anything! As the other thread goes!

itsgettingweird · 08/08/2020 06:53

@Knittingnanny

And another vote here for Bay House in Gosport, I had three boys go through there and on to university. I prob saw you at the beach today as well!
I was at Hillhead! We are soooool lucky to have such an amazing beach on our doorstep.

I was out there attempting to paddle board Grin

Knittingnanny · 08/08/2020 00:27

And another vote here for Bay House in Gosport, I had three boys go through there and on to university. I prob saw you at the beach today as well!

OrangeCinnamon1 · 07/08/2020 23:52

The thing with the sixth forms and colleges thing is that they iperate a bit differently in the county...due to the fact that they have to provide for the parents worried about the lack of sixth forms in the area and the students who want independence. Most of Dd class have chosen the bigger colleges Peter Symonds, Godalming, Alton, Havant with some going to specialist colleges like ACM and Sparsholt. They all make their own decisions though...