Moving for grammar

I live in Essex and it seems some people have their child sit the 11 plus, see if they get into the school, and then move, with the child commuting in by train if there is a delay in the move. I am not saying I think this is a great idea but it is done. It does depend on the catchment though - it makes no difference with Colchester Royal Grammar School because there is no catchment, you can be living anywhere, they just take the the highest scoring children. It might be different with other grammars, they might have a catchment you have to be living in.

I would never send my kids to a state school in London where English is a second language for most kids
They have ONE chance at school

Fair enough TizerorFizz but those schools wouldn’t have worked for our DC1. (He now attends an independent special school funded by our LA, so he wouldn’t have coped at all in a huge mainstream school.) I’m just making the point that not every school suits every child.

Actually the majority of secondary schools in Bucks get great results considering the grammar stream is missing! It’s got many secondary schools with better results than a good many comprehensives!

The county wide grammars mean the grammars are easier to get into. The Essex grammars are super selective so you have to be very bright to get into one. In Bucks it’s a lot easier. You do need to live in the catchment area for a good secondary school as a back up. I know loads of families with DC in grammars and secondaries and they don’t move. They ensure DC get a good education in both schools. My neighbour is a headteacher and DS’s went to grammar/secondary. Likewise another neighbour who worked in HE. Many I know have DC in both school types and have been very happy. Importantly, so have their DC.

Completely agree with TeenPlusCat. We actually moved away from a grammar school area. We were in Buckinghamshire, where I grew up and where I went to one of the very good girls’ grammars. I did pretty well there, but we weren’t keen on the system for our own DC. Bucks is 100% grammar/upper school, so there are no comprehensives. A lot of the upper schools there have less-than-brilliant reputations. We were very uncomfortable with the idea that DS2, who would likely pass the 11+, would have access to a very different education to DS1, who has complex disabilities.

I think the key thing when moving to a grammar area is to ensure that the alternative provision is something you’re happy with and which would suit your DC. Also, every grammar is not the same as every other grammar. Even if your child is extremely academic, the school may not be the best fit for them.

I wouldn't move for grammar unless I was happy the alternative non-grammar schools were also good (especially with 3 DC)
Would you consider moving to an area with good comps rather than the grammar system? Are there any within your range?