Bicester,schools life and housing

[Cornishwench]

Hi
We are considering a move to Bicester Oxfordshire
Does anyone have any pros or cons?
What are the best primary and secondary schools?
What area is best to live in?
I very much do not want to move but it looks like we will have too so I’m trying to find out everything I can to try to make the best choices ( the whole thing makes me sad)
Thank you

Bicester is nice. Decent shops & great transport links. Buying or renting?

Looking to buy

Does it have to be bicester? You might get more house for your money (the grammar schools and the independants like Akeley Wood and Stowe) nearer Buckingham, for example, or a better commute to London from Kidlington.

Yes it has to be Bicester I’m not happy about it but that’s the way it is right now

Excellent transport links, but the hell that is Bicester Village is enough to give me nightmares (we lived there for 5 years).

Cheaper housing in Ambrosden and Arncott - older but larger houses for your money. Nice village feel. Bure Park is good, as is Langford Village.

The new estates (Kingsmere) are quite nice, but quite big and ‘soulless’ IYKWIM.

St Edburgs Primary is excellent, that’s the one my DD went to. It’s a church school and moved a few years ago to Kingsmere (used to be in town).

Secondary - The Bicester School now a good school, but was in special measures for years when it was BCC. I’d try for The Cooper School if possible, but it was always way oversubscribed (because BCC was so bad).

There are a couple of estates I’d avoid, Kings End and around that area.