To choose new area to live based on grammar schools

[2021hopes]

I’m at a point where I can relocate to pretty much wherever I would like but stuck where to start. I have two primary age children and I’m a full time working professional but can work from home a lot. Need to get into city of London maybe 8-10 times a month.

I’ve lived in London all my life. Would ideally like to stay in the leafier parts, also happy to consider Surrey and Kent too. Would love outstanding schools and ideally plenty of grammar school options. Somewhere safe with things for us to do at the weekends and holidays.

A three bedroom semi or detached would be fab. I’m happy to try new builds too. Please help wise people of mumsnet where should we move too!

In Kent, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone have good grammar schools and links to London. Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells will be more affluent and desirable but Maidstone is fine.

Tunbridge Wells is bigger. But the traffic in and out can be a nightmare. Sevenoaks is smaller but still a good range of shops, bars, restaurants, leisure centre etc...

For a 3 bed semi in a desirable location you'd be looking at around £600-700k very minimum though.

Thanks for your reply @liveitwell.

I’d read about the Kent entrance exams which I think are slightly different to elsewhere. The budget is in the region I can afford, if it’s really nice maybe a bit more.

Sevenoaks sounds worth a look. I drive to my children’s school now and absolutely hate it. We have to be walking distance for the primary and I know I’ll pay a premium for it but it’s worth it for the peace.

Not sure how multicultural Kent is which is why I am not fully sold on it. If you live there what do you think?

Yo might be better somewhere like Watford (Watford grammar which I think isn't technically a grammar but similar) if multicultural is the aim.
Or where I live out here in tube zone 5, very leafy, whites in a minority so very multicultural.

South West Herts Consortium for semi-grammars - they’re semi-selective secondaries. Best ones academically are Watford Boys Grammar, Watford Girls Grammar, St Clements Danes and Parmiters (as Xenia says, neither the boys or girls school are full grammars as they take siblings, admit on distance etc without sitting the 11+. But both very good schools).

Thanks @Xenia. Where do you live? Never considered Watford. The priority is somewhere safe where we can set down roots and good schools would be great

Watford is very multicultural. 36 languages spoken in my DD’s old primary!

Of course there's no guarantee your children will pass the 11+...

You might have a problem if you choose a grammar area & your child doesn't pass. Make sure the alternatives are acceptable to.you.
I think Kent & Buckinghamshire are the only fully 2 tier counties and some of the secondary moderns can be dire.

I don't want to say exactly where I live but NW and on the tube and actually not that far to drive to Watford. We even have hindu and muslim (and Jewish never mind Catholic and C of E) state schools so definitely very mixed areas in terms of racial mix. My son was the only white boy in his class one year not that that is a problem for us in any way.

Thanks @Wigeon never even heard of the Consortium! I will look it up. What are the primaries and non selective schools like otherwise?

OP, children at the consortium schools live in Watford but many come to the schools from the surrounding areas like Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, St Albans, Bushey, Radlett, other surrounding villages, as well as a small number coming in from north London.

If you look on the consortium schools’ websites there is a list of inner and outer postcodes - much more chance of a place if you are in an inner postcode, but those are wider than just Watford itself.

Really depends on how much you want to spend on a house and how much you expect to get for that, as to where in the surrounding area you might go for!

Lol @GreekOddess yes that’s why I was asking if aibu! I know there is no guarantee so really would love to hear about all schools. I have no other idea to choose an area except for safe, fairly close to London and not to geriatric!

Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe all have excellent grammar schools.

@Cookerhood what is a fully 2 tier county?

Watford state primaries - some great /good options, eg Nascot Wood, Cherry Tree, Orchard, Parkgate, Knutsford (altho that’s been a bit up and down), loads are perfectly decent.

SW Herts consortium selective schools vary quite a bit academically even within that group. Non-selectives are considerably worse, academically because the consortium schools cream off the academic kids, but several are decent comprehensive schools, eg Bushey Meads. Then a few not so great.

Should have mentioned several in the consortium also admit on sports or music aptitude, so you also have a potential route in there, in addition/instead of the 11+.

Watford is 16-20 mins on the very regular fast train to London Euston, also on the Met tube line (in a totally different bit of town). Not at all geriatric!

We are in a grammar school area, and I hate it. We came here when the kids were younger because we wanted good schools, blithely assuming that our kids would get in. And they have, but it’s a nasty, divisive system which puts all kids under pressure, at too young an age. If I had my time again, I would without doubt move to an area with a great comprehensive and let my kids grow up normally. By y7 most of the kids I know will at some level classify themselves and others according to whether they passed or failed. (A few didn’t try - too much pressure).

Yes there are plenty of people saying there is no need to tutor your kids - many of these people have sent their kids to private schools where the bright kids are working eg in maths a year ahead already (11plus tests y6 maths so if your kids are at state primary they will do worse than privately educated kids).

That said, we live in a great place, lovely people, etc etc. But if I had my time again to put down roots, I would not move to an exclusively grammar school area.

Be aware also that many of the kids who don’t get through will be sent to private school, and much of the conversation with other mums might make you feel anxious if this is out of budget.

Good luck with it all!

@Countdowntonothing do you know how much a 3 bed might cost?

I’d looked at the area before and it’s proximity to London is great. Wasn’t sure if it was still a bit to busy for us though. Not sure what pace of life we need!

What if your children don't get into the grammar school?

I've lived in a grammar school area and would massively actively avoid it. They tend to created divided neighbourhoods and if your child doesn't get in (or as in our case some did one didn't ) it's rubbish. They fuck up the local comps too and have been shown to have no added value to them.

[quote 2021hopes]@Cookerhood what is a fully 2 tier county?[/quote]
One which only has grammars & secondary moderns. No comprehensives.

Thanks for your honesty @Choccorocco. I’m pretty sure private is out of the question not just due to finances which with a lot of sacrifice I may be able to do but also I value raising a well rounded child who can adapt to any situation in life. My own childhood was poor but I’m lucky enough to be able to offer my children more.

Do you mind saying roughly where you live? You said you loved the place and people. It might be worth a visit.

I went to a grammar school, and wish I hadn't.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what happens if you move to an area with grammar schools and your secondary school age child has never taken the 11+? Can they just never attend one even if there was room?