Relocating - Schools in Maidenhead - help please!

[womblingalong]

Hi all,

I haven't posted for ages, but am worrying myself into a frenzy about moving from Notts to Maidenhead or nearby as my husband has moved there for a new job, and I am jobhunting there too.

We have 2 primary age children, and are looking to rent a house from September, but I am worried about choosing the right area for schools. We have found a house in Bray which I think is in catchment for Holyport, but over 1 mile from Oldfield, which has a better ofsted. How easy is it to get into Oldfield this year? Anyone with experience of either school?

We live in a great area, full of outstanding schools at the moment,and all I see about the school system in Maidenhead is worrying me. I want my children to go to an outstanding school, if at all possible, but we can't afford to live in the most expensive areas.

Any advice gratefully received.

This is a catchment map.

This tells you your catchment area.

I'd also give the LEA a call and ask them where there is space. If they won't tell you then call the individual schools. Last year I thought I'd have to move ds and called some of the local schools. All were happy to tell me whether they had space or not. I'd also call the LEA a few times if you don't get info the first time. It very much seems to be whom you get on the phone at any given moment. Some there are very helpful whilst others act as if they work for MI5.

Thanks bisjolympics, I think we will have to be really persistent. DH is getting on the phone first thing this morning. They do contradict themselves regularly, and everything seems so secret squirrel!

Thanks Tiggytape, DH has been told to contact again with proof of address, but I am not waiting until we are in situ. I will get the rental agreement for proof of address and me or DH will call regularly until we get some answers, for both DS and DD.

Really good info and advice, so thanks again.

WA

On the plus side, after the stress of all this I think you will love living in Bray. It's a great area round here.

Hi, Bray is lovely, as are lots of areas there. I am looking forward to spending some time by the river!

Any more feedback on local schools gratefully received.

Thanks again

WA

Still waiting to hear about DD. apparently there might be a place at my least preferred school, (based on ofsted and area only). Not sure what to do about that.

Until we get decision officially, still nothing we can do. This is painful, the waiting!

To cap it all the gas engineer has shut off my boiler for at least a week while he gets parts and has time to do it so no hot water!

Bugger.

Which school is that?

Knowl hill I know you said not v good, sI worried. Still need to hear about the other schools. Not Catholics, so that would be difficult.

Hoping that she gets another school too, aargh!

Just had detailed conversation about call with LEA yesterday, so I know a bit more now.

There may be a place at Knowl hill for DD, but won't find out til 4th Sept or after. DD and DS are moving into Bray with DH end of August. Don't know what to do about childcare for that week. Asked MIL and PIL, they have said yes from 4/5th for that week. Any suggestions for childcare options in m/head?

I will be working my notice back up here until end Sept, so can't help. Also need to sort before and afterschool care, but don't even know where to look until we know where the schools are!

Help please! Thanks

Hopeful desperate bump re childcare options?

Thanks very much.

Bump (fingers crossed!)

Either Missing Link or Wise Owls (google for them). Without wishing to give too much info and identify myself, I can say that I observed Wise Owls after school club at very close range over a long period and would have been very happy for my son to be there. Their website says they pick up from Knowl Hill and take the children to Oldfield (which would be ideal for you to pick them up from if you are in Bray). If you do get allocated Knowl Hill, don't be too down-hearted because of the reputation as in my experience the reputation of a school and what it's actually like often bear little relation to each other. (Once taught in a school with a very good reputation and would have done anything possible to avoid sending my own child there, in fact I left as soon as I could after I worked that out).

Thanks so much toomuch, that's massively helpful. I will get on to them tomorrow. Thanks for the reassurance re: schools. My two are in a great and outstanding school now, so don't want to lower my standards for them with this move IYKWIM. I am sure it will all get sorted, and we will prob need to appeal for one or both of them we'll see. The reccomendation is fab. Thanks

womblingalong, hope you got the places you wanted!

Wanted to ask about M'head pre-schools in this thread. We live in catchment of Oldfield, hoping to get in if they expand. But they do not have pre-school... what would be your recommendation? where should we go once DS and DD turn 3?...#many thanks

Elenus, just seen this, sorry!

Yes we are here, the DC's got into knowl hill and seem to have settled in well.

I am not sure about per school locally however, there is a play group at Bray village hall. Have you looked into that?

Good luck