School/House Dilema

[Torres10]

Maybe not the right place to post but since education is central to our decision, I will start here! just would appreciate some people's views.

We are looking to buy a new house, but after almost 2 years unable to find anything local to school, we looked further afield and have found a lovely house in W Berks.

After research we think my DD will get a place in the village primary which has good reports and is in good 2ndry catchment too, but it will mean we have to move her from her current private prep school with class of 16 where she is doing v well..hence lots of late night discussions on how she would do etc etc..Anyway decided long term it was the right move for the family, just about to put an offer in and..this morning local agent in Reading calls us with house pretty much next door to her prep school!

Now I am all over the place and can't decide whether to go view it or not, or if after coming so far down this road I should not look back!

Long term I think W Berks is a lovely location and probably suits us better as a family, closer to work etc, but feel like a bad mummy for potentially trading my daughters education for a house! This isn't meant to be a private vs state debate though I guess it is a factor as class size is inevitably an issue.

What about a prep school in Berkshire? There are several to chose from I think..

Go and see the house, you might hate it, or you might love it

What about moving her to St Andrews? It is gorgeous!

How far west are we talking? There is St Gabriels in Newbury if St Andrews isn't west enough. Have to say I preferd St Andrews though (have taught peripatetically in both).

Agree with you that W Berks is a lovely place to live. We used to live in Bradfield and I loved it!

Thanks for the replies. We are going to look at the house in the morning, so we will see!

West,as in Chieveley area, St Gabs & St Andrews are both not really on either mine or my husbands routes! The only place that is, is Brockhurst, but I wasn't that keen on it!

AVOID Brockhurst! St Gabriel's do have a lot of buses.

Which village school are you looking at? Chieveley Primary is lovely (have worked there too!).

Firends DD is going to Brockhurst next Sept. Anything they should know about?

Well, maybe things have changed. My experience of it is 5-6 years old.

I used to work for a charity that went into schools to do peripatetic PSHCE teaching (Life Education if interested!) so taught for a week or so at a time once a year in lots of West Berkshire schools, primaries and preps.

I'm afraid the atmosphere at Brockhurst was terrible. The staff (many of whom were from abroad which TBH is not a great sign) were very subdued in the staff room and I actually witnessed one crying after an interchange with the Head. I can honesty say the children were in general the worst behaved, most arrogant children I have taught. SUCH a contrast to the children at St Andrew's who were lively and confident but a delight.

As I say, maybe things have changed in the last few years.

Thanks, I'll pass it on.

I am not some wishy washy fruit pusher either, btw. I now teach in a school for children with severe and complex behavioural difficulties and love it!

I am sure you're not :) . Much appreciated info .

Thank you for your replies. I wen to to Brockhurst and didn't get a good feeling for what is worth.
It was Chieveley primary I was looking at so its good to know you think its ok!
I have considered St Andrews, but it would add 20mins to my journey each day, so I think it will be my fall back if the local primary school doesn't work out for any reason!

St Andrew's is certainly worth 20mins in my book!