Moving to Tarrant Keyneston

[Blushbaby]

We've finally got a move to North Dorset and have just found a cheap rented house between Wimborne and Blandford, but I'm not sure on schools. Have a 6yo and 13 yo. Could go private at a stretch. Any views on what it's like to live there with children? Would we be better off in Bournemouth?

Welcome to Dorset!

Tarrent Keyneston is remote- but I've ridden round there and it is beautiful. Bournemouth is obviously more urban & has loads of facilities- so depending on what your children are into they might prefer it.

The schools in Bmth are patchy- the comps (except the Catholic one) are generally considered to be poor because it there are grammar schools in both Bournemouth and Poole. Loads of people from Bournemouth try & move to Christchurch which has an excellent comp when their children approach secondary age.

There are quite a few private schools in North Dorset but you'd probably be in the catchment for QE in Wimborne- which is an excellent school with loads of sports facilities. If you go on 'DorsetForYou' there is a facility to put in your postcode and it tells which which school catchment areas you would be in.

Hope that helps.

Tarrant Keyneston is absolutely gorgeous, lucky you. You will be doing LOADS of driving. Your 13 yo will very soon be pestering to go out in Bournemouth as that's where all the teenagers hang out.

As far as schools go, for the 6yo can highly recommend Castle Court school just outside Wimborne in Corfe Mullen. Feel free to pm or ask away on here for more info.

If you are going private for the 13yo, ones to consider are Canford, Bryanston and Clayesmore. Grammar schools in Bournemouth/Poole are good, If your 13 yo is a girl, Talbot Heath is a good private school in Bournemouth.

Bloody hell where did you find anywhere cheap in Tarrant Keyneston!

The Blandford School is not great at all.

(wasnt bad back when DS went there in the late 80's, by the time DGD left last year it was not good)

Mot of the local village schools are pretty good tho.

baba - plain white underwear and not talking during lunch sounds draconian. I agree Bournemouth Collegiate is on the up. Did you send your child on to another state or private?