I'm looking for a good independent school in the milton keynes/north bucks/S. Northants area

[moolie48]

Hi all, I'm relatively new to mumsnet and this is my first 'post', if that's what it is called?! I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good independent school in the Milton Keynes/South Northants/Buckingham area. I live in Northampton, but commute each day to Buckingham and need somewhere which will let me drop my children off before work and collect afterwards. My son is currently at a local village primary and is the only boy in his class who isn't picked up by mummy or grandma! My daughter starts Reception next September. I don't mind mixed or girls/boys only as the children are very different and I am not fixed on having them both in the same school (although it would be handy!) so any advice much appreciated.

Try Akeley Wood near Buckingham. Nice school and takes both boys and girls.

Northampton High School is excellent - is that a possibility?

Wow - that was quick. This is impressive! Thanks both of you. I'll check out the websites now.

Stowe for the future?

Oh and NHS has the junior and senior schools on the same campus - but it is all girl so don't know if that's of any use to you.

Thanks everyone. Northampton High seems to be in the wrong part of town for me, but my daughter is a really girlie girl, so an all girls school might well suit. I'll give Akeley a call. Are there any other options? Do any of you have children at other independent schools in the area? The websites all look great, but it would be good to hear a few parental opinions. I don't think my budget will run to Stowe for the future, but it does look spectacular!

There's Bedford School(boys only) very good reputation and then there's Bedford Modern and Bedford Girls school. Now the latter two i think may have merged and there's been lots of mixed reviews following the merge, but that was at least 2 yrs ago (i think!) so worth seeing finding out where the school is at now.

The Grove Independent school is in Loughton in Milton Keynes, and they do school holiday child care there too. My daughter di her work experience there and enjoyed it.

Quinton House school has wrap around child care and is co-ed. It is out by Sixfields.

Why don't you look at Thornton College, it is all girls and is very near Buckingham? Our daughter is in Reception there, she is a girlie girl too so she loves it (they do ballet in the proper dance studio!). Not all the girls in the class are though and they spend plenty of time outdoors- the grounds are amazing! You can drop them off at 8am in the morning and there is after school care until 6pm. They also have an excellent nursery (from 2.5yrs), which provides holiday care up to 8 years old. We had a good look at all the indi schools in the area, but thought this one would suit the best. The class sizes are not too big (10-15), our daughter is very happy there and the staff are lovely. I would highly recommend. Hope that helps? If you want to ask me anymore, feel free to message.

Thanks everyone. I have some shopping around to do I think!

I went to Thornton! Obviously many moons ago but it is a lovely school. I considered it for my own daughter, we are Northampton but I needed somewhere to the north of the county so it was in the wrong direction for us. How old are your children? If they are both prep age then Winchester House may be worth a look.

Swanbourne House is inbetween Northampton and Buckingham. Mixed age Prep for 3-13 year olds.

Great Houghton is a similar Prep school at the Northampton end (but not sure which side) and is much smaller.

Winchester House and Beachborough are probably too far for you, I think they're beyond Buckingham. Might be worth looking at.

MK itself has Milton Keynes and Broughton Preps and The Grove.

I've named changed for this for obvious reasons.

I have two boys both at Akeley Wood and it is a fantastic school that I would highly recommend. I have one in the senior school and the other still in the junior, they are so happy and moving them there was the best thing I've ever done.

I know of people at Thornton who also speak highly of it although it is very religious and not sure if the 'girly girl' reputation it has would necessarily appeal to everyone.

Swanbourne is very academic, lovely school but the children are only there until 13 and then generally go on to the big public schools.

Broughton Prep has dreadful reputation for just being a hot house for 11+. I know lots of children who have been moved from there to Thornton and Akeley to get away from that aspect of the school.

Hope that is of some help !

Depends what you want to pay!

Winchester House (co-ed) in Brackley is v-posh, v-expensive. Boarding in later years, kids go onto Eton and the like.

Broughton Prep is very near the Girls High. Don't know anything about it though.

Northampton Girls High... Have had mixed reviews. Currently maths tutor a (to be) Yr5 girl from there.

Quinton House... This is going back maybe 10 years+ now, but heard some awful things about it.