Independent schools choices so which Town in Kent?

[fdc2015]

Hi.i have a copule of school choices for my children both in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells,trying to decide which Town is the easiest, most charming but quiet town?better home for the money etc?

Unless you need to commute to London or m25 I'd pick tw. However which schools are your options as secondaries nr tw are predominantly state grammars.

TWells over Sevenoaks. If you are commuting into London, Sevenoaks is closer but many trains start at twells so much, much easier to get a seat.

You will probably get more bang for your buck housing wise but not always.

Really does depend on the location of schools. Traffic in and around both towns is regularly a nightmare during school run times.

Worth looking into Ashford School and villages around such as Smarden. I'm currently looking at beautiful open pastureland while sipping crisp white in the evening sunshine. Idyllic.

Does it have to be real Kent, could it be quasi-Kent? We live on border, London zone 5 and happy with choice of schools with DD in local selective independent and have option to stay or head short train journey to Dulwich/Alleyns schools just up the line or head down the line to Sevenoaks or Tonbridge. I find it the best of both worlds for keeping options open.

Sevenaoks traffic is fine. Tunbridge Wells, OTOH, is an utter nightmare.

Tunbridge Wells is larger and has more amenities. Sevenoaks doesn't have a great range of shops and very limited nightlife.

The London commute is much easier from Sevenoaks however - only 25 mins to London Bridge and trains on both the Hastings and Ashford lines.

Price wise both are expensive, Sevenoaks more so but Tun Wells is rapidly catching up.

Re shops, Sevenoaks is within spitting distance of Bluewater.

Not sure I'd call either town "charming", mind. Some of the surrounding villages, maybe.

Have you considered Tonbridge? It is half way between the two and gets double the trains of TW and houses are cheaper than both TW and 7Oaks. Much wider choice at secondary too.

What age children? TW is good for prep schools, not so good for secondary if you want to go private and don't want to travel daily or commute. You're better off in Sevenoaks or Tonbridge as you have Sevenoaks School, Tonbridge Boys, Walthamstow, Coombe Bank et al for secondary. Tunbridge Wells has Beechwood for secondary but you'd need to go further afield if you want selective or single sex.

Travel daily or commute is meant for kids btw not adults. Commuting from TW is okay but I used to drive to Tonbridge as more trains.

thanks so much for all the tips ladies, most useful!;-)

Re ages children, boy 9, two girls 15 and 17, so not easy as have to combine primary and secondary. What about hockey clubs? Sevenoaks or Tunbridge W?

Where has offered your dds places? Your Ds will probably have more options as the girls face non standard entry points. Does your elder want to do a levels or IB?