Grammar schools and where to move to in UK

[Thegirlisnotright]

Where is a nice area to live with free grammar schools? Quite simply we could move anywhere, but know nothing about most of the UK 😂

I have never met anyone on here who has admitted to going there bravo.

To the person on the previous page who said well why have GS then?

How do I know, I just live here, in catchment for one which was a complete fluke as when we moved there were only a handful of houses that were possibilities price wise.

GS catchment was not a defining factor in our move.

Chocolate which areas of bucks are poor with lesser performing grammars?

"Where a decent sized 4 bed house is less than 400k". Goodness. Certainly not around the Orpington, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks area. Possibly more into Kent. But perhaps property values are set to fall ...

The Bucks thing is relative. There is a significant disparity in the results of the schools and also in the popularity, seen in applications per place,W specially from out of catchment.
The Aylesbury Vale area has the lower performing grammar schools. It is of course relative and this isn't a poor area as such, but compared to Beaconsfield or Amersham or Marlow is. And it is the Uppers nearer the affluent areas that do better, whilst the uppers in other areas of Bucks don't perform particularly well.

I think Medway, which is in Kent, but is a separate education authority, which has Grammars has affordable housing still. Good houses for less than £400k. However it is fully selective and the non-Grammars are really not high achieving, so it would be a real risk.
Sometimes people bordering Medway and Kent will sit both exams and travel across the border.

The Aylesbury Vale area has the lower performing grammar schools.

Just wondering what makes you say that, ChocolateWombat? Assuming you mean AHS, AGS and SHFGS? Certainly everything I've ever known about all the Bucks grammars is that AHS and AGS are generally top ranking along with both the Challoners, RGS etc, and that SHFGS usually ranks slightly lower, along with Chesham Grammar. The upper schools in Aylesbury Vale certainly have their problems but the grammars are every bit as good as elsewhere in the county.

Both Bournemouth and Poole, but single sex only so depends if you're happy with that. Not super selective afaik. If you pass, you're in. You can get a 4 bed for 400k in an ok area but not the 'best' addresses. Pretty good transport links.

As a previous poster mentioned Halifax has some good mixed grammar schools ("North Halifax Grammar School" and "Crossley Heath School") and if your DC didn't get in then you could still be in the area for good comprehensives like Halifax Academy and Trinity Academy, and maybe even Dixons Kings (which despite a wobbly start is now rated outstanding by ofsted and I know many parents whose children are very happy there). You could also get a fab house with a budget of £400k!! I'd say the north generally will give more scope for a nice property with your budget than the south east and areas surrounding London.

There's also the Skipton grammars in North Yorkshire but the comprehensive alternatives range from excellent (South Craven) to okay (Upper Wharfedale) to poor (Skipton Academy), so it's more of a risk.

Ribble Valley, Lancashire. Comes in top 10 of places to live in UK. Beautiful countryside and easy access to Preston for London trains and under 1 hr to Manchester airport. 1 grammar school in Clitheroe. Not super selective, pass and in catchment and you are in. 'Top table' child has a decent chance of passing.

As not a full grammar area other schools are comps and in the main are outstanding eg Bowland High 84% 5 A-C GCSE inc english and maths.

£400,00 would be a very generous budget for a beautiful 4 bed detached. New build 4 bed detached are in region of £300,000

Looks like north is more likely after a scout of house prices 😳 Thanks all for your advice- it's so helpful.

I recently moved to West London l am looking for 11 plus tuition if any body knows let me know please.

Have a look at Shropshire, a lovely county with some excellent grammars, Newport Girls High and Adams Grammar.

Torquay/Churston in Devon. You'll get a 4 bed house for £400K or less there.

I was going to suggest Chelmsford for grammars or Bishop's Stortford for excellent state comps but 400k will get you a very basic 4 bed if you are lucky. I think you might be struggling anywhere in the South East depending on what you mean by decent.

Move to Scotland. Good education system and no tuition fee's for university.