Schools in buckinghamshire

[Nabiah]

Hi all. We are moving to Buckinghamshire (over summer) and I would really appreciate some help. I need to find schools for my 3 kids! In September my eldest will be starting year 5 and my middle will be going into year 3 and my youngest starting reception. I basically need to look for good grammar and secondary and primary. Which roads are in the catchment for challenor high grammar? Am I right in thinking that a good grammar school and easy access to train/tube station for commuting. Husband and I are both dr’s will be commuting into central London. Any help much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

*Which roads are in the catchment area for challenor high grammar? Am I right in thinking that it’s a good grammar school? Ideally I need to be in easy access to train/tube station for commuting. Husband and I are both dr’s will be commuting into central London. We will start by renting a place. Any help much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

you can google "Bucks schools postcode catchment checker" to check which roads are in catchment for Challoners and the website used to have maps showing catchment areas also. If you want the railway station then High Wycombe/Amersham/Gerrards x/Beaconsfield are worth looking at, Bucks is a grammar school area so all areas have a graamar school in their catchment. When you have an address you can apply to the council for a school place. Are you sure you want Bucks? The 11 plus is stressful, likely requires coaching to pass and kids who are bright often don't pass and end up in the secondary moderns ("upper schools") instead. Why not consider Hertforshire with it's good comps instead?
If you want them all in the same primary school you may need to consider an unpopular school or private school.

PS - Writing as a doctor myself I think coaching for the 11 plus, even if you just have to help with homework, is likley to be hard work when our day jobs take so much out of us. Really really if you don't need to live in bucks I would consider not doing so

You could also post for advice here:

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewforum.php?f=12

Consider the information here:

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=50694

Check on the residency rules which can be found on the school website.

Current school vacancies can be found here:

www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/education/school-admissions/changing-school-in-year/check-for-school-places/list-of-school-vacancies/

Uprooting your family in order to gain a Grammar school place is a big commitment especially as you will need to go through the 11 plus process with each of your children. There are no guarantees that they will all get a Grammar place - as the exam format/content can and does change, you are relying on the exam playing to each child's strengths and it is not unheard of for families to have DCs in both Grammar Schools and Sec. mods. In light of this I would advise you to also research the sec. mods. around the area you are looking to move to (unless you intend to go private as a fall back in which case research the private options).

Do you mean the High School (girls) or Grammar (boys)? The child needs to pass 11+ first and then address is taken into account. However the catchment is not so narrow that children from other towns are excluded. Check Bucks LA website for details of furthest child admitted last year.

The 11 plus is only stressful when parents make it so. My DD was not phased at all. The children who were stressed had been coached beyond belief and knew it meant everything to their parents. Parents can withdraw children from the exam but very few do. They prefer to have unrealistic expectations and make their children have tuition for years on end. It is shameful.

They key to living in Bucks is making sure you are in catchment for a good secondary. All areas are in catchment for a grammar and all, bar one at the moment, are Outstanding. Waddesdon C of E Secondary School is outstanding but has a tiny catchment. Other good secondary schools can be found: The Amersham School, The Chalfonts School, The Misbourne School and The John Colet School are all in commutable locations and are highly supported by parents. Parents regularly appeal to get their children into these schools.

If you want a primary for DC in these areas you will have to be flexible. Very many schools are full so you need to check "in year" vacancies at the moment in the years below the ones you will need next September. Bucks C C will have details on their web site. It could be a real problem and you are unlikely to get the best schools with places. The 11 plus is taken in the first few weeks of September so little teaching takes place in Y6 before the children do the exam.

An alternative would also be to look at Thame in Oxfordshire for Lord William's School which is comprehensive or Tring School in Hertfordshire which is also comprehensive but Tring loses children to Bucks grammars. Every year children do not pass the 11 plus when their parents think they will. Be careful what you wish for if your children are not in the top 20%of their cohort and they may need to be above this.

Other good secondary schools can be found: The Amersham School, The Chalfonts School, The Misbourne School and The John Colet School are all in commutable locations and are highly supported by parents.

So where would OP need to relocate to in order to get a place at Dr Challenors or one of these sec.mods as a fall back?

Dr Challoners helpfully put a catchment map on their web site. Therefore, Amersham (for The Amersham School) Prestwood or Great Missenden (for The Misbourne), Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont Common and Gerrards Cross (for The Chalfonts). Other villages are possible for all.

John Colet is Wendover and Wendover is catchment for Aylesbury Grammar but most people would be happy with that! Chesham is also catchment for DRCG, but check how good the secondary is. It’s not as sought after as the others. Slower commute too.

The bigger problem is primary schools in these areas. Only the very few iffy schools will have placed. The op will have missed the date for YR application and the other children will not be timely either. You just have to take a place where one is available. Forget good and outstanding for all three.