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Original poster

Schools in Hampshire/Wiltshire

28 replies

Doris0 · 22/01/2019 23:36

We’re moving near Andover in August this year. I’ve got DD who will be going into Yr 4 and DS into Yr 6 and I literally have no idea where to start with schools! The primaries seem easy enough to find but which secondary? As long as we are half hour ish from Andover, probably south, we can be anywhere! DS is quite bright so I was thinking of trying Salisbury grammar, but we don’t have grammars here so ive got no experience of 11+. Their current school looks similar to Winterslow which looks nice but if not grammar, which secondary? Our current secondary is fantastic so it will be hard to find another like it. Winchester? Salisbury? Andover? Where do we go?!

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 23/01/2019 10:20

There are 3 very good state secondaries in Winchester but I doubt you'd get into any of them from Andover (though Peter Symonds for 6th form would be good).

The grammars in Salisbury admit I think based on reaching a pass mark and then on things like distance, (ie not the top scorers wherever they live). Check the criteria, because from Andover you may not qualify.

I'd start by finding out the secondary schools in/near Andover and then looking up the category/distance last offered to see which ones you would have a hope of qualifying for, and then go from there.

Lara53 · 23/01/2019 16:23

My friend has her 3 at Rookwood and they love it. Bonus is it’s 3-18

Original poster
Doris0 · 23/01/2019 21:57

Thank both. I should clarify that we can move anywhere within about half an hours commute of Andover, so could move to either Winchester or Salisbury. Which has the best schools?! Thanks

OP posts:
Ta1kinPeace · 24/01/2019 21:13

Winchester has AB schools but houses are £££££££

Romsey schools are nearly as good and the houses are much cheaper

secondary catchment maps are all here
www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/findaschool

Ta1kinPeace · 24/01/2019 21:13

AB = FAB

iMatter · 24/01/2019 21:27

If he passes his 11+ he'll almost certainly get into BWS. They take 160 boys in each year group now and many come from Andover (and beyond)

Ta1kinPeace · 24/01/2019 21:30

The two Grammars in Salisbury are not highly selective.
Lots of kids get in from all over
but the Hampshire comps are more relaxing ;-)

mamado · 25/01/2019 10:34

You can't go wrong in Winchester - fantastic schools, nice safe environment for children to grow up, good links to London etc. Are you looking for state or independent?

catshavestaff · 26/01/2019 17:04

Winchester comprehensives are better than Andover ones but catchments are getting smaller as more houses built. For primary you could look at village schools if you have trouble getting places for both at the same one in Winchester. More places at KS2 as some move to private at 7 or 8.

Ta1kinPeace · 26/01/2019 17:13

The catchments are not getting smaller
as in Hampshire every house has to be in a catchment

Romsey and Mountbatten are both still taking out of catchment kids
so by definition if you buy in catchment, you'll get in.

catshavestaff · 26/01/2019 18:57

Apologies, what I was thinking of is that from our village you used to be able to get into any of the Winchester secondaries but now you need to live closer than we are as the number of people getting in from of out of catchment has gone down.

weaselmummy · 28/01/2019 14:27

The existence of the grammars in Salisbury brings down the standard of the comps, so unless you are confident your kids would get into the grammars, I would avoid moving to Salisbury just for the schools. As your son would be going into Year 6 you would need to register for 11+ this summer and then he would take it at the beginning of September this year i.e. at the very beginning of year 6. I hear that Test Valley secondary is pretty good and Stockbridge is not far from andover and v lovely.

Enidblyton1 · 28/01/2019 14:35

If you can afford Winchester house prices then I’d move there. The state secondaries are excellent and then you’d have Peter Symonds for 6th form right on your doorstep (children travel from far and wide to attend this 6th form)

PurpleAndTurquoise · 29/01/2019 21:48

Perins in Alresford is fantastic.

Miljah · 30/01/2019 08:17

Salisbury: by definition, the non-grammars are secondary moderns, not comps.

None of the boys/coed schools are rated well; St Edmunds girls, however, is good.

Mountbatten, Romsey, is good; Romsey Community not so much. Any Winchester Comp is great, as is Thornden in Chandlers Ford (strictly catchment).

I'd avoid any of the Andover comps.

As for the Salisbury grammars, I consider them quite selective. I know of some really rather clever girls who didn't get in, and the boys intake is smaller, I believe.

Personally I wouldn't send a DD to SWGS. It's a hot bed of over-achieving, fear-of-failure, eating disorders. Again, I know girls there, so it's not hearsay.

TeenTimesTwo · 30/01/2019 08:28

Miljah I beg to disagree re Romsey School. Maybe 15 years ago Romsey wasn't as good as Mountbatten, but now it is absolutely on a par. They have a different ethos from each other, but appear to get equally good results. Reputations take a long time to change...

TeenTimesTwo · 30/01/2019 08:29

I wouldn't live in Romsey and commute to Andover though.

Grumpbum123 · 30/01/2019 08:34

Commuting Romsey to Andover would be fine I think. Romsey schools are excellent

Ta1kinPeace · 30/01/2019 19:42

My kids went to school in Romsey
the two schools are interchangable academically
and all the kids end up at the same 6th forms

Thornden is traditionally hard to get into but the slowing house market might help that

its all about what vibe the OP picks up from each school
and which area she wants to live in

Miljah · 31/01/2019 15:06

I have a mums group I catch up with very regularly. Between us, we have had DC at Romsey, Mountbatten, Thornden.

The Romsey mums spend the first half an hour comparing notes on how awful they think Romsey has become, and between them, they have had 7 DC there. 3 are still there.

So not a 15 year old impression.

TeenTimesTwo · 31/01/2019 15:26

Miljah Definitely not the experience of the parents I know. Funny how different people can have different views/experiences isn't it!

Ta1kinPeace · 31/01/2019 22:32

Funny,
I'm none too impressed with Mountbatten since it became an academy
luckily I'm clear of the place now

Grumpbum123 · 01/02/2019 06:44

On the local FB page everyone is moaning about how awful Romsey has become mainly due price of a bacon roll in the bakers, dog mess, the one homeless person, petty crime, lack of parking, new housing developments, having to wait for a GP appointment and some very much first world issues.

TeenTimesTwo · 01/02/2019 07:52

Grump Grin

I was about to respond saying it is crazy to moan about a school just because of the price of their bacon rolls … and then I read the rest of the sentence! Smile I agree, people in Romsey probably don't realise how lucky we are.

I think there can be an issue when people have kids at a school over a long period of time, in that people don't like change. If you are a parent at a school for over 10 years (like I have been) stuff changes. It is easy to moan just because something isn't like as it used to be, especially if the change seems detrimental to your DC, even if it is actually generally beneficial.

Miljah · 01/02/2019 11:06

Well, I can only comment based on second hand information from my friends whose DC are at certain schools, as my DC are no longer at one already named school that, at the time they were there (until 18 months ago) was considered to be amazing for a state comp.

It too had become an academy, but few of my friend still have DC there so inevitably it has to be hearsay and local knowledge. No idea if I'd be 'impressed' or not these days!