Where should we settle in the South-East for good primary + secondary schools

[LarkinSky]

Hi, I'm soon returning to England after many years living overseas. We have the privilege of being able to choose the area we move to, around 1 hour commuting distance for DH and my jobs in central London. Looking for a smallish, lively town, walking distance to schools and the station.

Schools are our top decisive factor - state only, private not an option. Our kids will be age 11 and 7 when we move in summer 2020, so the oldest will be going into secondary in Year 7. They've never lived in the UK before.

We have no family ties in England. We are fortunate to be able to afford to move to any area (decent but limited budget - happy to look at a smaller house in more expensive towns / catchment areas, etc).

We have looked at the Chilterns because they look beautiful, and we like the outdoors life. But for Buckinghamshire, I am concerned about the 11+ system and the will they/won't pass stress. They're bright kids but it seems to me it's all down to performance on the day. Our oldest could sit it this Sept as an external candidate. But time is running out for us to embark on the tutoring path. I also hate the idea of our oldest passing, and then in future if the younger one fails - that'd surely stay with them for life.

Hertfordshire also looks nice - I'm seeing good comprehensive schools, ok commutes.

TLDR? My question is - given the choice, would you avoid the 11+ areas entirely? Where would you move to if you had the choice? Any advice, leads or experiences greatly appreciated - hoping the wisdom of Mumsnet will provide some guidance!

What about near Bohunt school, Liphook? No grammars in that area so lots of bright kids. Sixth form has just started so will be quite established by the time your DCs need it, but there's also Godalming College. Lots of good primaries around too. 52min to London Waterloo (in theory!) from Haslemere. Obviously a bit more from slightly further out. Lovely neck of the woods near South Downs.....

I'd look at Hampshire, fully comprehensive, lots of good schools. But might be a longer commute. Surrey is more expensive but shorter commute, also fully comprehensive.

If you have a free choice I would ABSOLUTELY avoid the grammar areas. Even if your eldest passes there is no guarantee of a place. Many of the upper schools are terrible, so you would have to carefully choose your area based on the local schools as well as the grammar schools. Choose somewhere with good comprehensive schools.

You won't be able to apply on time for a secondary place (unless forces or on government related placements) therefore would suggest you look for somewhere with a range of good schools to increase your chances of a decent school even allocated at random. Realistically few areas of SE have seriously bad schools though. However there are presumably other factors which would influence location - job, family, budget, urban/rural ?

When you say 1 hour commute is that door to door. Where in Central London? What’s closest Mainline station? I think you are going to be looking at within m25 if you want hour door to door.

Take for example High Wycombe in Bucks. That’s 25 min train to Marleybone. You need to factor in getting to station. Then potentially tube other end to work and then a walk.

Farnham, Alton, Liphook?

Thanks so much for these ideas!
The hour commute isn't totally strict but with both of us working ft in central London, think we need to draw a line somewhere around that point in terms of managing childcare etc. We'll both have one or two work from home days a week which will help.
I should have added - we do get a pass re school applications (ie forces as mentioned) so covered there.
Main factors - nice, bustling town with plenty going on, and easy access to rural (dog-walking, cycling, hiking, rambling, etc etc).

@Mustbetimeforachange - v helpful thoughts re avoiding grammar school areas. We need to make this decision to help narrow down areas.

I live in frimley and our nearest mainline into London is farnbourgh takes about 40mins into Waterloo. schools are good here too

Anywhere around Tunbridge Wells on the London Bridge to Uckfield line. (Substantially cheaper than Tunbridge Wells mainline and a lot cheaper with free parking.
If you want grammars look at Hever , Penshurst , Chiddingstone , Ashurst , Eridge (be careful here as kent/East Sussex border and you need Kent for the grammar) If you don't want grammar and are a church goer you also have Bennett memorial which is one of the top state coeds in the country and can live in East Sussex.

It's the Weald of kent and sussex so over run with beautiful countryside and ten minutes to Tun Wells which is a gorgeous town with lots of activities, sports , good restaurants etc and very safe for young teens upwards.

Hmm, children not christened and we're fairly agnostic. I was surprised to see the very high % of religious schools in the SE of England, especially primary. I guess that's another factor for my list!

Most religious schools also have a number of community spaces which allow for diversity.

You haven't said what your budget is... how about Guildford and surrounds? Decent schools, decent trains, market town, easy access to walks.

Winchester and surrounding areas fantastic schools. Hampshire so no grammar system. Peter symonds the 6th form is one of the top in county. Big commuter area Aprix 55min from Waterloo. Nice town etc etc. But expensive! Outside villages are a bit cheaper still in catchment for secondary and some truly amazing village primary schools. Micheldiver has a station as does ovington. If you want good schools look at hampshire

Bishops stortford. Depending on where you’re coming from you may be interested in the language aspect of hockerill or they have other good schools. There’s also s good school in neighbouring sawbridgeworth

I wouldn't panic about C of E Primary schools, outside London these are rarely full of the correct religion children and I know of one nearly 100% Muslim.
If you have the Forces connection you could look at Guildford, or even maybe swing places at Gordon's near Woking?

A friend has kids at Weydon in Farnham, Surrey which she finds a lovely area. Although it's a comp about 60% of kids are higher attainers i think.

East Horsley? I have a friend who moved there and good connections to Central London. Leatherhead and Esher in general too

Wokingham has very good schools, both primary and secondary, and there are also grammar schools fairly close in Reading. DS got into Reading School, DD didn’t get into Kendrick, but it doesn’t seem to have scarred her - she went to The Holt (comprehensive) and then Farnborough 6th form college and they both got similar excellent results.
Wokingham is just over an hour from Waterloo, or about 50 minutes from Paddington if you change at Reading.
It’s a nice town, (though currently undergoing a lot of redevelopment which is a bit tedious)
House prices are pretty high, though, so it depends on your budget.

Winchester or oxford, latter specifically in Cherwell catchment. Near to port meadow. Loads going on, international community

If you are hoping to use before and after school clubs I think a lot of the locations being suggested here are far too out unless you both have very flexible jobs. You need to factor in the commute from home to station, train, tube, walk. I’m in Thames Valley - 20 mins on train to Paddington. Still takes me 75-90 mins door to door to central London. Which means if I want to pick children up by 6.30 for after school club I am leaving work at 4.30.

Guildford or Godalming

I would also vote for Winchester. You also get Cambridge to Kings Cross in just under 1 hour. Hill Rd Six form college in Cambridge is very good, just as Peter Symmonds in Winchester.

But if you really mean 1 hour commute door to door, you are looking at London proper, even some locations within M25 will be tricky. Things might improve with Cross Rail, but 1 hour door to door is more tube than rail if you factor in walking/driving to station, waiting for often delayed or cancelled trains, getting to the office the other side. Outside of M25 St Albans might be an option. But London state schools are on average better than most state schools in the home counties, so if you are looking for state, why not look in greater London? E.g. Wimbledon is great for schools, especially for primary schools and just about 1 hour door to door (in real time). Wimbledon also has its own village/town feel. Or Richmond or Hampstead, if that is within budget.