Is New barn, Londfield kent affluent?

[Vickygirl]

Currently looking at homes in Kent with the aim of getting my child into a Grammar school. In light of many grammar schools having catchment areas, we have settled on looking at homes in the Newbarn, longfield area. This area has access to Dartford Grammar, Gravesend Grammar and Wilmington Grammar. However, we were wondering what the area was like? Is it affluent? Are there places to avoid?

Thanks community

That area is a bit nondescript really - just outside of the M25. Make sure you look at the transport links to the grammars. Traffic in the area can come to a standstill if the Dartford Bridge is closed. I wouldn't say it was an affluent area - you'd need to be in Sevenoaks or Tunbridge Wells for that.

I understand that Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells satisfy the grammar schools in and around Tonbridge area. However, if one wanted to attack the grammars listed above (gravesend/dartford etc), what area(s) around here would you say are affluent and desirable?

Thanks

IMO Longfield is a really nice area, if I won the lottery, that's where I'd be looking to buy a house without moving too far away. I'd say New Barn is sort of the middle: neither the most expensive nor the least expensive in terms of housing.

Problem with Longfield is it can be too far away from the grammar schools, I know lots of children who passed their 11+ at Hartley primary academy didn’t get into any of the grammars as they lived to far away…
Definitely research transport links as a PP has said, traffic can be a nightmare and public transport non-existent…
not really that affluent, I agree with looking at Sevenoaks / tunbridge wells

Maybe look at Bexley Borough? They have their own grammars plus access to the Dartford and Bromley grammars is easy (based on score).

Southfleet is quite nice. Also parts of Meopham.

I guess part of us wanting to in this area is because of the less busy feel that say Bexley (heath) may bring. Meopham seems hit and miss because of risk or flooding, bungalow renovation restrictions and the use of oil as an energy source in many home. I was told that most grammers have three tears to how children can apply. One being cathment, therefore moving to Bexley or sevenoaks with the aim of getting in outside of catchment seems risky to me. Also, most grammars have a bus service to and from school right. Wonder if this is the case still?

How old is your child, as well? Since choosing to buy a house on the basis of securing entry to any school is quite a risk - you’d be wanting to think about a range of schools you’d be happy with?

I grew up in Hartley, transport links are awful. You need a car. Longfield is nice, lovely set of shops. New barn it's ok, but no amenities. I have friends in Hartley who struggled to get their children in Gravesend Grammar due to distance.

My child is in year 2 but looking at the area there are still some good and outstanding schools. Because of early ground work we should not have to put much preasure on them.

You are the second person mentioning a child not being able to get into Gravesend grammer school while living in Hartley. Going off the Gravesend website, it states that Hartley is in catchment. Strange!!!

Taken from the Gravesend Grammar School website:

A Parents’ Guide to Year 7 Admissions -
How Places are allocated at Gravesend Grammar School

Each year, Gravesend Grammar School has more applications than there are places available. We rank applicants using the following criteria in the order they appear. Places are awarded to highest ranked students.

Children who are in Local Authority Care
Children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school.

Children who have a brother (or sister in the 6th Form) who will be attending the school when the applicant joins.

Children who have a parent who is a member of staff

Children who live within the Borough of Gravesham.

Children who live within the civil parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Bean, Fawkham, Hartley, Longfield and New Barn, Southfleet, Swanscombe and Greenhithe and Stansted.

Children who live within the civil parishes of Stone, Darenth, Horton Kirby and South Darenth, Cliffe and Cliffe Woods

What Primary School is most successful at getting pupils into Grammar Schools? Hartley Primary Academy, Our Lady of Hartley or Langafel Church of England School.

Thanks 😊

Would you prefer to buy a Detached home in Hartley, Longfield, New Barn or Meopham? We plan on moving and would like to gather more research before we make a final decision.

Thanks

I grew up nearish there and had friends in that area, I personally wouldn’t move there just for the grammar schools. If something happens and your DS doesn’t have a great day (remember it is really based on performance on one day) and doesn’t pass, you need alternatives and I don’t know what the quality of the other schools is like these days you do need to research that as well. I do remember having quite a bit of pressure on me to pass because the alternative was dire.

You need the allocation data as well as the admission criteria. Just because the parishes are listed on the admission criteria, it doesn’t mean that they go down to that level of criteria each year.

Having gone to a grammar in that area, none of my school friends are now in that area, we all live in towns with decent comprehensives where our DC walk to school. Socially it was difficult for us growing up, we were frequently reliant on lifts or public transport to meet during the holidays which really limited us to Dartford until we could drive or old enough to go into London. We all have made that decision that we don’t want that for our DC.

I would do more research, what all the school options are like including non-grammars and what your options are in each of those parishes. You need previous years allocations data and also look and see what other housing is being built or planned to whether this is likely to stay the same. If you really like the area, then great! But if the only reason you’re moving is for grammar, then I’d recommend doing more research and also I’d ask yourself why are you so wedded to a grammar. Most DC go to comprehensives and do very well. There are some amazing ones out there which have historically always been good, buy close to one of those then you’re sorted with no angst or pressure on your DC. It is certainly worth thinking about.