Thinking of moving to Aylesbury

[Sri1428]

Hello,
Currently in Manchester have to relocate for work (near north London-too expensive).
Looked at Aylesbury have two children 7 and 5year olds. House prices seems a bit more reasonable with grammar schools in the area .-Is there any areas in Aylesbury you advice to avoid living or buying in?
-if we move to MK will the kids still be able to apply for Bucks grammar schools?
-the comments about Aylesbury traffic is what worries the most, is it really that bad?
Thank you in advance for your advice

Yes, traffic is bad and is even worse with HS2 destroying the surroundings. Aylesbury really not that nice. Usual advice is to go for Waddesdon thus securing excellent Upper school, but you need to live near the school. You need to check distances offered to MK. Elevenplusforum will provide lots of information.

I would also recommend the villages in the Waddesdon school catchment area. It's a good alternative if the DC don't get a grammar school place. Aylesbury parkway station is only a short distance down the road .

I think people used to get into grammar schools from Milton Keynes but possibly not any more (there's been a lot of house building in Aylesbury). Check the previous allocations on the Bucks council website. Also check out the local upper schools in case one or both of your children doesn't pass the 11 plus.

We're in a similar boat but we're renting in the area to get a feel for things. The non-grammar schools in Aylesbury are really poor. If your children don't get into a grammar they're screwed. The traffic is abysmal too. Have you looked at Leighton Buzzard or Dunstable? Both have some decent high schools, both are near a train line into London (both are at least as fast as Aylesbury, if not faster), and Dunstable is in the catchment for Luton Sixth Form which is excellent. Dunstable is the most affordable half-decent commuter town around here IME as it doesn't have its own train station but it's easy to bus into Leagrave (or cycle).

But if you must live in Aylesbury, the best areas are Bedgrove or Fairford Leys. Elmhurst is nice enough but it takes forever to get there from the A41 or the town centre if you're taking the train. If you're used to northern house sizes the rabbit hutches selling at Fairford Leys might shock you so go and look around before committing to buying something!

Take a look at Buckingham - grammar school plus secondary school (my DC went to the latter and both did really well) - the town is a lovely place to live too, I love it here.

I’ve lived in Aylesbury and would never again - as PP have said waddesdon is lovely too but HS2 affected and you need to live in school catchment to get a place there.

Milton keynes will give you access to the Royal Latin (grammar) in Buckingham but it’s not guaranteed.

Have you thought about amersham?

Lots of folks who live in Hertfordshire near the Bucks border send their kids to Bucks grammar schools. So you could widen your search. Alternatively: Watford??