Kent or Essex for better school?

[Islandgirl2]

Hiya,

I am in a difficult situation!

I am wanting to relocate to either Kent (Dartford/Gravesend) or Essex (witham) closer to mom but so many factors to consider. I have 2 kids and diversity and great schools are important ro me. I will just summarise what I have researched thus far. (I might be wrong?

Essex
2 grammar school for my girl which will be Chelmsford girl or 1 in Colchester.

I don't think the state schools are very good as only 49% of pupils achieve 5+ GCSE.

Less diverse unless living in commuter towns like Chelmsford.

Houses are within my budget.

Reasonable journey time to London.

Kent

More Grammar schools and better state schools.

Houses that meet my requirements would be top end of my budget.

More diverse

Fast train to London

I would appreciate some advice from anyone who has lived in these areas or anyone they know.

Thanks in advance

Leigh on sea is a great place to live. Central southend not great but Thorpe bay is lovely. Neither are hugely diverse though, but it is true that the grammars have a diverse intake. Chelmsford is also a nice place to live these days. I don’t really know the Chelmsford grammars. Anglo European is non selective and very diverse, strong focus on languages and internationalism.

if you want to be close to your mum in burnham, Kent isn’t ideal as the river crossing is often hugely congested.

If Witham has good schools (and I have no idea!) I can understand why you’re asking about it as house prices are a bit more reasonable, with good transport to London and close to your mum. As others have said, I wouldn’t bank on a grammar school place from there, but she certainly would have a chance if she scores highly on the exam.

Maybe you can start a new thread with ‘Witham’ in the title to get more local responses? Or ask specifically about the Witham schools you’re considering?

There’s no harm in doing a bit of research on Southend too (assuming you haven’t done this already and ruled it out). The schools alone would put it high up on my list of places to live in Essex, while the commute to London, diversity and distance to your mum are all probably comparable to Witham.

I couldn’t disagree more.Have lived here 12 years and went to school at the girls high. Colchester has three theatres, two arts centres, quirky shops and restaurants, a castle for heavens sake, a lovely park, concerts and events, museums and 2,000 years of history all around us. Chelmsford on the other hand is soulless as are Braintree and Witham. Not as grim as Basildon though.

@Hardbackwriter my budget is 400k. I will need to check out the prices for Leigh.

@Jackal313 I think the primary schools are okay but would need to consider secondary schools in Chelmsford. Other posters have mentioned Witham wouldn't be within the catchment area for the decent ones. I might have to reconsider other areas in Essex.

Leigh-on-Sea is lovely place to live @Islandgirl2. DD is at Southend high for girls (Year 8) and we have been really impressed with the school so far, the pastoral care is excellent. It's a very diverse school and she feels very included. We were a little worried because neither I or DH are British but we couldn't be happier with the school. Some of the 6th form students are seriously impressive and very inspirational for DD. All four grammar schools in the area are coed at 6th which I really like.

Good luck with your search.

I love the Colchester people outraged and on high dudgeon at people taking a swipe at their town whilst making snide remarks about other places.

I can assure you Chelmsford is not “soulless” @Marsyas it’s far more vibrant than any of the other places I’ve lived in Essex. I love living there and it’s certainly way more afford able than Leigh on sea.

as an aside, I had one dd at wescliff boys (sixth form is mixed), another at Southend girls. Both excellent.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126637721#/?channel=RES_BUY
This is an example of what your budget will get you @Islandgirl2 .

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131281895#/?channel=RES_BUY
This is also in a very popular location with families.

Westcliff and Southend are easier to get into than Chelmsford and Colchester so it depends if your DD is likely to be top, say, 10% vs top c.25%.

Westcliff girls is pretty diverse and gets great results and the girls come from all over the county, not just from the surrounding areas. It is about a 15min walk from Chalkwell station so if I were you, I would look all the way along the c2c line at where you like the look of and what's most affordable.

We are in Gravesend. I believe the Gravesend grammars accept children based on location as long as they have passed. Dartford boys grammar is super selective for about 50% of their intake so only 50% is open based on location so very difficult to get in to. Not sure about Dartford girls grammar. Gravesend has St George’s and St John’s comprehensives which I believe both have decent reputations.

What about Rayleigh? State schools are good and in the catchment for Southend/ west cliff grammars. Also commuting distance to Chelmsford. Not that far from Burnham either and on a fast commuter line into London.

Yes there’s two excellent secondaries in Rayleigh. It really is the least exciting place on earth though. Lived there 18 years. It’s expensive though!

You will have more options for grammar in Kent if you moved to e.g. Dartford, Greenhithe area. They are very diverse and you will find something decent within your budget. Dartford Grammar School for Girls is super selective and your daughter has to score very high to get in even if you're in catchment. That is not to say that your daughter can't as all depends on her ability for which you can boost her chances with tutoring. However, the plus of being in these Kent areas is that there are other less competitive grammar schools (e.g Wilmington Grammar for Girls and Mayfield) for which your daughter just needs a pass and then be in catchment and her place is more or less guaranteed. My daughter is similar - a very bright girl but I didn't think she was the type for a super selective grammar but she secured a pass and got Wilmington which we're pleased with

I went to Southend high in late 90s we had 90 girls and 4 boys in six form hopefully the ratios are a little less skewed now!

Southend Grammars are much harder to get into now than when I went but the comprehensive seem to have got better. I no longer live in the area and don't have to worry about grammar schools where we are.