Moving to Toddington, beds - what are schools like/access to grammars

[Schmeevey]

Hi everyone, we may be moving to toddlington which is on the beds borders.

Does anyone know if any child has been accepted from the beds borders for grammar schools? Just keeping options open for the future but would be good to know. Especially from Dunstable toddlington areas?

Seem to be out of the catchment for cedars high school as well - do they often take students outside the catchment area?

thanks in advance!!

Hiya did you manage to find any answers to this perhaps off mumsnet?

we are also looking to move to toddington/Chalgrave area from north London and wondering what schools are like. Looking to move out of London into a slower village life but will miss the great access to schools here

You're on the very east of Beds, so most unlikely to be accepted for Bucks grammars.

Cedars is very well subscribed, but it does still have places. You might be better contacting the school directly?

The whole of Bedfordshire seems to want Bucks as a grammar school! Be warned. It's hard for places because such a huge catchment want them

I am quite far from you in Shefford, Beds and hoping for Bucks grammar for my own (very young) daughter

Ahh fair enough. Toddington is on the far west next to LB and Dunstable, rather than far east?

I saw a post from someone from 10ths ago saying their dc was accepted from Dunstable I think.
but very long time ago!

@canyoubreakagain ahh ok. Have kids been accepted from that area before?

how would you manage the commute just out of interest?

just seeing what options there are very much down the line for us!

Honestly if you're thinking about grammars, I'd move to Bucks so at least you're in catchment. The grammars should have their catchments on their websites. The commute to grammar from east Beds would be very long and tiring. And what would your young Dc do if they had after school clubs or matches? Long trip for you to get them/them to get home on public transport.

See eg cdn.realsmart.co.uk/bdf93d43bb7751ffba3d5fac574f1624/uploads/2020/12/08172636/Aylesbury-High-School-Catchment-Area-Map.pdf

@hellsBells246 thanks, it’s still a while a way (10 years) and I just asked to get an idea. I guess if we feel ds is academically bright we may consider moving but if settled then probably not. I was grammar school educated but still feel I didn’t achieve many life skills and made poor choices in the few years that followed. GS certainly do have the prestige but it is not all that in the grand scheme of things long term.

harlington upper school seem quite good in terms of results though

Bucks publish data on distance from grammar dc are admitted. Rarely as far as the villages you are looking at. Best advice: if you want a Bucks grammar, move to Bucks. If you have no idea if dc is bright or not, it’s a bit of a lottery. Waddesdon school is the best of the rest. So I’d go and live in Waddesdon catchment. It’s north of Aylesbury.

Thanks we are not desperate for grammars and we love our home that we have found. Was just asking the question. I believe children will do well in the right environment and not always linked to grammars! Thank you!

You did put grammar in the title! @Schmeevey