Areas with great primary and secondary schools with grammar option

[CuriousMe2]

DS is in Year 1 and doing academically well with Outstanding grades so far from school. We are planning to buy a house within commutable to London within an hour and a half max. With grammar schools and good secondary school options as fallback plans.
Our budget is max 550k and looking for 3bhk semi or detached but new builds only.We are from Indian background in our early 40s.and comparatively new to this country currently in Maidenhead but no new builds in that range here and no options for grammars.
We are looking at Chesham, Rugby, Watford areas but I'm not sure where else to look at?
How are guildford areas for state schools?
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP.

KES in Stratford upon Avon is an excellent boys grammer and Warwick/Leamington Spa very commutable.
Great state schools in Warwick (Myton) as a fallback.

These are both super selective. Children in Bromley and Orpington go to Kent or Bexley grammars.

Not exactly 'super-selective' nowadays, although they used to be once. Just very small, and very sought after. Because they are the only selective schools in the borough, only the very bright are accepted - but there's nothing to stop parents choosing to try. Certainly Bromley children can also apply for Bexley or Kent grammar schools, and there are more of them so more places, but it isn't always practical for children to get to them from where they live. My point is that many of the Bromley all-ability schools are very good indeed anyway. (Not all, though!)

Not all parents pay for coaching. You can certainly do some yourself. Grammars also offer places to fsm dc with lower scores. The secret is not to get over invested and have a good back up school. Some non grammars in Bucks are as good as comps elsewhere.

If you want a grammar school with alternative excellent comprehensive, then Long Crendon/Haddenham would be good options. You would get a place at one of the Aylesbury grammars if they passed the Bucks test, and if not they would have a catchment place at Lord William's in Thame which is supposed to be excellent. The 11+ is such a high stakes test, I always think it's worth knowing what you would do if they had a really bad day, especially when you're looking several years in advance.

You’re unlikely to get a Lord Williams place living in Haddenham these days and new builds are in short supply in Long Crendon.

This is the catchment for Lord Williams. Lots of new builds in Haddenham which is not catchment. It is catchment for Aylesbury secondaries - not so good . Struggling to think of any new builds in Long Crendon. Long Crendon is also in Aylesbury Grammar catchment as well.

It’s not necessary to have all this angst about the exams. Most who are expected to pass do. My Dd was at school with Kirby of bright enough dc and the brightest were not coached. Parents knew dc were bright! Just exam technique is what you need.

An interesting comparison between Waddesdon and Lord Williams. Both have the same GCSE score but Bucks gets higher GCSE scores overall. Plus Waddesdon has the higher Attainment 8. Remember Waddesdon is a secondary modern. Not a comp. catchment is tiny but it’s the best back up in Bucks. I guess the op won’t get in with religious affiliation but I would live in catchment or Long Crendon.

Tunbridge Wells or Sevenoaks.

Mid Kent has the Maidstone grammars. NE Kent has Wilmington and Gravesend grammars. Gravesend has Cyclopark for cycling and a big community from Indian background. None of these schools are superselective unlike Reading or St Olave's

Billericay in Essex is a short commute into London. All of the primaries are very good as are both of the secondary schools.

The Chelmsford grammars are a bus ride away and there are also school buses that go to Westcliff girls/ boys and Southend boys.

Have you considered Salisbury, Wiltshire? Really good boys’ (Bishop Wordsworth’s) and girls’ (South Wilts.) Grammar schools, both with co-Ed 6th forms. Lots of London commuters in the area - direct journey into Waterloo about an hour and a half. House prices reasonable and lots of new builds around the outskirts, if that’s what you want! Also surrounded by countryside and with lots of green spaces, even in the city.

Chelmsford is a good bet, good rail links to London etc, 2 outstanding secondaries in Bealieu and Moulsham if you don't get into the grammars. (Being in catchment for one of those 2 is best bet for a robust plan B.) Chelmsford grammars demand ridiculously high scores but also have a catchment so if you are in catchment your chances are fractionally higher. There are also 2 grammars in Colchester which are super selective, there are kids who go there from Chelmsford. The Southend grammars I'd say are too far to commute but some do do it.

I've done a bit more digging into and could see new builds in Binfield /Wokingham which would be Reading catchments.
Any idea about good secondary school catchments there? Eg King's academy seems a relatively new school any idea around places there for in year admissions?.

I’m not sure to be honest, I’m not as familiar with that area, it’s probably worth joining a few local social media groups and asking there. I’d also check King’s admission policy closely as it runs two primaries and I’m not sure if they get preference for admissions. I know a couple of people who are happy with Bohunt Wokingham, there was certainly new builds going up in Arborfield should still be within Reading Boys’ catchment.

following

I also have same requirements.
Our budget is 700 max. We need a detached and have 2 boys so we are looking for boy or mixed grammar school

could anyone please recommend the good area. Thanks a lot

Gravesend is NW Kent and has two grammars- Gravesend and Mayfield (not sure whether they are still single sex at intake?). Dartford and Crayford both have grammars (single sex, I believe?). Chatham and Rochester have a number too.

Gravesend isn't particularly 'naice' in places (though some areas are nice enough!) nor is Chatham. Rochester a bit nicer, and you might be in catchment for the grammars in the villages in-between.

@LinhMeo Aylesbury or Waddesdon. I don’t think Wendover or Haddenham will be detached for that. Or look at Buckingham or Winslow for Royal Latin School. Consider your transport needs carefully though. Buckingham has no station!

Sevenoaks/ Tonbridge/ Tunbridge Wells ,grammar schools and decent other schools.

Also in the same situation. We are going to buy in catchment for good grammar but not sure of area, maybe Kent or Sutton? Please tell me the area.
Also maybe apply for bursary for private school. But what is the best private school in these areas?
We have 700,000 to spend on house