That old chestnut - commuting to London and secondary schools - are there any home counties that are known to be better than others for state education?

[jennifersofia]

That is it really - we are needing to relocate and trying to narrow it down. Can you help with your combined wisdom?
TIA

My colleague lives in Harpenden, and has one child in infants (the school is a infant and junior under the same head, but different buildings and regarded as separate) and one in secondary.

She is extremely happy with both schools, and the secondary really works for her DS1 who is very bright but lazy and dyslexic

Don't know where posters have found comprehensives in Bucks (maybe Milton Keynes?). Where I live, in South Bucks, there are only see Grammars and Secondaries and Grammars always look good because they've creamed off the 'best' children! However, I wouldn't say that my son has received an exemplary education at one!

Any opinions on St Clement Dane's in Chorleywood?

Ladies (and men?) this is really useful, I am definitely taking notes, and we now have a list of places to visit. Any more?

pranma - I went there but that was 20 years ago, it was brilliant then though! sorry not much help I'm sure its still good x

The grammars in Chelmsford (in Essex) - boys and girls - are also very good, get very impressive results (both my younger sisters were there). Competition is stiff, though; and the comprehensives in the Chelmsford/Brentwood area seem fairly average (no doubt partly as a result). Private schools around there are also not brilliant, though it depends what you want (there's Brentwood - large minor public school, very good facilities, academically not amazing though maybe on the way up; lots of scholarships and so on though).

It's only about half an hour into Liverpool Street from Shenfield, a few minutes longer from Chelmsford. Good service though; and once you get beyond the London sprawl the north Essex countryside - roughly from Brentwood northwards - is actually lovely, despite the reputation.

No one has mentioned Surrey so I will chip in. Heathside (Weybridge) and Hinchley Wood (in Hinchley Wood - what a surprise) are both excellent comps. Kingston has the grammar system as does nearby Sutton. However, I believe the comps at least are heavily over subscribed and you have to live very close by to get in.

DONT MOVE
stay in Lodnon

We're in Bucks (Grammar School system) and ds's grammar school is fab, extremely high results, but would echo what others have said, in that if they fail the 11 plus you'd prob. have to think about independent.

I can confirm that Uplands Community College in Wadhurst is good - my husband's niece went there and is now at Cambridge and her brother is finishing his A levels there.

Howard of Effingham Nr Leatherhead

Ashted in Dorking

Oxted School - Oxted

St Bede's Redhill (have to be religious though and over subscribed by loads) are all good

Some reasonable ones in W. Sussex as well.are they sporty at all?

Having failed the 12+ in South Bucks I would never expose my dd to selective education system. Stay in london, there is so much more to offer children which goes beyond school.

flying mum - do you mean Ashcombe Dorking? It is supposed to be very good.

essex grammer school places are reputed to be the toughest in the counrty - certainly those in the essex/ north London borders are hugely over subscribed - ie you are looking at a 95% pass rate to stand a chance

Am in Essex and dd is going to be sitting the eleven+.
Essex grammar schools are massively over subscribed, only in ten applicants are successful.
Your child would need to be working at yr8/9 level to pass the maths element for example. Also, some of the grammar schools are known for discretely suggesting pupils move elsewhere if they don't keep up throughout their academic career there.

That said, the grammars are very good. Chelmsford grammar schools are particularly hard to get a place for because of the easy commute from London, they are highly selective as well.

The Southend grammar schools are lovely, very good pastoral as well as academic reputation.

However, the state comps are generally shite in my opinion. Hence why we are going down the grammar/indie route.
All three of the nearest state schools for us are failing. So not much choice unless your child is bright enough to get into grammar.
People are tutoring here from around yr 2 for the eleven+. (not us i hasten to add though!)