Moving to Ashley Heath Dorset or Alderholt- junior/secondary schools advice please v.bright child

[xanderer]

Hi
Moving out of Salisbury to be closer to New Forest and place of work and thinking of moving to Ashley Heath - does anyone know what to do schoolswise as have very bright 7 year old boy - reading Harry Potter with ease and very good at maths science writing etc... Year two now and a strong level three.
QE school Wimborne looks quite good but we are out of catchment.
Alderholt/Sandleheath could be a possibility but Sandleheath pricey and Alderholt seems quite suburban.
Though we want to move i am not sure about catchment areas for grammars or good comps and whether children can apply to schools out of catchment if they are gifted,
Don't really want to move to Southampton or Bournemouth unless we have to,
Many thanks

Hi I do know that the local school for Ashley Heath is Ferndown Upper which has not got a brilliant reputation.

I live in Ringwood and have friends that live in Ashley Heath. They have their children in Ringwood primary schools in the hope they will get into Ringwood Comp which has an excellent reputation.My dd is in last yr at Ringwood.

You can also get into Bournemouth Boys Grammar as bus goes from Ringwood and probably Ashley Heath as well.
There is a bus to Salisbury Grammars as well from Ringwood.

Yes I have heard mixed reports about Ferndown. Is it difficult to get into the grammars down dorset way as this would be best choice for him and Salisbury a long way - just as long as we won't face oversubscription of Ringwood in a few years- the area in Ringwood and Verwood have grown massively from extra housing recently so big population increase.

Many Thanks for the advice

Bournemouth boys easier to get into than Salisbury.I do know boys that have gone to Bournemouth that I was surprised got in iykwim.

Bournemouth boys has great results as you probably know but I do know some parents who haven't been that impressed with it and have sent to Ringwood for 6th form.

Thanks for info,

Now looks like we may be considering three legged cross for house move and the choice of middle schools is Emmanuel and West Moors then maybe QE Wimborne if we opted for Emmanuel? Or grammar if bright enough.
Interesting what has been said about grammar schools and ease of obtaining a place compared to Salisbury - Salisbury has lots of private schools and parents do use them as a springboard for easier access to the grammar - also they have widened their catchment area and so demand is very high.
Obviously we need to get a place at a first school in three legged cross area which feeds into a local middle school but the school at three legged is outstanding so could be tricky.
Many many thanks for all the info btw

We're thinking of moving to Ashley Heath and not sure what sort of area it is. Interesting thread here as everything that has been said I'm thinking of as well. Does Ashley heath have many young families as it does strike me as a retirement camp. would welcome any views on this particular area for bringing up children. Is it very busy on the A31/and road going through Ashley Heath?
Thanks

Ashley Heath is mainly filled with retired folk but saying that I do know a fair few families with young and older children who live there.
My friend with 2 boys 10 and 6 who go to ringwood schools is failry worried about them not getting into the senior school in Ringwood and will consider private if they are unsuccessful.
I think the area called Matchams on the other side of the A31 is in the Ringwood catchment .

As for the A31, the road is busy at peak hours and especially at weekends and summer when it is regularly at a standstill on a friday evening.

I love the quiet neighbourhoods and large gardens the houses have there but the having to drive kids constantly into ringwood has always put us off moving that way .

There is a bike path to Ringwood from Ashley Heath though but it does mean crossing some failrly busy roads.

I think if you were lucky enough to find a house in a street with other children similar age to yours it would be an ideal place as the streets are safe and quiet enough for kids to play on.