Moving to the area...

[Chiara72]

Hi there

My husband has just been offered a job working out of an office in Marlowe (although he will be travelling a little). I'm currently living in Australia (although we're Irish) and trying to orchestrate the move from here is a bit of a head wreck. We have five children, ranging from 13 down to 3 and I have to get this move right because we've moved around quite a bit over the years and the kids (and the 13 year old in particular) require some stability school wise. We'll be renting initially and I'm looking at the rental websites and trying to make sense of the area but really need some advice.

What we want is to rent in a rural area near a village with small schools and a nice community. My husband is well used to a commute so anywhere in the county - or indeed neighbouring counties - is fine.

It looks very pretty there, we're currently living in the outback so the green is very attractive to us!

Any advice please?

Bucks is lovely. Pretty much anywhere round Marlow is wonderful.

I think your choices will depend on housing costs, private vs state schooling, 11+ based schooling or not.

A house big enough for 5 kids will be bloody expensive in Bucks. Perhaps look on rightmove.co.uk to see what you get for your budget that's within a reasonable commute of Marlow. I'd look at how much it costs to buy even though you will be renting initially. No point renting somewhere you can't afford to buy.

Lots of people in Bucks are rich. They send their kids to independent schools. Some areas have lots of independents and not so many good state schools.

Many villages only have one state primary school. Sometimes it is religious (usually Church of England). Consider whether you are happy with that. We weren't.

Bucks has the 11+. There are some fantastic grammar schools. Also fantastic community colleges (new term for secondary moderns). Consider whether you would be comfortable with your kids doing the 11+ and whether you'd be happy with the school they'd go to depending on their 11+ results. Hertfordshire and Berkshire have the comprehensive system and would probably be reasonable to commute from.

We used The Good Schools Guide heavily when hunting for the right village. We had a one year online access subscription. Well worth the money.

Also, train station proximity and local buses. Better in some places than others. See what google maps directions tells you about public transport into London / Oxford and local villages where your teenage DCs friends might live.

We live in Chalfont St Giles. Moved here 4 years ago. We have 3 DC, all primary school. Loads of other incomers live here too. We have lots of friends who have lived abroad or are not British themselves as well as proper locals. I am British but not English. The village has a lovely atmosphere. We felt welcome.

Thanks for your reply, very helpful. With five kids private schooling is out of the question so it's probably a good idea to check out where the best state schools are alright, shall look at that good schools guide. Yes rent is very high I notice, and our budget of 1500 a month doesn't seem to be doing much in the area - will have to consider neighbouring counties I think.

I had no idea the 11+ still existed, they've been through several curriculums (we lived in the middle east too) so are quite adaptable...comprehensive might be easier though. Hmm lots to think about, thanks again.

Have a look at Maidenhead and Bourne End. No grammar school system and nice areas. Slightly more affordable and still close to Marlow.