Langley, Darrick wood or hayes

[Feellikerubbish]

We are looking to move into Bromley for secondary schools. Would love to hear more about Darrick wood school, hayes and langley park schools, good and bad...

Also what are the 3 areas like? We have an 8 and 3 year old therefore will be in-year application for primary schools. Anyone have experience with moving into these areas and not being able to get into a primary school of choice? What happened then?

We went to Langley boys and girls open day, was very impressed but didn't manage to see Hayes or Darrick wood.

We currently live in an area where it's multicultural with a close and friendly community, what is the local community like in Orpington, Hayes or Beckenham and what is the crime rates like?

Lastly, which primary schools fall into the catchment for langley park also? And Hayes?

In terms of house budget, we have a max of 650k.

As much info as possible will be much appreciated.

Thank you!

For secondary for Darrick you need to be very close. They are about to build a large housing development on the old basset site next to the school which will only reduce the typical 1 mile catchment. It is a safe area with lots of green open spaces but perhaps not so multicultural as Beckenham. Saying that it isn't devoid of diversity and the nearby grammar schools of Newstead and St Olaves in particular attract a broad section of the community.

Applying for in-year places - my neighbours did this when they moved. They didn't get the primary a few minutes walk away (Crofton) but got allocated another school about a mile and a half away which their children attended for a term and a half while they stayed on the waiting list for Crofton. They then got a place just before having to submit an application for their youngest child who wasn't initially of school age. If they'd had to continue waiting then with youngest child in Crofton they would have gone to top of wait list with sibling priority. They didn't have to wait too long as they were close to the school and Crofton is a large school with six form intake which does make in-year places more likely. Do note that most wait lists don't operate in order of when you go on the list but on their oversubscription criteria like siblings and distance.

Good luck with the move. The borough really is a nice place to live. How about this house, needs some updating but could be a great home: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52170466.html

Thank you Pettswoodmum for the information. The garden is huge!

We moved to Bickley (in Bromley) to be close to Bullers Wood - it is an outstanding language school. It was planned to have Bullers Wood for Boys opened in September 2016, however this has now been deferred to 2017 unfortunately.

We looked at Langley and Darrick Wood, but the catchments are under 1 mile and the schools massively oversubscribed. Both DH and I work close to Cannon street, so Beckenham, Hays and Orpington were considered as overpriced and longer journey for us. Hays is an excellent school, but the houses in the area were not in our budget.

YogaPants, did you have problems with getting into a primary school?

We moved end of August. Applied in year for school in the new borough and by 1st sept had no school, no info. Then we were told to keep the spaces in the old school as it was 2.8 miles from us. I refused to do so as old school was in lewisham and de-registered my DC. Opted for home ed and got school spaces for first week of Oct. in the closest school for us. I decided that the best primary in the area will be long wait and long walk. Sort out all your documents when you arw applying close all bills with the old address. Bromley borough like to be sure that you are really residing here.

And be very patient. The Admissions team works only 2-5 pm mo-fr and it was extremely difficult for us to get in touch during work hours.

Thank you for information.

I was going to say about Bullers Wood too.
That would expand your search.
Ravens Wood is also fantastic.
This would give you more options re primaries: St George's, Bickley, Raglan, Scotts Park... Are all supposedly good (despite the latest Ofsteds) and in catchment for those secondaries.
I think YogaPants' option of home
Ed for a while was spot on rather than start on a school further out then change. Unless you can keep them where you are. Raglan's catchment is quite near to Bromley South station. Would you be able to take your child to their current school on the train for a while until you get a place here.
Actually, Scotts Park, Bickley and St George's could all be near Bromley South and Bickley for the same purpose too.
Otherwise, Pickhurst should be a good primary to then go on to Langley or Hayes.
Hayes is meant to be a fantastic school although I have heard of someone been offered a job whilst not qualified. Only for a few hours so this may be common in other schools?
good luck

Hayes and Langley are both excellent schools. The catchment for Hayes has been under a mile for the last couple of years.

Hayes Primary is a very good school too and we are pleased with it.

I may be biased but I love living in Hayes, it's close to Bromley but still retains a village type feeling. There are a couple of little parks and a large Common for walks.

It's only half an hour by car to Bluewater and about the same to London Bridge by train.