Considering moving to Goring-Woodcote-Whitchurch on Thames

[Anelore]

We are a family of 5, with children aged 8, 6 and 3.

It feels really silly moving to an area we do not know but after searching for about 5 years, it turns out we think this might be the one for us.
However, we do not actually know the area very well. We were looking at Farnham but we found this might not be our crowds and trains might not be getting DH on time in the morning.
We thought it might suit us as more countrysidey but access to Reading, Oxford and London easy, small secondary (eldest child high achieving but slightly on spectrum so does not deal with places that are too peopley), commute which could get husband at Marylebone for 6:30AM.

There aren't a lot of things on the market for what we are looking for, and i was wondering if it feels isolating to live in the in between villages such as Crays pond, Whitchurch hill as some compromise might have to be done. We do everything on foot here (sw London) and it's hard to imagine what it would be like to have to jump in the car all the time. Wondering about how tight the community is (we have an amazing street here, and a great support network but with three children the house is just too tight).

I am worried that changing the kids school is going to be a headache as the schools seem to be oversuscribed. Has anyone got through this lately?
Just wondering if anyone has gone through the process of relocating in the area recently and whether the feedback regarding Goring on Thames having a great family community accurate. Thoughts about community in Woodcote?
Or should we just give up on the country dream and aim for Caversham?

Any thoughts welcome, thank you.

Hello OP, appreciate this post is a year old now but wondering how you got on?

I just spotted this as I live in Goring, but also feeling nosy now!

We are still trying to move as we had to stop last year and are back at it this year. Now hesitating putting and offer between RG8 (Goring/Whitchurch hill Woodcote triangle) and HP17 (Thame/high Wycombe/Aylesbury triangle).
And as you can see, no one replied then so 🤷🏻‍♀️
I am sorry not to be more help! Still welcoming comments.

Sorry to hear that OP, would be interesting to hear people's opinions as we are considering a similar move but with younger children!

Good luck!

I would say that Goring has a superb community for families and others. I've round it to be really quite special. Small enough to know most people in your age group, but big enough to have stuff going on. Lots of people move in with young children are are keen to get to know everyone, so it is not closed at all. But then they stay a long time - it isn't transitory. We don't use the car all that much at all as can easily get by train to work in Oxford, or to Reading/London. And there are basic facilities in the village. Personally I wouldn't really want to live in Crays Pond, Whitchurch hill etc as I like to be able to do most stuff on foot or train. Woodcote is OK as it is bigger, but obviously still lacking the station, but just not as nice as Goring. They are of course all cheaper though. You might also consider Pangbourne if going in the London direction, though I've been told the community feel isn't quite as strong.

@irregularegular - thank you for the lovely response. That's reassuring (and useful!) to know.

The area around goring is lovely. I have teacher friends in the area and the primary schools in that area are mostly (all?) undersubscribed so you’ll have no issue getting kids in there. Not sure about the secondary (do you mean the downs? It does have an excellent reputation) - but if you move before the oldest is in y6 you’ll be applying as part of the normal cycle anyway, and I believe some local schools are ‘feeder’ schools and that features in the admissions code.

I don’t know the other area so well but my experience of Wycombe and Aylesbury generally is that it isn’t as nice!

Woodcote secondary school is very good. My kids went to Reading grammars but many of my friends kids went there and I’d have been happy for mine to go too. There are school buses from Goring.

PS - irregularregular and pinkspeakers are both me. It depends whether I am on phone or laptop!

I know someone who lives in Woodcote, and loves it. She said she that once a family moves there they very rarely move away.

@modgepodge @pinkspeakers @irregularegular - thank you for that info!

And thank you @RollerSkateLikePeggy !

@Anelore I live in HP14, so quite close to the second area you are considering - if there are any specific questions I can help with, please ask.
I have an ADHD/ASD DS at grammar in HW, and a friend has an ASD DS at grammar in Aylesbury.

Thanks @TeaandHobnobs we have an offer on something in RG4 at the moment and waiting to hear as due to dropping birth rates they pretty much have a choice of 3/4 secondary which all have their merits. I chickened out of grammars because I am concerned my high achieving ASD child wouldn’t succeed within a pressurised environment. It might be the wrong plan, I don’t know he is very ambitious and very bright but crumble when emotional.
If this doesn’t work out I will definitely ask!