*Moving to Saffron Walden, Essex , in August - does anyone live nearby?*

[SaffyCat]

I am moving from Surrey to Saffron Walden in mid-August with my husband, 7yr old son and 1yr old daughter. We don't know anyone in the area yet and I would love to meet other local mums (am happy to drive a few miles) and also to find out about toddler groups/recomended family activities.

[milenalee]

Hi kwitfor, we are moving to saffron walden from abroad end of July. My two older girls are going to friends but my 9 year old son was rejected because they have too many other special needs kids in his class. He has apd which is effectively like dyslexia. Plus he hasn't been taught in English though english is his mother tongue. He's is going to st Mary's.

I don't know anyone there and would be happy to meet other moms.

[Kwhitfor]

Hello, we are looking at moving to Saffron Walden this summer as my husbands office is now in Cambridge ( near addenbrookes). Does anyone have any experience of the friends school? I have a 5 year old boy and 8 year old girl. My DS is struggling with his phonics etc and us currently being assessed by an educational psychologist ( suspected Dyslexia) so we need somewhere that can give him support in the future. Help all advice welcome

[immykins]

Hi,
We are moving from North London to Saffron Walden next month and are looking for places for our children. I know St Marys doesn't do as well as the other schools but I like the idea of a small school and the latest Ofsted says it is improving. Does anyone have any info about it at present? We will be in the catchment for RA Butler but there is a waiting list.
Many Thanks for any help!
Also looking for ballet classes for my 4 year old and a violin teacher for my 5 year old.

[WKMum]

Sorry - I meant to ask whether there are particular 'feeder' schools.

Thanks!

[WKMum]

Hello,

We are considering a move to SW (or surrounding villages) for secondary schools.

I would be very grateful for any advice on catchment areas, admissions/selection processes for Newport Grammar and SWCH - are they both equally good? Do either of them have particular strengths in arts or sciences etc.? Am I right in thinking that they have no entrance exams (i.e. are not academically selective)?

I'd love to hear from people who currently have (or recently had) DCs attend either school. All experiences good or bad!

Thanks so much!

[Catherine26]

Hi Prestonbub,

Your first how exciting! How are things going? We live in Cambridge but are not far from Linton at all. We've been meaning to try Playdaze so could maybe meet there if you lived so we get some peace and a chance to chat whilst my eldest runs about :)

[Prestonbub]

Hi Catherine26, i live in linton just near SW, would love to meet up for a chat. I'm 25 and 8 weeks pregnant with my first and freaking out! I'm in australia atm home on 30th oct, any time after then would be great!

[Catherine26]

Hi All,

Though I'm not in SW I grew up there and live in Cambridge now with my OH and two girls - 19 months and 5 months. Thought I'd say hello as my parents still live in the area and often come down if anyone fancies getting together.

[ClareL]

My DD is already in a school in SW and will prob not move her again..wherever we end up moving to. I was hoping to buy a house in SWCHS catchment but the housing market is quite slow in this area...and quite expensive..

[daphnedill]

I think you'll find that they'll find a place for you at SWCHS. My daughter was found a place at the beginning of Year 9. It's a neighbourhood comp, not like those schools with selective complicated admissions rules. You might find the primary schools are more of a problem. I had a real fight on my hands to get my DS into the local village primary.

If there isn't a place at SWCHS, try Helena Romanes in Dunmow. It had a bad reputation for a while, but it's really improved over the last couple of years. I worked there a few years ago and have recently been doing supply teaching there - I've really noticed the difference. You could always get a place there and keep your DS on SWCHS's waiting list. There is a lot of movement at SWCHS, as it's such a big school and new pupils are always starting. They also take a number of pupils into the sixth form, provided academic criteria are met.

[ClareL]

Hi, I moved to SW in July 09 and gradually finding my feet. Does anybody know what happens if you apply for secondary school place whilst in catchment and then move before receiving your acceptance. We are currently renting and cannot find a house to buy for love nor money. We apply for Secondary in September...keeping my fingers crossed that something comes up in the meantime.

Ellieanita - I have a 10yr daughter and a 6 yr old son and we occasionally go to Tumbledowns after school on a Friday... my DD doesn't really like it that much but my DS does.

[ellieanita]

Hi SaffyCat, I've just seen this thread. I'm in Stortford so not too far away and I have a 5 year old daughter. Have you been to Tumbledowns yet?

[Lilymaid]

Amy
You are on Mumsnet, not Netmums (not the same thing at all) but am bumping this message for you.
Check out Netmums as well as they have local groups.

[AThornton84]

Hiya,
Im new to Netmums and Saffron Walden, my name is Amy Im 25 and have a daughter who will be 2 soon. Does anyone know of any 2-3 groups in SW? I have had a look online but can't find any and don't have a hv yet.
Would be greatful for any advice.
Amy

[hocuspontas]

There may be some leeway with the deadline (about a month I think) in special circumstances - e.g. exchange of contracts. I'd get in touch with the LEA to find out exactly.

[Lilymaid]

Check directly with SWCHS. It is an oversubscribed school and so will have fairly tight rules - and Newport Free Grammar isn't easy to get into either.
I suppose that if there are no places available you may be offered a place at Mountfitchet, as that has been undersubscribed in the past, but I don't think it compares academically.
(By the way, the South Cambridgeshire schools are not generally open to students in Essex - and the Essex schools to students in South Cambs, so probably no good there either).

[Millarkie]

I know nothing about secondary schools but I'm bumping this for you Josifeen! Hope someone can help you.
(Where do kids go if not SWCH - is there just Newport or are there some not so well performing schools around?)

[josifeen]

I am selling my house in Edinburgh and want to move to Saffron Walden. I am worried that if the move happens after the end of Oct my son (10) won't be considered for SWHS as there is such demand for places. Is it possible to get in if you arrive after the deadline (26th October)?

[ClareL]

We have also been checking Rightmove for the last 18 months as it took so long for us to sell our house. As previous poster mentioned there is not that much housing available. We also now think that we will end up moving into one of the villages for choice and value for money.

[viksters]

Thanks for the replies - they're really helpful. We'll definitely be checking these out next time. (smile)

[Lilymaid]

If you cross the county border into Cambridgeshire, Viksters, Linton has a range of shops and services as well as schooling up to 16 (I think the Infants School and Village College are currently rated OFSTED Outstanding). It is easily commutable from London either from Whittlesford or Audley End station.

[Millarkie]

Newport has a bakers, farm shop/deli, and a reasonably comprehensive village store. There are probably others that are similar but I haven't explored enough yet

[viksters]

Whoops! Sorry about the mumsnet/netmums mistake!

Thanks for the advice - the reason we are looking at SW as opposed to a nearby village is because I don't want to be getting in the car for everything. Are there any larger villages where you can walk to shops to get your day to day bits and pieces?

Thanks for any help.

[Millarkie]

I don't think places get snapped up - I think there is a lack of property on the market (have been looking regularly because we have friends who want to move here), even when we bought in 07 we had the choice of only 2 houses.
I haven't come across any no-go areas (not like London anyway) but there are some estates and in general, homes on estates here are not as sought-after as those which are non-estate. Since you have a 3 yr old it is worth looking into school catchments (but all but 1 school are ofsted 1/2 so most places ok for that too).
By the way - Netmums is a different website so it's not a good idea to get the spelling of mumsnet wrong!
We moved to a village - not something we were necessarily thinking about, would have been just as happy with a similar house in SW but now we are here I am so happy that we ended up in the village because the sense of community is so strong and there are lots of things to get involved in.