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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Gerrards Cross or Suffolk?

29 replies

AbigailS · 02/05/2011 15:26

I thought I'd just posted this but can't find it.
DP may have to relocate, but we would have the option of Gerrards Cross area or Suffolk (Ipswich / Bury St Edmunds). Please can anyone offer any insight into schools in these areas. Also pros and cons of the two would also be appreciated. I'm leaning towards Suffolk - more affordable housing, nearer the coast and open spaces, but DP prefers Buckinghamshire to be nearer his friends and London.

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IndigoBell · 02/05/2011 15:29

Bucks has the grammar school system. So that would be a big factor for me....

Gerrards Cross is very nice.

Original poster

AbigailS · 02/05/2011 16:04

Yes Indigo I remember going to Gerrards Cross about 15 years ago. I looked very nice, some amazingly posh parts, which makes me worry we would only afford a tent to live in. Grammar School homework might suffer in a tent. Assuming my DC are grammar school material (!)

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IndigoBell · 02/05/2011 16:07

I'd go for Suffolk :)

I can't stand a 'nice' villages which I can't afford

And, I personally don't like the grammar school system.....

Plus, Suffolk is near the sea....

fruitshootsandheaves · 02/05/2011 16:13

Bury is nicer than Ipswich IMO, although I do quite like Ipswich. Where I live is worse than both and I'm in Suffolk
don't move here, (begins with H and has a large illuminated 'loo roll' as the towns architecture feature).

wingandprayer · 02/05/2011 16:18

GC is lovely, my family live there, but I believe that the best primary schools there can be incredibly hard to get into. It comes down to exact yardage within catchment area and church attendance for some of the schools.

Original poster

AbigailS · 02/05/2011 21:47

We've just spent the evening researching areas and housing. I'd prefer small town, or a large village at a pinch. If its to be Gerrards Cross / Stoke Poges / Farnham area we'd have to downsize on the house and I'm not sure that's going to work. Most of the Suffolk villages look tiny with few shops compared to those around GC, so I'd rather opt for a town if it's Suffolk. Not sure I'm that keen on Ipswich, so looking further west in Bury st Edmunds or even Newmarket.
Hmmm! Decisions! And that's before we even start thinking about schools and my job!

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Kiggy · 03/05/2011 17:45

The Kesgrave / Woodbridge area of Suffolk is nice and has good schools.

Kiggy · 03/05/2011 17:51

Be aware some areas of Suffolk still have a three tier school system which is in the process of being "reorganised" into the more standard 2 tier, so you would need to check that schools you are looking at are not on the planned closure list.

Corriewatcher · 03/05/2011 21:51

Unless you've ruled out Bucks, have you looked at some of the villages near GX? EG Seer Green is on direct train line into London, has its own primary school, and handful of shops.

snortwithmirth · 03/05/2011 22:04

I live in GX, my dd went to the local school, it is a good school, but the town itself is souless, the properties cost a fortune, and we're looking to move away. For the money it costs to live here, there are lots of better places to live imo.
Also, growing up my dd was definitely in the minority living in a 'normal' 3 bed house, alot of her friends had ponies or swimming pools, and there was snobbery from other children and parents. Its all quite materialistic.
Some of the surrounding villages have a bit more soul, but still v pricey.

wheelsonthebus · 04/05/2011 15:53

Woodbridge is fab and Ipswich High has a new head and is highly rated (presuming you have a girl!). Not great links to London though.

weblette · 04/05/2011 15:58

Agree with snortwithmirth about GX itself, although there are some nice villages around which aren't as expensive.

Butkin · 04/05/2011 16:36

Abigail - we live between Newmarket and Bury and DD (yr 3) goes to school in Bury.

What ages are your children and are you considering state or private?

The A14 is the godsend to parents living in Suffolk - although a nightmare if there are traffic jams. We are considering sending DD to Ipswich High School when she is 11. Will be hefty commute but apparently worth it.

Lizcat · 04/05/2011 16:36

Also if you are considering Newmarket beware of the weird county boundaries there some of it is Cambridgeshire and some Suffolk. Around Newmarket and Bury there are a couple of 'large' villages that have a good range of facilities like Burwell and Barrow.
Be aware that in Suffolk population is lower and so infrastructure is not so good in places for example Bury looks close to the coast, but which ever route you take it is about 2 hours to get there.

ClenchedBottom · 04/05/2011 17:32

Lizcat, not sure how you drive but it is perfectly possible (and legal) to drive from Bury to, say Southwold in 1.5 hours!

Butkin · 04/05/2011 18:40

We live in next village to Barrow and we can do Hunstanton (our favourite beach because we can ride on it) in 90 minutes.

Original poster

AbigailS · 04/05/2011 21:26

Very strange! I just posted a message and it disappeared? So apologies if I double post.
Lots of positive replies about Suffolk, so thanks ladies. We are about 90% it will be either Newmarket or Bury towns if we make the move now. We hope to go over and stay this weekend to have a look at areas and houses generally, and to scope out a few schools. It will be the state route for both my DC, rather than private, so I'll need to phone LA and talk about spaces. Ahhhh!

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vintageteacups · 04/05/2011 22:16

I've lived in Bury St Edmunds (loved it - there's a good catholic school there if you are catholic and a grammar school I think?) and in a rural part of Suffolk, 12 miles west of Ipswich. Ipswich, whilst nice for the odd bit of shopping and a few drinks in the newly redeveloped waterside area, I wouldn't choose to live there.

Bury is lovely but yes, not as close to the coast as you'd imagine. However, it's still not that far really. The open spaces and Thetford Forest are fab for children and although the 3 tier school system is ending, the majority of counties don't have middle schools so I wouldn't worry about that.

I don't however, know GX so can't compare.

eggsit · 04/05/2011 22:48

Bucks is over-rated, over-priced and over-populated (IMHO).

But it is handy for London.

Butkin · 05/05/2011 09:40

We'll be at South Suffolk Show at Ampton (nr Bury) on Sunday if you're looking to entertain your DCs!

I work in Newmarket and catch the train once a fortnight to London. We driver to Wittlesford and from there it is an hour to Tottenham Hale (tube) or 70 mins to Liverpool Street.

Lots of other links including from Stowmarket etc.

Original poster

AbigailS · 10/05/2011 20:39

Well, Suffolk it is! I know the glorious weather helped a great deal, but we had an amazing weekend there. Saturday driving around Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds looking at housing areas and schools (from the gates!) and a quick trot around the shops, then Sunday morning at the coast and afternoon tea before driving back in the evening.
So can anyone recommend good primary (and middle schools) in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds please?

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ClenchedBottom · 11/05/2011 12:16

Bumping for you - I don't know the schools in that part of Suffolk, but just wanted to say that I'm glad that your visit went so well!

Butkin · 11/05/2011 14:01

Abigail - too many States schools to mention and depends if you'd go to a religious school or not (good Catholic schools in both places). I work in Newmarket and live nr Bury so know lots of people who can comment on different schools. Let us know your short list and I'll give you our thoughts. Our DD goes to South Lee in Bury which is an excellent private school that we'd highly recommend.

anonandlikeit · 11/05/2011 14:06

I live in Suffolk & LOVE it, moved here about 15 yrs ago from London & would never move back.

Kids are at great schools, huge choice & not battling for place as not overpopulated.

I would look at Woodbridge or Franlingham is good & has one of the best comprehensives in the country!!
If looking at Ipswich i would look at Kesgrave, Martlesham areas, also very good schools.

anonandlikeit · 11/05/2011 14:07

Soory only just seent hat you've narrowed your search... you'll love Suffolk but i'm not familiar with that areas schools (I'm nearer Woddbridge)

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