relocating to Buckinghamshire

[dulwichcuckoo]

Hi all, this is the first time I have ever posted on a forum! I really need some advise, we are looking to move out of london to buckinghamshire,my husband is freelance but mainly works in uxbridge or at theBBC he mainly drives to work, we have 3 children 4,6 and 8 my middle child a boy has aspergers, but will be schooled in a mainstream school, any advise on a nice area to live with good schools? I would ideally not like to be too rural!

example of property prices and all the advantages of living in Bucks without the costs associated with the county.

Not quite that cut and dry mumbles. I know a number of children who passed the 11+ and elected to attend Waddesdon anyway as they felt it was the best option regardless of the grammar schools.

Chesham is great, on tube line, easy drive to beeb, good schools, lovely park and lots of countryside. My two go to Amersham school and have done brilliantly well really pleased with it. If you want any local info then please ask

I would love to be able to afford to live in Chorleywood :) Hence my knowledge of north Bucks....

Aylesbury is reasonable too (alongside MK outskirts mentioned above)

Chorleywood and Rickmansworth are great places to live. The schools are fantastic, but there is a shortage of places, and many local families end up being offered at Westfield in Watford, which is not popular! The catchment for Clement Dane and Ricky School seems to be shrinking every year - plans to build a new secondary are under way, but it won't be for a few years yet. I'll see if I can find the link.

wd3school.wordpress.com/

or the facebook page:

www.facebook.com/groups/286321167780/

Although it talks about Mapel Cross and Mill End, it also affects much of Rickmansworth and Chorleywood. I hear on the grapevine, that no one living in Heronsgate (Chroleywood) got Clement Dane last year.

Hello, Im an estate agent in Thame !!! The main rail link is Haddenham and Thame Parkway and its about 45 mins to London. there are some fab villages. Cuddington, Chearsley, Brill, Dinton, Thame itself and Haddenham itself and Long Crendon. i would avoid Amersham Missenden etc due to HS2. If you want to message me will be more than happy to give you advice :)

My worry is my kids are just middle of the road and may not pass the 11+ especially as ds has aspergers, is this a good enough reason not move to bucks?

I wouldn't move to a grammar school area if I was worried that my kids wouldn't pass the 11+, I'd move somewhere with good comps instead. Although there are plenty of kids with Aspergers at Grammar and other selective schools.

Not ALL Bucks grammars are great - particularly for those who are of a more average ability..... just like my ds.

Yes, toddle, some children do go out of area to comprehensives. We went to see one in Maidenhead which looked fantastic. It was a shame about the waiting list of over 1000. I would have loved ds to go there rather than the grammar school he ended up at.

Mumblesmum which Maidenhead comp did you see that you thought looked fantastic? I live in the area and am rather at the ones I know. Newlands has a good reputation but not good if you are looking for place for a boy!

Furze Platt - we loved the feel of it and I was really impressed by the children taking us around the school. However, that was 9 years ago, so can't comment on what it's like now!
We were miles out of catchment, and in some ways, I wish I'd moved! The breadth of the curriculum was so much greater than the narrow academic curriculum he was offered at the grammar.

I think a lot has changed since then! We are in catchment for that school but there is no way I'd send ds there. Shame as the primary school has a very good reputation.

That's really sad. Funny how things change.

No, I don't mean they went out of area. I mean they opted for the secondary school despite having the opportunity to attend the grammar. They went to the 'fail school' because it was better in the areas they were concerned with. No regrets about the decision either. You don't have to attend grammar school or travel to a comp just because you pass the 11+. You can go wherever you like. The secondary school bends over backward to take these kids, as I'm sure you can imagine! It helps the league tables...

toddle I've only known of that happen once, with a pair of twins. One passed and one failed, so the parents sent both to the non-grammar school.

But yes, I agree that's possible. Not a great option in some areas of Bucks!

I think the best primary schools in Chorleywood are Russell and Christchurch. St Clement Danes (secondary) is supposed to be excellent. I'd really recommend that if you want to keep your children together at senior school then you need to steer clear of Bucks.

There are lovely areas in all of Bucks. Princes Risborough is a market town and has fantastic amenities, great schools - primary and secondary.

There are some nice shops, fabulous hairdressers, and perfect commute into London every day. And best of all - not affected by HS2.

Gt Missenden, Old Amersham, Chesham Bois all nice, but pricey and not much to do for children without getting in your car.

My dgc are at Russell

Hi dulwichcuckoo - do you mind me asking if you made the move to Bucks? I'm currently living in East Dulwich but we've been here a while and are seriously considering a move out to bucks, primarily for the high standard of schools. I also work at the been like your husband. We're nervous about leaving such a lovely area and I just wondered if you'd mind sharing how you found the move (if you made it ultimately). What did you miss most about dulwich? And what do you think you gained? I'd be really interested to know if you're willing to share.

Hi Could you please tell me a good area to move into in bucks, i have two primary girls for reception and year 2 and moving for their education.......