Primary schools (state and private) in MARLOW

[Awomanwalksintoabar]

Hi all, I hope someone is around who can help me. We're currently living abroad, but we're biting the bullet for various reasons, and planning to move home to the UK for a September school start.

My children are 7 (boy) and 8 (girl). Our preferred location is Marlow, for family reasons, and Bucks more generally, because at least one of the children is smart, and I think would probably make grammar school in the future.

My plan is to rent a house initially, then buy at our leisure. The children have had a fair amount of disruption in their short lives, so I want to get them into the school they can stay at until they move up to secondary, and I also want them at the same school, so they find the transition easier. So basically we can rent wherever the school is. But for state, it's like a chicken and egg situation, right?! We can't apply for school until we've rented a house. And how do we know whether there will then be a place at the school?! People must do this all the time - how does it work, can you advise me?

We are also considering private schools - Crown House, maybe, and further afield Chesham Prep. What other co-ed private prep schools are there in the area? I understand places are probably limited, but it would be great to have some recommendations so I can make a list of them to phone.

This is a bit of a brain dump, I'm sorry. But the TL;DR version is: how do school admissions work when you're coming from a different area? And please can anyone recommend state primary or co-ed prep schools in or around Marlow?

Thanks for reading!!

Have you considered Henley?

Rupert house (independent). Trinity (state)

Ah no, Henley makes the "family reasons" a bit TOO close, if you know what I mean! Plus I want the Bucks grammar school option for later, if at all possible...

I really wouldn’t consider Chesham Prep from Marlow. That journey takes about 40 minutes without traffic and the traffic coming down the hill from Amersham at that time of day is a disaster.

I know the appeal of Marlow but it is actually a bit of a pain in the backside to get anywhere - even getting into London isn’t straightforward (two trains or a drive to Maidenhead or High Wycombe).

What about somewhere like Amersham? Catchment area for both Challoners boys and girls grammars plus Chesham Grammar. Amersham School is excellent if your children don’t pass the 11+. Several independent schools in the area, including Chesham Prep and Berkhamsted (school bus service from Amersham, although won’t prep for 11+). The old town is lovely and new town has a good range of shops and both train and tube lines into London.

25 minutes to Marlow from Amersham so close enough for family.

Zodlebud that’s so helpful, thank you, really. I hadn’t thought of Amersham, because I don’t know much about it, so it’s great to hear it’s a good place to live. Also that traffic info is really useful.

I also don’t know anything about the Berkhamsted that you mention. Is it co-ed? Primary? Why don’t they prep for 11+?

Ooh, and what about Crown House School? Does anyone know anything about that?

@Awomanwalksintoabar Berkhamsted School is an all through school so the great majority move into the secondary school from the prep and stay there until they are 18 (and saving the whole stress of 11+ exams).

It is coed up until 11, then becomes single sex until 16 but with the girls and boys schools still doing lots of activities and trips together, and then it goes back to coed for A levels.

Somewhere like Chesham Prep gives you more options at 11 though - state, grammar and private.

Crown House is known to be a crammer for the Bucks 11+. Most go onto grammar schools so it’s fairly rubbish if you’re one of the couple of children who doesn’t pass. It’s also very boy heavy. Parents are rather “tiger” and a huge emphasis is put on academics.

The fees are ridiculously cheap compared to other schools in the area and their sport offering is poor in comparison too. I only know one family who went there but it was several years ago now so the information will be out of date. Both children in the family passed the Bucks 11+ with flying colours but there was never much joy or excitement about school life coming from the kids. It was very much knuckle down and work.

It’s an easy commute from Marlow though!!

Have you looked at Herries in Cookham? V close to marlow. I grew up in marlow and at the time Herries was a well thought of school and a feeder into other private schools or grammar.

😆😆😆 that doesn’t sound like it will suit us. We’re having a good look at Amersham now!!

Also, I’ve stupidly realised Berkhamsted is where my mum was, back in the day. She hated every minute, and although I’m sure it’s totally different now, she wouldn’t forgive me for sending her grandchildren there!

boymum we were JUST looking at that tonight. I’ll give them a call in the morning. They have hymn practice every Tuesday morning, which my DH likes the sound of... Thank you.

We live in Amersham / happy to answer questions

avon amazing! Thank you. I must go to sleep now, but I’ll post back in the morning if that’s ok.

I'm more of a Berks girl but know Bucks relatively well as my parents are there. How about Beaconsfield? Good choice of state primaries from what I hear. Popular preps are Davenies for boys which I'm told has got very good in recent years and High March for girls.

I would definitely recommend st pirans in Maidenhead, it takes around 15 minutes drive from Marlow but there are school buses available. I have had 3 DC go there over the years my youngest is y6. I would really recommend it, my DC would always came home excited about things they have done during the day and DC go on some amazing trips. I have on SEN child and the SENco support has never been a problem and there have been any problems. My 2 DD’s are both at Sir William Borlase in years 8 & 9 and My DS is goin there in September 2021.
Hope this helps and happy to discuss any questions you may have

Crown house do focus heavily on prep for 11+. So that may suit you well.

St Pirans (co Ed) and highfield (girls) both offer 11+ Prep too, lots travel from Marlow in to Maidenhead for these schools. Claire’s court also in Maidenhead have boys and girls junior schools, but as they have their own senior schools I imagine their 11+ offering is probably not huge.

No state school will specifically offer 11+ prep I don’t think, though if your children are able enough this may not be an issue.

Hi, we are looking at schools at the moment. Out of interest which one did you decide?