What can you tell me about Leighton Buzzard or environs?

[CharlotteSimmons]

Looking for a potential move with primary school children so need to know about good primaries (and secondary options), nice places to live although will be dictated by schools. How hard the schools are to get into (bearing in mind our children will be year 2 and year 4 age in September)?
Thanks!

My DCs are/have been very happy at Pulfords (c of e), Leighton Middle and now Cedars Upper. PM me if you like!

I grew up in the area and my Dad used to commute from Leighton Buzzard (excellent, quick trains to London (first stop) Euston). Also nearby to the M1 for travelling around.

Lots of village schools with primary schools. Also a few private schools around. Near to Milton Keynes for shopping (John Lewis), theatre, large cinema etc. Lots of nice villages but like all places in the SE they've lost lots of the amenities that they used to have.

When I was growing up (I'm 30) the village (Stewkley) had 3 pubs, library, GP, lots of shops (butcher etc) but now far fewer amenities. Nice village though with a large park and good community feel. Would recommend it. If you have specific questions message me (don't want to give away where I was at school etc!).

I grew up in the area and my Dad used to commute from Leighton Buzzard (excellent, quick trains to London (first stop) Euston). Also nearby to the M1 for travelling around.

Lots of village schools with primary schools. Also a few private schools around. Near to Milton Keynes for shopping (John Lewis), theatre, large cinema etc. Lots of nice villages but like all places in the SE they've lost lots of the amenities that they used to have.

When I was growing up (I'm 30) the village (Stewkley) had 3 pubs, library, GP, lots of shops (butcher etc) but now far fewer amenities. Nice village though with a large park and good community feel. Would recommend it. If you have specific questions message me (don't want to give away where I was at school etc!).

Leighton Buzzard is Bedfordshire and Comprehensive, Stewkley is Bucks with Grammar schools and secondary moderns. The village of Wing has the Cottesloe School which is the secondary modern if your DCs do not get a grammar school place and you live in that area of Bucks. This may influence whether you want Bucks or Beds.

Thanks, do the schools in Bucks follow the more standard structure (4-11; 11-18) rather than the middle school. Hadn't really thought about the grammar school angle. We are not in the UK at the moment and left when the DC were really young so it's a bit baffling.
Do you know how oversubscribed primaries are in the area?

Bucks has combined schools, 4-11, infant schools 4-7 and junior schools 8-11. Stewkley, for example, has a combined school. Nearly all the secondary schools, and all the grammar schools are 11-18, but the grammar school 6th forms have a higher number of academic children, obviously. Bucks CC has details of all the schools on its website and admission information about how places were allocated. Each school has a catchment area and the best advice is to live in the catchment area if you want a particular school. If you are a late application, (ie after the end of January), I suggest you contact the Bucks admissions team to see what schools have vacancies. I would imagine the same would apply in Bedfordshire. The real dilemma though is whether you want grammar and secondary modern in Bucks or comprehensive in Bedfordshire.

I grew up in Leighton Buzzard and went to Cedars (many many years ago!). I'm biased, but lovely part of the world.

Hi there
My dd went to Greenleas LS and now Leighton Middle also. Have heard good reports about Cedars Upper School too.

Good schools in LB are heavily over-subscribed - Leighton Middle was oversubscribed by 66 places this year (Year 5-8) but Linslade Middle has plenty of places (recent Ofsted - requires improvement - but has new Head who is good).

Greenleas is full, and many of the other better lower schools are full too, but some - prob. the less desirable - have places. There are a lot of new houses in LB and a new lower school has eased the problem but not made it totally go away.

LB is on the border with Bucks, so dc can sit the eleven plus and go to grammar school (MK, Aylesbury, Bedford, even) if they sit it and pass.

PM me if you'd like any other info.

Hello

Just saw your message about schools in LB. we are thinking about moving there in the recent months. DS will be in year 4 so I am thinking of middle schools already. I know Leighton Middle is good, what could you tell me about Brooklands Middle though?
If we move to Woodlands Close for example, will we still be able to get into Leighton Middle?
Thank you for your help

dagmaran, if you go on the Central beds website you can find out which streets are in catchment for which schools. Only ever heard positive things from parents whose children go to Brooklands middle.

I had a look.thank you, it's very useful. Looks like Woodland Cl is in catchment for Brooklands. But still very near to Leighton Middle. Is it possible to get school out of catchment at all?

Depends on the school and whether it's a high birth year. I know Leighton Middle is usually oversubscribed.

To be sure to get a placement at Leighton Middle I would advise getting a property in the catchment area. I know of people who have been able to get into Brooklands out of catchment without problem.

All the middle schools have open days in the next few weeks so would advise to go and have a look and bear in mind the closing dates for applications. Out of year applications can be hit and miss, especially if you are looking to start year 5. It's a bit like finding a yr 7 place elsewhere! Leighton middle is popular.it has beautiful grounds. However look at Gilbert ingle field and Brookland.

Thank you. My son is in year 3 at the moment. When do you need to apply for year 5 middle school? We have 2 tier system in London, so have no idea, all the help is very appreciated 😀

Afraid I cannot help much with the middle schools, but my DS1 is also in Year 3 and we live very near Brooklands. We are looking at Brooklands and Leighton Middles at the moment. Applications will open in September this year.

I'm not native to Leighton Buzzard, but it is a nice enough place. It has lots of things for children, traffic is no worse than anywhere else in the SE, and is quiet, if not a little dull (sorry!)...

Hello, im moving to Stewkley and have three children. Ive had a good look at the schools in the area online and read ofsted reports. Can you tell me are the schools oversubscribed in the area and what the schools are generally like ie who to avoid if thats neccessary. Im looking at Cottesloe and St Michaels i think? Im not local so i dont know the area. With thanks

Hi
My name is sara and I am planning to move to leighton buzzard. My son is 2 years old and I am confused about the grammar schools around that place. Could someone help me with the ideas of grammar schools ?