Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells??

[MrsFlorrick]

Just wondering whether any MNers with local knowledge of the two could help me decide or at least make a more informed decision.

We are thinking of making the move from London and trying to decide between the two areas.

I can get a similar sized large period home in Tonbridge for

about £200k less than similar sized period properties (similar age and features) in TW.

The DC attend a prep here and will continue to do so wherever we move to. I am aware that there are more grammar choices in TW but my DC are 5 and 3 so it's impossible to say whether they will be grammar material just yet.

I want to hear the good bits about Tonbridge and perhaps about the bad bits about TW.

I already know the good bits about TW and the bad bits about Tonbridge. It would be good to hear some local views please.

Isn't the OP talking about looking for a local prep though so that her DCs will be day pupils, not boarders? or have I got that wrong?

The OP is talking about a day prep enrique as far as I know.

(Apologies for acting as your spokesperson MrsFlorrick)

I thought she said they were in prep school already (not stated where but she is currently in Beckenham) and would stay there.

Maybe I read that wrong?

The DC attend a prep here and will continue to do so wherever we move to

I suppose it's me being very literal, we need Mrs F to clarify as you could read it that they will continue to attend the same prep school, or, as I did, that they currently attend a prep school and will attend a prep school wherever they move to - just not necessarily the same one. TW to Beckenham is around an hour according to Google maps, not for the distance, but for the traffic en route, so surely you wouldn't want to do that there and back twice a day.

I thought Mrs F had been discussing schools for the DCs at this stage as well as later on, but I may well be wrong as I don't have any knowledge of schools any more.

Ah I see what you mean Mrsc as in her first post the OP says the DC attend a prep here and will continue to do so wherever we move to but I think she means in the private system rather than state, as she talks later about going to open days this weekend and moving schools in year.

Xpost

When we were looking DH was commuting to central London and we considered Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and all surrounding areas and villages.
We had DCs in senior level education and they were in the private system. Location for them was only an issue for their social lives.
We chose a more southerly option. Years onwards they've left home. One lives reasonably close and the other in central London. No DGCs to consider but the London based one is hoping to move closer towards 'home' after a decade of city life.

For us the London buzz is very accessible with the benefit of not enduring the downsides and we have daily positives of being out of town.

I appreciate that it's very much horses for courses but our experience embraces young unmarrieds through to empty nesters who all seem to think along the same lines.

I think when you find a place you fancy you just know really if you could make it your home and a good life for all the family and if you don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole at any cost then you stand a good chance of getting it right.

I absolutely love where we live and have never regretted it on any level.

Evening. Sorry about lateness

Yes. DC attend a local prep in Beckenham. If we move to TW/TB/7OS they will attend one of the preps there. We are going to come of the open days at the schools next week.

So yes I am hoping for advice on preps in TW and TB in particular.

MrsC. I don't currently miss out on friendships. I've got plenty of mum-friends from DCs current prep. I'm sure I will make more when we move.

As I said unthread. DD is already in yr1 and would be an in year admission in a state school. This means we can't choose a house by catchment and we won't know where she would be sent until after we have bought the house.
This wouldn't be acceptable to us. Besides I would like the freedom to choose my DCs primary education and am happy to pay for it. Well not exactly happy but prepared to
Do so. But that's a whole other thread....

Enrique. Thanks for that. That's really great to hear. Particularly how you feel everything is accessible inc London.

DC are 3 and 5 years old so won't be boarders. I wouldn't want them to be at any age really.

I have been out exploring more today and viewing more houses.

Both TW and TBRIDGE have great, good and not so good bits to them. I think once we know which schools (prep) we like we will be able to choose a house more easily and a town.

A few people have w slagging Tonbridge a bit. I saw more of it today. It's really nice in the northern part. Yes a little blurb around the station but I wasn't going to live next to it. TW is very nice. The village area is lovely but too busy for me. There is quite a lot of Islington about it which is great but I've done all that.
Court Rd and Boyne Park are nice. Well worth keeping an eye on for the right house.

So if anyone else can tell me more about schools and in particular Rose Hill, Somerhill, Mead and Hilden Grange. I would really appreciate it.

My older son will be in one of the labs at Somerhill this weekend demonstrating robotics!!

Hi if you're coming to the Mead open day tomorrow my son will be one of the terribly proud pupils showing you round! The Mead has been fantastic for us (moved to TW four years ago with three children, eldest now at grammar); it's a kind, welcoming school that massively punches above its weight academically - 11plus record very impressive - and in sport, tech, drama and other aspects of school life. Since arriving there my children have sung at the O2, played in county and regional sports tournaments, presented in front of hundreds of people at the Google strand of an international education conference, performed on stage at the local arts theatre... But most importantly, they have been super happy. I feel I need to shout about the school because it tends to get overlooked - it doesn't have the reputation of the others. But it has fantastically loyal parents and a very nice culture and community.

Jazz. We will see your son and his robotics there then. Planning to go and have spoken to the school.
Hopefully the DC will behave and not ruin their chances of getting in.

Lizzette. No not yet. Hoping to see those soon too.

Lizzette. Thanks for info on leisure centre and angle centre. Good to know.

Misiecle. Thanks for that info. It's really good to know. Looking at Mead as well.

Oh dear it's so hard. I am worried about school s because we may not get into the one we like best. What a nightmare that would be.
Problem is DD is 5 and in yr1 but DS is 3 and nursery age but goes to reception next year.

Spoken to Hildren grange again today and they said they wouldn't have room for DS until reception and no room for DD until yr 2 at best.

That worries me a bit. Why does the whole school thing have to be so stressful eh
Thanks for all your info.

DS2 is in Kindergarten at Somerhill - he is the same year as your DS but is nearly 4. He absolutely loves it (as did DS1).

It is quite structured in approach, they do a phonic sound per week and a number per week, but the little ones seem fully engaged with it! There is good school communication so you are told what they are dong each week and can join in at home! DS2 this morning was running around trying to find his "t" toy to take.....(suprise - a train!!)

They make great use of the astounding grounds there even at this age with an outdoor day once a week (got rather wet yesterday!)and various play areas.

That continues throughout all the schools.....camp building clubs, camping in the summer.......

Hope you see something that suits both your children amongst the schools you have picked.

A friend has put several children through Rosehill and thoroughly recommends it. They live a 1/4m from the school and say that traffic is too bad to drive it. One parent commutes into London, the other is a SAHP.

Personally, if I had your budget, while I'd adore a period home, most places I like are close to 2m and require work like double glazing etc.

I'd employ an architect to come up with whizzy ideas and gut this place in Grand Designs fashion turning it into a modern home. It's on a fab site, nice quiet road, closish to the station and on the right side of town to walk to Rosehill. Not sure if it is in the catchment area for TWGGS though. If you have a girl, you definitely need to check that out.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47986970.html

Interesting comments about Beckenham. I know someone selling a home in catchment area for an outstanding state primary on the basis of more space and great schools in Beckenham.....

This is what I mean about a fab modern property. Site is small though
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46843472.html

I DREEEEEAM of Twells, I do

Tread softly. I was going to see that one however Berkeley Homes are building 190 new homes (detached, semis and terraced houses) on the old hospital site directly in between that part of TW and TWGGS.

They have started on site and will finish in 2017 which is before DD goes to secondary so by that time the TWGGS catchment will be well North of that part of TW.

Hard isn't it!
Lots to mull though and plenty on the market.

Schools will be so hard. I'm so worried that no one will take DD as an in year admission in yr1. That worries me so so much.

Bit late to this whole thread. I'd vote for TW personally, but that's because we live here and love it.

I don't think that the catchment for TWGGS will be as significantly affected by the Berkeley Homes development as you fear - if you look on their website and see where they take girls from, it's a fairly wide area in terms of parishes. And just because there are lots of houses being built doesn't mean that every one will have a secondary aged girl who is able to pass the test living in it, or is even entered for it.

The Head said at an open morning last week that there are lots of scare stories about how small the catchment is; don't listen to them! However, I could almost throw my daughter into the school grounds from my house, so I accept that it's not a problem I'm worrying about (for next year) - I'm just currently stressing about how hard the maths was in this year's test and panicking about whether my DS is going to pass, let alone get into the superselective he wants!

Rose Hill is a fabulous school - I know several children there who all love it and are thriving. It is always massively oversubscribed though even for in year admissions, so you may have a wait. My near neighbour's daughter is at Hilden Grange and really rates it - educationally, pastorally, and raves about how nice the parents are....and other people on the road send their children to Somerhill and all of them seem to be doing really well....

There is a massive cultural difference between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. I live in Tunbridge Wells and believe me you do not want to live in Tunbridge, it is not nice and specially not bringing up your kids.