Moving to Tonbridge

[Raca]

Hi we are thinking of moving to Kent from East London and thinking of putting an offer for a house in Tonbridge, new development near the Porche showroom. However we feel a bit unsure about the station area and the walking home from the station in winter nights.
Also we are aiming Judd, Tunbridgewells boys and Skinners for our son. How competitive ard they? Appreciate any advice. Thanks

I was thinking about moving from East London to Tonbridge at some point but the fact that there was widespread flooding in the town last winter is worrying me.

In term of safety the area in general always seems to get positive comments from other people on these threads.

Yes check that postcode for flooding but you are quite far away from the river there.
Grammars in Kent are either super-selective, which means they take the top of marks in 11+ (Judd and Skinners) or just selective where a pass will do (eg. T Wells Boys Grammar).

The elevenplusexams talk forum will give you lots of info about the test, standards and the schools. It won't be as dodgy in Tonbridge as London! It's quite suburban though

Hello op
Tonbridge is a fairly decent area. The roads near the station can get horrendously busy during rush hour.
Lot of road users dropping kids to school and commuters parking near the station roads to go to work.
Bus journeys for school kids can be draining and are also not very cheap. Hence a lot of parents use the car to drop secondary school kids to school
Trains from Tonbridge are brilliant to get to London.
Tonbridge isn't cheap though. We moved from a London borough and were shocked at how expensive houses, transport and things in general were.
Judd is the super selective and even Kent boys need to score fairly high to get in (385 was the initial cut off last year)
Skinners has recently changed its selection policy and also applies catchment.
My personal view of tonbridge is that if you stay close to the station area you are best placed for transport, Judd school and also skinners (though a bus ride away)
If you are a bit further out and need to use the car or bus then you need to factor in the roads.
Good luck and hope this helps

Thanks all! We live very close to Ilford county grammar but you rightly said London competition is truly dreadful. E.g 11 to 14 applicants per vacancy! So decided to move. Judd says 4 - 5 per vacancy. I will check re. Flood

I don’t live far from Tonbridge, but I know plenty of friends who live there (and enjoy living there). It’s a vibrant town, good shops, plenty to see and do in the area as well. I can’t comment on the primary schools in Tonbridge, but the ones in the area are pretty good (some outstanding).

The local grammar schools are pretty selective (my DS is at Skinners). I think that they’re also thinking of adding in a catchment area thing to how they select which kids get in (but don’t quote me on that, I can’t remember where I read about it). Skinners is a brilliant school: lovely staff and headmaster, excellent pastoral care. My DS is really happy there. I went to one of the local grammar schools, and had plenty of mates who went to TWGSB (we call it Tech) and Judd, and they enjoyed their time there....(however I was in school a long time ago! 🤣). The parents of children I know who go there now are happy with both schools.

I would def check the situation with flooding and flood plains etc, and whether that would affect house insurance - there should be a group on FB which discusses the flood situation.

I’ve never lived there but do enjoy going there (well, I did prior to covid!). Traffic can get hideous during rush hour, but Judd would definitely be walkable from where you are. For Skinners and T-Wells Grammar School for Boys, you can take bus, or take train and then walk up. I can’t remember what the bus pass costs (I ought to know, I got an email about it last week), but I’m tempted this year to skip it (luckily we live a mile away from DS school), particularly with covid.

It’s not a bad area as far as safety is concerned, and you have a massive police station right near the station, which is quite reassuring. I’ve never felt unsafe there. Hope this helps! :)

Don't know about schools but know the town fairly well as good friends live there. House prices are actually cheaper than Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells with I think better shopping and everything easy to walk to over a compact area.

Thanks a lot. I've checked for flood data and the pc is on medium risk. So will look elsewhere in TW or Tonbridge different pcs. To be honest from whole of Tonbridge only TN9 shows as low risk.

Check the non grammar provision too: entry to grammar is not guaranteed.

Will do thanks. Our next option might be the private schools although have to work out the budget etc.

Even during super floods over the last couple of years didn't flood in that area.
TN9 shows as no flood zone because it is a massive hill (was mountain stage for Tour de France!)
All of Tonbridge is flood zone but Leigh barrier has made massive difference.
Grammars are super, super selective and it doesn't begin to compare with London. You will have to start tutoring at Year 3 to stand a chance.
Qualifications: live in Tonbridge (for past 20 years), taught at Judd and local private and local comprehensive

Thank you for the useful info.. I will check with the estate agent if it will affect the insurance because the. Gov is showing the pc as Medium risk. we have been preparing our ds since year 3 he is going to year 5 this sept. Will I be able to get him into a private primary for year 5 6 if we move?