Where to live in Buckinghamshire for Grammar or Independent secondary school

[movingToBuckinghamshire]

We have decided to sell our apartment in west London and move to Buckinghamshire. We are looking to buy a house there but don’t mind renting initially till suitable property is found. The reason we have chosen Buckinghamshire (other option was Guildford) is because DD is already preparing for grammar school. We are currently in the outer catchment of Tiffins girls but even if she gets into tiffin, with our budget of 700-750K, we will have less options to buy in Kingston compared to in Bucks.

Me and my partner needs to travel to London twice a week only, hence it makes sense to move out of London and get more for the money.

With our lifestyle, we often visit different parks (Richmond park, Kew gardens, Chiswick House Park etc) and used to have shops around. I dont expect same level of livelihood but hope there will be some good places to visit over weekends, to go for cycling/ running etc.

So I would really appreciate if you advise me on,

1. Which Grammar schools can we consider for our DD? If DD doesnt get in Grammar, we would like to have an option of independent secondary.
2. Which area can we consider to buy a house (for the school you have suggested)? We will look for 3-4 bed with a good size garden. Budget is 700-750k.
3. Which area to rent into till we find suitable property?

The only place we visited in Buckinghamshire so far was Marlow which was lovely and expect other areas of Bucks will be similar.

If you look at the catchment for Aylesbury girls school/ Henry Floyd (grammars) the outer limits of that nearer Milton Keynes are on the school bus routes for the Bedford Harper trust independent schools (but I don’t know if in reality that might mean you’re less likely to get into the grammar if she does pass the 11+- might be worth asking the school how reliable catchments are for the grammars). It’s a nice part of the area to live in though (villages around MK/ towards Aylesbury are lovely).

Amersham for Dr Challoners ? You'll get a 3/4 bed semi from £750 -800

Or Wendover ? For Aylesbury High.

We used to live in Marlow, very good grammar school and nice place to live ... although we moved 100 miles away and have a house three times the size and no mortgage plus a rental property and our DS seemed to do very well at the local bog standard comp and got into his first choice Uni ... I don't regret moving at all.

The Harpur Trust schools are selective though, so if a kid doesn't pass 11+ they may well not pass the entrance tests for them...
Challoners Grammar and High and both vg

@Ragwort where did you go?

Beaconsfield. 25 mins to Marylebone and quick drive into west London. Beaconsfield High School(grammar). Lovely and green.
Just look at the train lines and also look at the website that shows what the catchment areas were last year and make sure you're well within that distance.

OP’s budget won’t go far in Beaconsfield I’m afraid.

Marlow is lovely but not an easy rail commute to London.

Amersham?

Area around Maidenhead and Slough. Slough had gtammar schools. Maidenhead has independent schools, but neither are in Buckinghamshire.

Not sure how far your budget would go in Taplow or Farnham Common though.

Slough still has grammar schools.

Marlow has is on a railway line to London.

Iver might be worth a look.

@ILoveShula

Marlow has is on a railway line to London.

Iver might be worth a look.

Not a direct one. Marlow is on a branch line. You have to change at Maidenhead. Much easier and quicker to go directly from Amersham or HW (although OP might not want to live in the latter).

Chalfont St Peter

Amersham - challoners girls (grammar)or Berkhamsted ( independent)

Some go straight from Paddington to Marlow. Not a big deal to change at Maidenhead.

Chalfont St Peter is nice as it Chalfont St Giles, no stations though.
Amersham is also good.

FWIW Berkamsted in in Hertfordshire but Tring and Berkhamsted are fine.

TBH it sounds like Marlow would be pretty perfect for what you're looking for! The only caveat I would have is how long a day do you work when you're in central London? I found that the train line is ok, but it can become a little bit painful if you're not travelling in regular commuter hours- you often have to change trains twice (at Bourne End and Maidenhead) rather than just once or the direct trains which you would get in rush hour. It might be worth looking at the nearby areas of Bourne End and Cookham too, which are further in towards London on that same branch line. Cookham is actually in Berkshire (the dividing county line is the River Thames) but lots of kids that live there get a school bus out to the Bucks grammars each morning as they are still in the catchment area. There's also a number of independent schools nearby. Bourne End and Cookham also both the advantage that they are that bit closer to Maidenhead as well so your commute will be that be that little bit shorter.
It might be worth looking at Amersham too, I don't know that area as well but its split into an 'old town' and 'new town', and the high street on the old town is gorgeous, and in the new town caters to most things you could want or need locally. Its got a good train line into London, and a very well regarded Grammar school.

You can drive to Gerrards Cross and get the fast train (18mins to Marylebone) so don't discount the Chalfonts.

Thank you very much everyone for your responses. This is very helpful. To start with I've requested for the open day for Beacons High and Dr Challoner. I will visit the areas as well.

@JSL52

Amersham for Dr Challoners ? You'll get a 3/4 bed semi from £750 -800

Or Wendover ? For Aylesbury High.

Thank you @JSL52! Would you be able to advise on the area's in Amersham in which I can look for houses?

@Zhampagne

OP’s budget won’t go far in Beaconsfield I’m afraid.

Marlow is lovely but not an easy rail commute to London.

Amersham?

Thank you @whatisheupto & @Zhampagne - would you be able to advise me on suitable areas to live in Beaconsfield and in Amersham if we choose Beacons High or Dr Challoner?

@karcheer

You can drive to Gerrards Cross and get the fast train (18mins to Marylebone) so don't discount the Chalfonts.

thanks @karcheer. Can you kindly tell me more about Chalfonts areas? Also which grammer school?

Sorry not sure of areas in Amersham.
Aylesbury not very nice though but good schools.

Had a quick look on Rightmoo and there are houses in the Beaconsfield/Gerrards X area listed at around £600-750K

I rather like the look of this one

It might be in the floodplain

or how about this one.

Have a look at Muddy Stilettos, Bucks/Oxon and then click on Best Places to live. You can also click on the schools section. I also used to work as an EA in the area. There is lots to do in Bucks - Waddesdon Manor, etc etc. Again follow the link and it covers all the best things to do in the area (as well as schools and properties)
bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk

If I was you I would go look at the grammars first and then decide. I have boy/girl twins and my son goes to Borlase (lovely village school) and my daughter chose Wycombe High but was also considering Beaconsfield High (we lived in Little Marlow at the time and while not technically in catchment for Beckie High she would have gotten in). Unfort we found Wycombe High a total exam sweat shop and moved her to private school. It depends though as other girls enjoy Wycombe High.