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Original poster

Move to Longwick, Buckinghamshire?

15 replies

Berry364 · 07/08/2021 10:15

Hi! DH, DD and I are thinking of buying a new build in Longwick, but we’re currently living in Surrey so know very little about the village and area. We’re moving for DH’s work and we’re looking for a good place to raise a family. Does anyone have any experience of the village, school or wider area? I’d be really grateful for any insights. Thanks in advance for any advice x

OP posts:
Sugarandtime · 07/08/2021 16:22

All I know of Longwick is that it’s basically 1 main road with a few residential road off it.
I think you’d probably have to go into Princes Risborough for things to do but it only a few minutes down along the road.
I think Princes Risborough is a nice place, lovely little High street with a few coffee shops and a biggish M&S Simply Food and small Tesco supermarket.
There is a nice small leisure centre there too.
Lovely countryside.

School wise, I know that the local secondary school in Princes Risborough doesn’t have a great reputation.

Not a lot of help, sorry.

Sugarandtime · 07/08/2021 16:23

Thame nearby has a very good upper school called Lord Williams.

Onesipmore · 07/08/2021 16:27

I live near! Longwick isn't a fantastic village there are other better ones and as a PP says Risborough school is not good at all. I would look at Thame (fabulous schools for Primary and Secondary) Long Crendon, Cuddington, Brill, Charley, Haddenham (has a station for London and Midlands) Have a look at www.muddystilettos.co.uk and take a peak at Best Places to Live Bucks and Oxon. Feel free to DM me for further info

Frankley · 07/08/2021 16:33

Secondary school in Princes Risborough is a Secondary Modern School. Buckinghamshire still has grammar schools. If you don't want that, and l wouldn't, don't move into Buckinghamshire. Lord Williams in Thame is in Oxfordshire and is an excellent Comprehensive school. Much nicer villages around, Princes Risborough nice but going to double in size.

Sugarandtime · 07/08/2021 17:09

Sorry to ask but what is a Secondary modern?
I’ve only ever know just a secondary school in Bucks since the mid 1980’s

Frankley · 07/08/2021 17:56

A secondary modern school is where children who do not pass the eleven plus examination and don't get into the grammar school are sent. So Buckinghamshire has both grammar and secondary modern schools. Oxfordshire and most other counties only have comprehensives.

Sugarandtime · 07/08/2021 18:00

Oh I see. I wonder when they changed the name, they definitely didn’t have the Modern name attached when I was in a Bucks secondary school from 1987. - the early 1990’s

xyzandabc · 07/08/2021 18:15

I grew up nearby and lived in Longwick for a few years as an adult.

Longwick is nice enough if you want to live in the countryside but there are nicer places in the surrounding area. There is a small shop/post office, a playing field and the school. If you want to do anything or buy anything you have to get in your car which I found a pain. Walking to Risborough is do able but only if you have a lot of time on your hands and don't want to carry anything heavy home. Public transport is virtually none.

Longwick is in Bucks which is a full grammar school county. So pretty much everyone takes the 11+, if you pass you go to a grammar school (most likely in Aylesbury), if you don't pass you go to a secondary modern. Princes Risborough is a secondary modern and doesn't have the best reputation. A few people above have mentioned Lord Williams in Thame. Lord Williams is a comprehensive, it takes all abilities as it is in Oxfordshire where there are no grammars. From Longwick, you would be very unlikely to get a place there.

I didn't find Longwick to have much of a community feel. Any baby groups etc I went to Risborough or Thame for. That may have changed, or have got better if my kids went to the school there, I don't know.

For a young family I would choose Princes Risborough (if you want the grammar school system) or Thame (if you'd rather have a good comprehensive with the option to be an out of county candidate for the Aylesbury grammars). Both are bigger, not villages, but much more going on and better facilities.

Cookerhood · 07/08/2021 18:17

Secondary modern is the previous name for an upper school

xyzandabc · 07/08/2021 18:21

'Oh I see. I wonder when they changed the name, they definitely didn’t have the Modern name attached when I was in a Bucks secondary school from 1987. - the early 1990’s'

I was in secondary school in Bucks late 80s - mid 90s. There were secondary moderns and grammars then. The 'modern' isn't part of the actual name of the school, it's just the type of school they are, to differentiate them from a grammar or a comprehensive.

Other counties have comprehensives which take all abilities, the school isn't necessarily called XX comprehensive school, it's just letting people know the type of school it is.

Like private Vs state school the word private or state isn't usually part of the school name, just a descriptor as to the type of school it is.

xyzandabc · 07/08/2021 18:29

Just said to DH, would you move from Surrey to Longwick, his immediate reaction was 'No, there are much nicer places around there'

What has drawn you to Longwick in particular, what boxes does it tick for you and where will your DH be working? , then we might be able to suggest some alternatives.

WantStickyBean · 07/08/2021 20:46

I'm nearby too - it's a "no" from me. It's not terrible by any means, just there are nicer places nearby with similar house prices.

Original poster
Berry364 · 08/08/2021 11:00

Many thanks for all the responses. There are so few properties on the market at the moment which has lead us to look at a new build and to broaden our search area. It’s a tricky balance to find between location and property size and even more difficult when you factor in schools. Longwick primary is rated good by Ofsted but I see less than 5 kids got into the grammar school system last year which is a bit scary when you see how far below average the alternative Princes Risborough secondary is 😩. Maybe I’m thinking too far ahead DD is only 15 months

OP posts:
WantStickyBean · 08/08/2021 14:22

Yes there definitely is a lack of properties on the market at the moment. But they are coming up. And often seem to be selling for quite a bit less than asking.

Could you rent in the area for a few months to make property hunting a bit easier?

BelterDelta · 08/08/2021 22:26

Longwick Primary have been trying to find a new Head for several years I think. Monks Risborough C of E and the one on Wellington in Princes Risborough are a better bet I suspect. When we looked at Longwick school it felt old and musty, like it needed an overhaul.

As xyz said, there is no public transport and it really is a rat-run between Thame & Risborough. Monks is more village-y than Princes. You’ll need a car for everything unless you are happy to walk with heavy loads.

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