Looking for property near London

[Momddun]

HI All,
we are looking for property near london (30 min) and area which would have a good grammar school- so that we are in catchment of a grammar school.
We are preferring new property (seen few old ones did not like) so areas we know is reading.
It has news homes in Shinfield,calcot and basingstoke road.
We live in london and want to buy a hope in a years time - preferably 6 months.
we plan to educate my son who is in year 1 in independent school till he gets in grammar school.
We both are working in London so we are looking for a place within 4-5 miles from reading station ,
And to be frank i donno how difficult the traffic is going to be in morning times .
so can anyone suggest if calcot /shinfield would be better .

@Nocutenamesleft

I’m almost certain none of the grammar schools are catchment Alone.

Yes but trying to be in any one atleast only if possible ...

It's not possible. Grammar school entry is test based. That's why they're Grammar schools.

Also does Newbury has private schools(primary) . it seems to meet all of our criteria

Most grammar schools do have a catchment area. Obviously they are still selective, so this doesn't mean an automatic place. For some grammar schools you have to live in the catchment area to get a place. In others they ring fence a certain proportion of places for those in the area. There are only a few who allocate purely based on test scores. So OP is right to be aware of this.

@BendingSpoons

Most grammar schools do have a catchment area. Obviously they are still selective, so this doesn't mean an automatic place. For some grammar schools you have to live in the catchment area to get a place. In others they ring fence a certain proportion of places for those in the area. There are only a few who allocate purely based on test scores. So OP is right to be aware of this.

Yes I do understand this ... we have liked some property on the Basingstoke road reading ... and also Newbury looks good ... just looking out for independent/ private school... isc site shows just three

Why are you so concerned about private schools? State grammars admit a mixture, based on admissions test and location, and there are plenty of good state primaries. You might be better affording tuition than school fees.

If you ask me personally I would prefer the other way round ... I am not concerned as I see good and outstanding primary but just to keep options open incase ....

I feel more than teaching in school it is the atmosphere which encourages the kids ...anyways Newbury is looking quiet good to me

Another little known fact there is a stall on Thatcham market (right next to Newbury) that sells all the specialist vegetables you will be looking for. A lot of the dry goods you will be looking for are in the Tesco extra and Sainsbury's and those few items that you can't get on either options would be an occasional trip to Reading.

@Lonecatwithkitten

Another little known fact there is a stall on Thatcham market (right next to Newbury) that sells all the specialist vegetables you will be looking for. A lot of the dry goods you will be looking for are in the Tesco extra and Sainsbury's and those few items that you can't get on either options would be an occasional trip to Reading.

Yes got that and that is very fine with me ... that is why Newbury is looking all good ... we will be going to have a look around

@SoosanCarter

I wonder if you need to have a whole re-think? You are obsessed with grammar schools, your son is year 1 and you don’t understand the education system. You don’t really understand the housing market, eg new build vs nearly new build, and older houses. You think “old” houses (poor things, probably 10 years old) are too small and too expensive.

Why don’t you just move to somewhere that you like, where you feel comfortable, with good transport links to work? Forget schools. Don’t be tiger parents.

Life isn’t a competition.

Well said. Finding a place you want to live sounds like a better plan. Obsessing over grammar schools isn't necessary.

i feel it is personal choice … I will not move into uncomfortable place for grammar school... comfort is very relative term and differs for every one.... anyways thanks i got what i was looking in this forum.....thx to some valueable advice

Hi Guys,

I have just read the thread and we are in the same position as @Momddun .
We are looking to move near Maidenhead and have looked at Marlow, Cookham, MDH obviously, Wokingham, Binfield, Twyford, Caversham and Reading.
Our DS will start reception in Sep 22 and we do not know much about the British school system since we are from France and Spain and we ve been in the UK for about 4 years.
We are looking for a 3 bedroom old house (budget 600k£) in the catchment area of a good primary, grammar and secondary state schools.... (if our DS excells at school good for him otherwise he ll figure out his life... we also have a 1 year old daughter)...

We have already something in mind but any ideas coming from you will help us greatly!

Thanks

HI I will tell you from research I have done .I feel area near St Albans is good as it covers major of grammar school QE, Watford and also Parmiter and good independent school.
If you are ready for a old house I guess you might get some thing there.
We stopped our search as we are now unsure if we are going to stay that long here (we both have old parents in our home country) as mortgage for us going high and not sure of future scenario

How about Bromley - if you get a house in the right area you are in the catchment for grammars in Bexley, Kent and the super-selective St Olaves. That also gives you a back up option of excellent state non-selective secondaries. Trains go into various London stations (London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing X etc). Not sure about prices compared to Reading.

Thank you for your messages!
I should have mentioned that we need to live around MDH as I work there and my wife needs to commute once a week to London... Therefore, for practical reasons we are looking into this area ...