Amersham Bucks

[HuntyGirl]

DH and I are looking for a new house in this area. I work in London so will be good for the commute.

Through my research, I see that there is Old Amersham and Amersham on the Hill/New Amersham. Old Amersham is more expensive but New Amersham is more convenient for travel into London etc. We are therefore looking at New Amersham for commutability.

My question is, is Amersham broken down further into smaller areas other than these two? Or is it literally only these two distinct areas? I would be grateful for any guidance on areas to avoid or what is better generally from those who know/have experience. Thanks!

I’m not sure we are using the term “competition” in the same way. I’m referring to competition between pupils at 18+ for places at university, not to competition between schools over pupils who live in Bucks. Hope that clarifies things for you.

The painful thing of course is that these days, school leavers are not just competing nationwide - they have to compete with applicants from anywhere in the world. Life was simpler when all you needed was grade 8 violin and parents with a good address. Long gone now.

I’ll put you out of suspense btw - middle son boards at Peter Symonds. So, a fully comp experience for him, and no need for us to leave Bucks: his boarding house was set up, in fact, for children from the Falklands. It is a stunning school.

That’s hardly what most Bucks parents would do though. Or even consider it. My DDs boarded from age 11 but they would not have really coveted a huge school. Hampshire is a different style of school but not one we would have considered. I also think PS and Bucks grammars are all state schools. The bright DC in both are probably indistinguishable. Plus Oxbridge isn’t everything. Thank God.

This is starting to get a bit weird.

Grammars can be great, but navigating the triple hazards of catchment, 11+ and grammar culture can also bring immense stress, especially for those on a budget. Perhaps more parents might like to learn about the route we have taken. Times are changing, and even dear old Bucks, where I was born and went to school, is changing with them.

Each time I post however, up you pop. I’m going to pop off now. Kindly have a lovely day.

Peter Symonds is a fantastic school (college?), I don't think anyone could dispute that, I have nieces and nephews who went there.

But boarding at a comprehensive school is quite unusual @Ponyclubgirl , I'm sure you can see that (RGS Wycombe also have a boarding house). Maybe you're right and it'll be part of a new model of education, but I don't think too many state schools, comprehensive or grammar, are using it yet.

@thing47 I don't think I’m weird by saying this is unusual for a Bucks parent! It’s not what most could possibly ever consider. Yes RGS do have boarding but not many and obviously it’s a grammar. The idea many decades ago was to avoid moving forces DC, of whom there were a lot in HW area. Boarding for girls was at RLS Buckingham. I don’t think this is a model many will use either in terms of going to Hampshire. If you want comp, the neighbouring LAs to Bucks offer that.

You're 100% correct to say that the primary intention of the boarding at RGS was aimed at forces kids. One of my best friends sent one of her DSs there for exactly that reason (though in the end it wasn't an option she needed to take up). Said child is at university now, so this wasn't that long ago. I didn't know the equivalent was available for girls at RLS, thanks for that info.

I don't think you're weird either. I mean kudos to @Ponyclubgirl for finding an arrangement which suits her family, but it's quite an unusual solution and I suspect will remain a minority approach. Always happy to be proved wrong though.

@thing47 No boarding at all at RLS now but it actually had boys and girls back in the day. It was the only girls boarding I know of and took forces DC. Even DDs of Navy personnel! I’m not really sure why it didn’t continue as forces get discounts at some private boarding schools but it’s an expensive option. The girls should have somewhere but they don’t.

The grammars in Bucks have little competition from high performing comps.

I'd say St Clement Danes in Chorleywood would be up there. I went to Challoners but places at SCD are still highly fought after and quite a few of my son's friends from prep school went there.

There's also Watford Grammar in Herts which gets outstanding results and is very good at sport (which Challoners isn't on the whole). It takes some on catchment alone (but this has shrunk to a tiny area) and some on results. SCD is also partially selective.

There is a quirk in that Chenies is in Bucks but you can go to SCD in Herts. I know quite a few people that do this (and although it's a 15 minute walk Bucks CC pays for a taxi for them). I also have friends in Herts who go to Chesham Grammar as that's the one that hasn't historically always filled the places with Bucks children.

One Herts girl I know also went to Challoners but that's very rare (although CW is one of the nearest places to the border, and half of it used to be in Bucks back in the day).

It went really well thank you. We loved it but it's now sold unfortunately

Oh dear. I guess decent area and decent house ticks boxes for others too. A semi in my village has just gone on the market for over £1m. It’s 2000 sq ft but that’s a lot of money! Keep looking.

These might be worth a look. Cartridge Lane area and Old Chesham which is handy for station.

@blue345 On the boundaries of Bucks dc can sometimes go to comp in next county. Long Crendon to Lord Williams in Thame for example. As you say, Chenies to Chorleywood. If it’s an unsafe walking route, there might well be transport provided. However Aston Clinton parents don’t flock to Tring School. Most who aren’t grammar dc are happy with John Colet in Wendover. It wholly depends on what school you don’t want! Plus MK is fully comp yet lots of Dc want Bucks grammars. No diminution of numbers applying from there. Again, depends what school you don’t want. Always does. Going to Hampshire is extreme though!

I lived in chesham for over 20 years and really liked it. There are some nice houses there and it is a bit cheaper than amersham. Has 2 swimming pools and a lovely park and big Sainsburys and waitrose. I think the early commuter trains are faster. You can always drive to little Chalfont to park and get straight on the chiltern line. Has a grammar school.

I've just driven through Chesham and forgot how congested the town centre gets. It's a bank holiday in fairness but it's often like that.

Personally I think Amersham is nicer than Chesham but you do get more for your money.

That road through the centre of Chesham
is too narrow for dual carriageway. They pulled down old houses to build it. It’s awful. Going from Chesham to Amersham is painful
too. And vice versa! However Chesham has a Neptune. Yummy mummy central after Waitrose.

I do love the Waitrose and the Neptune! 😅 could do with a David Lloyd or a reformer Pilates studio then it would be perfect

You will have to make do with the open air pool at Chesham Moor!

Will be moving from India to London in Mar'25 with 2 kids aged 12 and 9 years.

Our main priority is getting elder one in some good secondary school, as she has missed grammar school exam.

1. Is Amersham and chesham good areas to settle from schooling perspective
2. Any grammar schools that might accept lateral admission
3. Which catchment area to look for while searching flats in this area ??

I'd like to help, but this thread got hijacked by a notorious troll. Check with the grammar schools direct as to what their current policy is on laterals - much changes yearly. And all the very best of luck, it's a lovely area.

@HuntyGirl did you manage to find a house in the area?

@TheGoldRobin Bucks grammars rarely have places for dc who need y8 onwards. Most of the grammars conduct their own entrance tests for y8 onwards. Bucks CC web site tells you this. However you won’t find spare places at the best secondaries either. I think you need to see what schools actually have spaces (Bucks cc has details) and move to within travelling distance.

Regarding primary schools - the same applies regarding spaces. Sought after schools won’t have spaces. So you need to look at the best of the rest. Chesham has, historically, had some shockers! So look at every school possible.

https://www.challoners.com/c/information/admissions/11-plus-and-late-transfer

You should be aware that Tizer has never actually lived here. She might not be aware that in recent years, the area has developed a very large and friendly Indian community, which might weigh in your decisions. Good luck with it all.

@TheGoldRobin We moved out from London and while each grammar and secondary has specific catchments, found many children our kids' primary school were able to get places outside of the specific catchment. That varies year to year so it could be one year is harder than the other...

We looked at houses and schools across parts of Chesham and Amersham to Wycombe. We chose a suburb between Amersham and High Wycombe (Holmer Green) - bit more space for us and the option to take bus or drive to Amersham,/Chesham tube stations as well as High Wycombe rail station.

As luck would have it, children in our primary were eligble, at the time, to apply to the High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Amersham and Chesham Grammar options.

If I would do it differently today, I would probably focus less on primary catchment and more on secondary - from the folks we know, primary schools are generally pretty good in this area. Secondary schools vary a bit more, but if you dont find grammar places upto GCSE, there is always another chance for A-levels.

It wasn't a huge number but we were aware of in-year transfers in year 8 and 9 for a number of the grammars. As others have suggested, it's best to talk to the specific school but often they will only really engage once you have moved into the area. Depends on the intake for that year - people are always moving, transferring etc...

Your school options, in my opinion, are good. Pick the area with the house/street you like and that works for your family.

@earlyr1ser I know exactly what that area is like! DH is from Chesham. I’m local and worked for BCC education. I am not saying any more but what ethnic background someone is has no bearing whatsoever on school entry at ages 9 and 12. It might make you want to live somewhere but ethnic background doesn’t get you into a school of its full. The info on admissions is not saying whether there’s a space or not.

The attached is what Bucks are saying about the grammar application outside y7 entry. It’s luck if you get a place but they are usually full. It matters not one jot where you live for a decent grammar but the secondaries do vary. Most primaries are good but some have a very chequered history.

@FindingTime , @earlyr1ser really thanks for your inputs... This is my first post in this community and I see the power of networking here....