Banbury Potential Move and Secondary Schools

[Swizzylyons]

Hi,

We are considering a move to Banbury from London (will be commuting) and wanted to know what the school situation is like as it’s a big factor in our move. Two children currently in Y1 and Y4.

We love our local area in London, but wanting to move closer to family. Currently, our children are at a good primary school and we have a local outstanding school on our doorstep. We have seen some negative reviews about Wykam High school, which would be our nearest if we bought this house we are keen on. Lots of negative press on here though. Blessed George Napier (better results) is also close but we are Church of England not Catholic. Looking at the likeliness of getting in there - according to their criteria it looks slim…?!

Any insider knowledge would be greatly received!

Thank you.

Welcome any ex London people who have done the move and their views too of the surrounding area.

Hi Swizzylyons, I live in a village just outside of Banbury and one of my sons is starting secondary this year. A lot of the Banbury schools (NOA, BGN) and village high schools (Chenderit, Kineton) are oversubscribed due to the high number of new houses being built on the outskirts.
I have heard negative reviews about Whykham (but do not have first hand experience). A lot of children from my son’s school have been allocated places there due to their preferred schools being full. Saying that, some of the children got into BGN including one not religious, but based on proximity to school. I believe BGN is expanding so look into that as may work well with your children moving to secondary in a few years time.

Have you looked at the Warriner in Bloxham, a lot of Banbury children go to that?
It is a bus or cycle ride but the shear volume of children making the journey shows it's popularity.

Thanks for your message. We would be about 0.7 miles away from BGN so hoping that might help as in catchment I think apart from the lack of Catholic blessings!

Just had a wander around Banbury and I liked the suburban quiet of the centre. We are currently on the outskirts of London and certainly won’t miss the pollution and noise. It seems Banbury has a bit of a bad press for being a neglected high street and being a bit boring but I’m hoping there are enough connections to Oxford and London if the future teens want something more thrilling!

Thanks again.

Thank you. Would love the Warriner but the house we love is out of catchment as more in the town centre. We are more set on the house than the area in a way! Don’t think we would get into Warriner unless we were nearer to Bloxham…although it would definitely be doable in terms of distance. About 15 minutes on the bus…that means nothing to an oversubscribed school though!

If your children are still in primary school by the time you move you could put them in one of the feeder schools for the Warriner. I think they're Wroxton, bishop carpenter and hornton. (I might be wrong) but as far as I remember any child that goes to those schools continues on to the Warriner for secondary school.