Please Help: Places to live/schools near Camberley

[relocatingmom]

Hello, I will be relocating to the UK from the US in a couple of months, and would appreciate suggestions of nice, family friendly places to live near Camberley. I would like to live within walking distance of good primary schools (my daughter is 6) and within walking distance to shops, etc. I myself don't mind commuting to Camberley (though not a huge commute) so I am open to towns near by. I am looking for a town that is nice, family friendly, with the "within walking distance" convenience that I mentioned, but also a town has something going on --where there are shops, and activities for my daughter to do. We are relocating from a medium-ish sized university town that has a lot going on each weekend, and ideally, I would like the same vibrancy. Also, I understand it can be hard to get children into UK schools at this late stage, so I would like to live somewhere where there is the option of both good state and independent schools close by (in case I cant get her into a state school). Given the transition that my daughter will be going through, a school that has a warm, welcoming atmosphere and that would support her through this adjustment would be ideal. Thank you so much in advance!!!

[KingscoteStaff]

Can't help on picking a town, but I know that Eagle House, the prep for Wellington, is a fantastic school. My DNs joined it from abroad and found it very easy to find friends.

[mummytime]

You could look at Guildford, Farnham, Virginia Water.
Don't panic about school, it can be tricky but the local authority will have to offer her a place somewhere (and if over 2 miles away will have to provide transport).
I'm assuming you are not going to send her to one of the American schools?

You will probably find quite a lot of American's (and other nationalities) in the area.

[kayleighm5]

We live in Heatherside, Camberley which is very family friendly (with very good state schools). Have you had a look at the Lyndhurst website? Its a private school but has a very caring feel, we were very impressed at the open day. It sounds like it would be perfect for what you're looking for.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Crowthorne îs a nice village, very close to camberley, not far from reading/guildford for shopping and weekend activities

[relocatingmom]

thanks for the suggestions. Any other suggestions on towns and schools? I am thinking commuting up to 30 minutes for work, but I want her school to be close to where we live (walking distance). Right now I am not planning t?o necessarily send her to a American school, but are there ones in the area?

[Bonnefoi]

Farnham is lovely and has a very Jane Austin vibe, nice shops and train link to Camberly (I think).

Fleet is less historical but good schools and commuter links and lots going on for kids.

[relocatingmom]

Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. Based on the helpful posts here and my own research, I am thinking either Farnham or Wokingham, with a remote possibility of guildford or godalming. For school choices (for a six year old girl) what would you recommend? Any private schools you would recommend (if I have to go that route?)

[DeeWe]

Is she 7yo before September?

Because if she is then you've missed the juniors school applications, so would be looking at waiting list entry.
If she's not then you could look at entry to state juniors (depending on where you live) in September 2016.

Camberley generally has good state schools, does depend a bit on where you live though as the good ones tend to be oversubscribed.
Lyndhurst, last time I heard was having some issues, so be careful there.
There is the Marist School in Ascot, which is well rated. Ascot to Camberley is one of the few easy train rides to Camberley too!

[OinkBalloon]

Wokingham ticks all your boxes. Nice town, excellent schools, plenty of facilities, good town centre, easy commute.

All Wokingham state schools are, unfortunately, oversubscribed, but there is always movement, so you may be able to get in. Westende Junior School is probably your best bet, as it is slightly larger than its feeder infant school.

There are also several private schools around Wokingham. Holme Grange is one that often gets positive mention.

[halvedfees]

A second vote for Eagle House School. Crowthorne/Wokingham as well :)

[relocatingmom]

Hi all--thank you again. I contacted one of the schools in Farnham and they were oversubscribed and told me most of the other schools were likely oversubscribed as well. So, I'm back looking at living in camberley. What are nice, walking distance to town areas of camberley? Also any opinions on yateley manor vs lyndhurst?

[mummytime]

Pretty much all schools in Surrey, and that bit of Hampshire are likely to be "full". However that doesn't mean they will not take your daughter. Once she is in year 3 they can go over having 30 students in a class, and the LA can force them to take an extra student if necessary at any age.
I wouldn't push to get a child into South Farnham if that is the school you spoke to, as it is highly thought of but there are people who don't like it.

There is a huge pressure on school places in this area, which means the LA does have to be creative at times. People do move, but if a space occurs today it has to be offered immediately to the top of the waiting list or the first person to ask, and the person accepting it will be expected to start within about 2 weeks.

I would find the place you want to live, then apply for school places knowing you have to be offered something.

The U.S. Schools are ACS in Egham and then TASIS which is a bit closer to Staines.

[wokcommuter]

It appears that you already have a good idea of the best places to live in the area. Wokingham, Farnham and Guildford are all nice places with loads of historical character.

How big a town do you want to live in?

Guildford is more of a city where as the other two places are small towns.

If you are happy with an even smaller town then Ascot or Sunningdale could be options. If you would consider a village then you have Crowthorne which is ok or Hartley Wintney which is lovely.
Camberley is Ok but it lacks the character that the other places have. You also have Fleet which is better than Camberley but not quite as nice as Wokingham or Farnham.

How will you be commuting? If you are going to drive then Wokingham might be your best bet as you will avoid the bottlenecks around the M3.

In terms of schools, the availability changes from year to year. You will always get a place somewhere but it might be at the least popular school in town. You would have to call the local councils to advise you.

We moved out of London last year and we chose Wokingham but we would have been equally as happy in Farnham.

Wokingham has the added advantage of being a 10 minute train ride in to Reading which is one of the biggest retail centres in the south east outside of London.

[Samara26]

@wokcommuter

It appears that you already have a good idea of the best places to live in the area. Wokingham, Farnham and Guildford are all nice places with loads of historical character.

How big a town do you want to live in?

Guildford is more of a city where as the other two places are small towns.

If you are happy with an even smaller town then Ascot or Sunningdale could be options. If you would consider a village then you have Crowthorne which is ok or Hartley Wintney which is lovely.
Camberley is Ok but it lacks the character that the other places have. You also have Fleet which is better than Camberley but not quite as nice as Wokingham or Farnham.

How will you be commuting? If you are going to drive then Wokingham might be your best bet as you will avoid the bottlenecks around the M3.

In terms of schools, the availability changes from year to year. You will always get a place somewhere but it might be at the least popular school in town. You would have to call the local councils to advise you.

We moved out of London last year and we chose Wokingham but we would have been equally as happy in Farnham.

Wokingham has the added advantage of being a 10 minute train ride in to Reading which is one of the biggest retail centres in the south east outside of London.

I have to disagree about Reading shopping. The town Center is overrated and has an over-crowded unfriendly vibe plus not car friendly at all. Id say shop wise it's on a par with Basingstoke and Bracknell or guildford, and these are far easier and cheaper to park in. Bluewater is by far the best retail Center in the south east.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

If you want to be in Camberley, Frimley is near by. Tomlinscote is a well regarded secondary school, Collingwood College isn’t too far away too. Ravenscote is a popular primary and there are several others in the area.

Fleet town centre has very little. Hartley Witney is lovely, but it’s almost impossible to buy a house there.

Most town centres have been decimated over the last couple of years, with shops closing rapidly. Reading isn’t a comfortable place to shop and the parking is difficult. Guildford used to be a good place to shop, but I’m told many shops there are closing too.

[clary]

I think the OP is sorted by now - this is a thread from seven years ago

[Samara26]

@Foxyloxy1plus1

If you want to be in Camberley, Frimley is near by. Tomlinscote is a well regarded secondary school, Collingwood College isn’t too far away too. Ravenscote is a popular primary and there are several others in the area.

Fleet town centre has very little. Hartley Witney is lovely, but it’s almost impossible to buy a house there.

Most town centres have been decimated over the last couple of years, with shops closing rapidly. Reading isn’t a comfortable place to shop and the parking is difficult. Guildford used to be a good place to shop, but I’m told many shops there are closing too.

I'm curious what u mean by Reading not been a comfortable place to shop?