Secondary and Primary schools near Slough

[jempuddleduck]

I wondered if anyone could advise please.
We are likely to be moving to the area near Slough next year. We have two children in secondary schools and two at primary. The two older ones (one boy, one girl) are at grammars currently.

Can anyone advise about the local primary and secondary schools? Possibly Grammars for secondary.

Needs to be:
Within 30 minutes commute of Slough
Walking distance from a good primary
Walking distance or straightforward bus trip from secondaries
Not on Heathrow main flight path (can anyone advise about this?)
Pleasant area to live with good amenities

Preferences:
Prefer to be in the area South of Slough ideally
Easy travel to London

Any local information would be great. Thank you so much!

I would start the search by finding out if the Slough or Bucks grammars have any spaces in the year groups you want and ditto the primary schools.

Everywhere near Slough gets under a flight path! Just look at how the runways are positioned and avoid both ends! Obviously places like Burnham and Stoke Poges are sought after and people just accept they are near a big airport. Colnbrook can be noisy - so most people prefer to be a reasonable distance from Heathrow!

I don't know South of Slough very well but places like Datchet never have any school places. I really think school places will be your biggest problem and you may need to be flexible.

South of Slough is Eton and Windsor. Datchet, Colnbrook,
Windsor and Slough are under the flightpath.
Look at places near Slough that are in Buckinghamshire.

30 minutes commute from Slough covers quite a large area including Windsor, Maidenhead, Uxbridge, Beaconsfield, Ascot, Staines, Bracknell, Gerrards Cross and so on. Traffic can be quite bad at peak times.
Slough will soon be on the Elizabeth line. The train to Paddington or Reading can be less than 20 minutes.

I would try to get grammar school places for the children. Many of the not so well performing schools were replaced by academies.

It sounds more difficult to get school places than I had anticipated. I think I will do some ringing around/ research the websites.

Is there anywhere particular that you can recommend to live within the 30 minute commute (pleasant area, good amenities, etc)?
I only know one or two people who live/ have lived in the area and both to the North of Slough so I feel a bit in the dark!

Thank you for the responses!

Honestly, the schools will be your biggest problem. If you want grammar, you have the Slough Grammars and Burnham Grammar in this area. If you go a bit further out you have High Wycombe grammars and Beaconsfield High. Most of Berkshire does not have grammars but Berkshire is several local authorities. I would talk to Bucks and the Slough Grammars to see where may have places and then look at back ups - comprehensives or secondary moderns but some of the Bucks ones will be unsuitable.

In Bucks there are some excellent primary schools but some that have been forced to be academies are still not so hot.

Is the commute really set at 30 mins? Maidenhead is also going to be on the Elizabeth Line. You have plenty of villages around here but you will have to research where suits you regarding schools. Windsor may have school places. The Queen puts up with flight path noise!

I think there are four grammar schools in Slough and I believe that they are all good. I think Windsor and Maidenhead don't have them. Primaries are likely to have large classes with many children from non-English speaking homes.

There are lots of nice areas near Slough. Slough itself is quite industrial. Where you live will depend on your budget, as some areas are very expensive. Look at areas with SL postcodes.

Windsor town centre is only about 2.5 miles from Slough, and is very touristy. Slough town centre is currently downmarket but is expected to have a new shopping centre soon.

Unfortunately the commute is pretty set because of the type of work my husband does.
I'm more keen to be South of Slough but it does look as if the Grammars are in Slough or North. Of course, there is no guarantee that they will get into the Grammars anyway so I'm perfectly happy to look at other secondaries but would like to choose a good one (obviously)!

I will get calling soon!
Thanks again.

Be aware that Windsor has a 3 tier school system, with middle and upper schools. Whereas Maidenhead has conventional primary and secondary.

Englefield Green , Runnymead, anywhere around Windsor Great Park, Ascot, Egham etc

Sorry Bubblesbuddy- are those places you just listed those with good secondaries or something else?

I thikn they are nice places to live

Englefield Green and Egham are in Surrey. Runnymede is Berkshire/Surrey border. Some of the places listed are TW postcode. Beaconsfield is nice. HP postcode.
All the places named are nice. Wraysbury is also nice.
Some of the places are in the flood plain.
Living under the flight path is something you can get used to.

If you are not familiar with the area, it might be worth doing some serious research. I am familiar with the area and would look north or west of Slough. I would avoid the floodplain. I would try my hardest to get the kids into grammar schools. North of Slough and you are heading towards the Chilterns.

Places that I would consider (if I won the lottery) include Beaconsfield, Gerrards X, Farnham Common, Taplow, Cookham, (Burnham), Dorney, Eton, Marlow, Fulmer, Windsor ...

With the commute, is it to central Slough? Is it likely to be during the rush hour? If it is critical that you get from your home to work in less than 30 mins, and work is e.g. at the hospital, this will limit where you can live.

Another consideration is your budget. There are some cheap places and some incredibly expensive places within 30 mins of Slough. How many bedrooms are you looking for?
What time will the commute be? Rush hour? And, as a PP asked, which bit of Slough are you commuting too?

Commute is indeed to the hospital, 30 minute thing not likely to be during rush hour, no. I have been looking at somewhere called Sunningdale near Ascot which appears to have a very good state secondary and another nearby. Does anyone know that area?

The houses are much more expensive that where we are living currently. We need a large house as lots of children, may have to find something to do up, I feel.

Sunningdale is very nice. Not within 30 mins of Wexham Park in rush hour though. Wentworth in Virginia Water is close to Sunningdale and has some nice houses.

I would look at the Chalfonts, Beaconsfield and surrounding villages, Gerrards Cross and Farnham Common. I know of a hospital consultant who lives in Farnham Common, kid went to Langley Grammar.

I forgot Stoke Poges and Iver Heath in my list.

South of Slough, there are places like Winkfield and Fifield that you may like. Windsor has some lovely parts (esp. St Leonards Hill). Old Windsor has nice houses but is in the flood plain. Datchet is also in the flood plain. Englefield Green is nice. You could also consider Bagshot area- Prince Edward lives there.

I'm currently sitting in the car park of that very nice secondary in Sunningdale, waiting for my DD. I like the area, very family friendly, and there are cheaper parts that are still nice. School is a very good comp and mine have done well there, both academically and with fantastic pastoral support. And awesome sport, music and drama.

Thanks mumneedswine- good to know.

Many thanks or the recommendations of areas and other info'. I will need to do a lot of school research and hope that some good schools have a place. It sounds as if it might be tricky to place all four children! I don't want them to have any more disruption than is necessary so want to pick the right place first time.