Info on Marlow, Henley, Thame, Chalfonts

[Spanielmad]

Hello, we are thinking of moving into South Buckinghamshire for DH's work. Been looking at the impossible school situation already and earmarked a few areas with good (but oversubscribed) secondary schools.
Before I drive over to visit the area (we are a few hours away) I need to narrow down which towns we might like, as I can't visit them all in a day or two.

We like to be near or on the outskirts of a small town with stuff for my kids (young teen boys) such as a leisure centre, sports clubs, we like hiking in the hills/woods, I'd like a nice town with boutique shops, cafes, art galleries, art clubs etc. Low crime and peaceful would be good too- goes without saying.

Can anyone tell me anything about these towns? What are they like? I already know most of them are pricey- but would like to know more about atmosphere, crime, shops etc....
I have only done online research so far.

Henley,
Shiplake,
Marlow (my fav at the moment but hard to find a house),
Chalfont St Peter,
Chesham,
Thame.

Any thoughts very welcome!! Thank you

I would have a look at Berkhamsted. It's a wonderful market town that ticks all your boxes. Waitrose in town, sports centre, cricket club, cinema (The Rex - check it out!), pubs, fine dining, lots of boutiques. It also has Ashridge on your doorstep. You also get more house for your money than Marlow (although not much). About 40 minute drive to Stoke Poges.

The secondary school is Ashlyn's - currently OFSTED good with strong indications of being outstanding. Many children go to Chesham Grammar from the town, in fact in the region of 70 (out of the PAN of 180) are starting in Y7 this September. School buses go from Berkhamsted to the school.

Similar situation with the Aylesbury Grammar schools. So whilst you are not in catchment, the chances of getting a place at a Grammar is extremely high.

You don't have to be in catchment to take 11+ (people have taken Bucks 11+ from many miles away) - are they talking about late applications?

Yes, it will be late applications which can only be made by children moving to the area. The deadline for registering as an out of area applicant for Sep 2018 Y7 admissions was back in June.

Apparently I do have to be in the catchment. I can put B'shire schools on my youngest secondary school application, as well as our local secondary by October, and then inform the council when we actually move. Only after the move will they be tested - or so I am told by the admissions team. He'll then go into the late applications round but of course many places will by then be allocated....:(

For my eldest they said to apply once we have prove of the move, up to 6 weeks before, and then he will be tested.

It seems like we're going to have to move 'blind' - with no indication (except what the schools themselves can tell us - which is probably not much as they don't have a crystal ball either) of whether kids can get a place or whether we have to go through appeals processes and/or waiting lists.
So if we do move to Marlow, my eldest might end up on Bourne End Academy (nearest) until GMS/SBGS has a place free. That sounds like a rubbish scenario for making friends and we'd be asking for getting behind on learning with all those interruptions.
For my youngest it would mean a Marlow primary and a late application for secondary school. He might end up at Bourne End Academy too until there is a place free in Marlow.
hm.
Up to us now to decide whether we want to go down this route...

woodhill, would love to know more about Chorleywood. I see the school has a good ofsted. It is probably full too so would have to keep in mind that if we end up on a waiting list, my kids would be sent to Rickmansworth or Joan of Arc. What are those like? I'd rather not have a religious school....
What's Chorleywood like? Any shops? Cafes? Upmarket or more 'average'? Sports clubs and leisure facilities? Historic and picturesque or more modern?
Thank you!

My comments were regarding the 11+ exam, not admissions. I do not live in Bucks (you can probably guess where I do live based on my previous post) and we can sit the 11+. Just need to register at the right time for it.

You're right though that in year or late admissions you would need proof of your address.

Thank you for the Berkhamsted suggestion, I looked it up on the map and Rightmove. Is it nicer than Chesham ( I hear here that Chesham is not great). I have never heard of this area so know nothing. I assume its got a link to London. Where would the nearest department stores be (Home of Fraser, John Lewis), does it have a good and a bad side (my current town has).
Also the Ashlyns school seems oversubscribed so I wonder where we'd be sent if there is no place free. Tring? Kennedy?
Thanks for pointing me there!

Zodlebud, we've missed all the normal application deadlines for the 11+ as my youngest is about to start Y6..... :( so I have little idea whether it is worth moving into the catchment area of a grammar - probably only worth it if there a good upper as well.

mmm...very few 4+beds houses in Berkhamsted...

Chorleywood is lovely, on met line, worth a look, cafes, co op, Rickmansworth nearby with Waitrose

Henley and Thame are in Oxfordshire so would not be in South Bucks so I guess would not fall in grammar areas anyway.

I am not sure why you have discounted Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield as they are very nice places to live and incredibly convenient for Stoke Poges.

Gerrards Cross is possibly one of the swankiest postcodes to have. Most kids I know there either go to Beacy High, RGS or either of the Challoners. Those who don't pass got to Chalfont or to independent schools.

My cousins live in Chorleywood and their kids all went to Clement Danes.

Hi OP don't think anyones answered your questions re: cookham etc.

Cookham is lovely but very small - smaller than Marlow and Henley by a long way. Much more of a village but also spread out so train station isn't right by the shops etc. Very nice though!

By the Platt school do you mean Furze Platt?
These are my opinions on the state schools in Maidenhead;
Newlands (girls only) - very good reputation and does well. Usually rather oversubscribed.
Desborough (boys only) - doing much better in recent years, Def been on the up.
Then there's Furze Platt, Cox Green and Altwood which are mixed comps. My opinion is that FP is the best, though it had a mixed Ofsted in the last few years. It is a typical comp though really. Lots of people very happy with it.

Hope this helps?

From your original locations I would choose Marlow.

Berkhamsted is a very affluent town - has a few small ex-council estates on the outskirts but largely populated with children called Henry, Charlie, Olivia, Sophie etc!!!! Nothing like Chesham. It frequently appears in The Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in the UK. Lovely canal runs through it with pubs on it. Motivated parents and excellent schools. 90% of house sales are people moving out of London to give you an idea of population.

There are a lot of 4 bed houses but the summer holidays are always a quiet time for sales in the area. Northchurch borders the town - houses are cheaper as it's a 20 minute walk to the station. Half an hour into Euston.

John Lewis is in Watford 15-20 minutes away in the Intu Centre. You have a direct train to Westfield in Shepherd's Bush and there's also House of Fraser at Brent Cross. I also shop in St Albans a lot (20 mins drive) - White Company, Reiss, Cath Kitson etc.

If you didn't get a place at Ashlyn's then you could be offered Tring - another excellent school - Hemel Hempstead School (don't be put off by the Hemel name, it's a lovely school). You would be unfortunate to get one of the dud schools in Hemel as they try to ensure that all children in Berkhamsted are educated in Berkhamsted where possible but no guarantee. All these schools served by buses from the town. Herts County Council is the admissions authority.

I also share the love for Marlow. I think Berkhamsted could be what you're after so long as your other half is ok with the drive.

We moved to Marlow about 4 years ago and love it - although our DC are still primary age so I can't tell you much about secondaries.
(Generally, Spinfield & Danesfield are considered the best primaries.)

If you're considering BE Academy it might be worth joining the Facebook group It's a Marlow Thing and asking for views of the school there.

You may have looked at these already but to get a feel of life in Marlow look at

www.mymarlow.co.uk/

Also worth a look on the local area:

bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/

www.mumsaboutcookham.com/

chilternchatter.com/

Marlow doesn't have a cinema or theatre (like Henley) but those can be found in High Wycombe. Longridge outdoor centre in Marlow is fab for kayaking etc. Also a short drive nearby at Cressex is a John Lewis and a new big Waitrose & leisure centre.

Henley is also great (esp the Festival & Literary Festival)!

You guys are a goldmine!

Will definitely keep an eye on Berkmansted, thank you for the tip. Perhaps the perfect house will come along. Will call the Ashlyn school as well as am not keen on religious schools so hopefully they are not as full as they might seem. Thanks!

I discounted Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross as I did not see any schools with a good ofsted report (one has to start somewhere) and am not keen on single sex schools.

Although I haven't been anywhere yet I think Marlow is still my favourite...and the hardest to get into....

I will put Berkmansted and Chorleywood on the list though. Hold on, did my list just get longer instead of shorter?

It is good to know which areas are nice, which schools are decent etc.

If I can find a school that has places for my kids we’re in business, as they say... Somehow I have this feeling that Marlow won’t be the one with places in school.... :(

But who knows, Thame, Berkmansted, Chorleywood, Henley (maybe).

Thank you also for the feedback on Cookham and Furze Platt - not the best of the best then... shame, as Cookham seems to have more houses for sale than Marlow in our price range! LOL

will visit some of these areas and try to make the gamble of the school places less of a gamble, iykwim, by calling the schools. And of course I am on Rightmove 24/7!! (while putting some final decorating touches to my current house)

Thanks everyone!

I haven’t given up on Marlow yet... but might have to soon. ;)

Gerrards Cross is quite nouveau. Massive swanky houses.

The Chalfonts are good for commuters but don't really have a heart if you see what I mean. A parade of 30s shops.

Beaconsfield is lovely. Marlow great. Berkhamsted I don't know.

thank you CauliflowerSqueeze!

I know every single one of these places. Berko to Stoke Poges is quite a drive when you could be much closer. However you really must be guided about where you can get into schools. Posters suggest lots of good schools but are not much good if you cannot get in. Regarding grammars, you wouldn't be the only one on a waiting list either so you cannot bank on a place.

It's very difficult to get everything you want. Can you not buy a cheaper house and pay for schools? Probably less hassle!

I meant to add that you really cannot pass up on single sex schools. You would be mad not to take a place at RGS High Wycombe if you were offered a place there for example. Or Beaconsfield High. The single sex schools are very sought after so I would review your views on this in the circumstances. You many need any option available to you so be flexible.

If only we could get a school place first and then buy a house in the area....sigh.

We are very discouraged by the school issue. Even as far out as Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire all 'good' schools have the label 'oversubscribed' to them. I will assume and hope that they will be less full than Bucks, but still.

I'd imagine a private school would cost at least 5K a term and I think they have 3 terms so that's 15K per year, times 2 for two kids. We are well off but wouldn't have a clue where to find that sort of money. That would be 2.5K per month we'd need to save on mortgage payments. Perhaps doable if we buy a garden shed, LOL

I find it unbelievable and quite sad that a whole county cannot provide enough decent school places for its own population. I can't be the only one and I imagine there are plenty who decide against moving into the county for this reason alone. that said, there must be people who DO move into the area and find a school place, surely, there must be....

I suppose I should look into single sex schools, you are right BubblesBuddy. They go against how I was brought up (abroad, mixed schools no uniforms etc) and I find it going against normal teenage development with a healthy interest in the other gender, but I know many rate these schools so perhaps I should be more open minded...
Thanks BubblesBuddy - reality check always welcome!

Currently at a loss at what to do. Either take the gamble and move to a nice town that has at least 2 good (full) schools so I can reduce the risk of being sent to a bad school. Or look further out and find a good school that is not oversubscribed (I think I might end up in Wales, LOL)

I must add, however, that you all have been enormously helpful. Wouldn't know where else to find this sort of info!

even toying with the idea of renting something incredibly soon and live in the area before the October deadline of secondary application. My youngest would then perhaps stand a chance of getting in the right school. My eldest would then be left afloat a bit but with his younger sibling in in 2018, my eldest would perhaps move up the waiting list a bit quicker (as a sibling) and get into Y9 in 2018.

Or, move to whenever my eldest can get in, and let that be the decider of where we live. Then my youngest has a higher chance of getting in (as a sibling), despite being a late applicant.

But should we decide where to live based on a Y8 school place? It is a mad world.

I commented on your other thread.

Despite my NN I'm a bit sad at the comments about Henley. I would recommend looking at Marlow first but please don't rule out Henley. It's lovely too. 😊 I've lived in Henley for 15 years and although there are a lot of wealthy people I generally find people friendly, helpful and polite. I've don't find it racist. In fact I've found it to be very accepting of people from overseas. I also find there are a lot of community activities here. I don't get too involved myself but it's nice to know it there if I wanted. I think it has a more of an art and culture vibe than Marlow.

School wise lots of people chose to send their kids to Gillotts and from there it seems fairly easy for brighter kids to get into william Borlaise for 6th form if they want. I can't remember what the kids had to get but it wasn't too onerous at all. Plenty of bright local D.C. chose to go to Henley College though. (The maths and science departments seem excellent) It's very different to a traditional school but it suits a lot of kids.

I'd still suggest looking at Marlow first but I don't think you should rule out Henley if the schools work out better for you.

I copied this from visit-Henley.com.

Henley Festival – Five wonderful evenings of music, comedy and culture on the riverside

Henley Fringe – Two weeks prior to Edinburgh many acts hone their material in Henley

Thames Traditional Boat Rally – A two day celebration of messing about in boats

Rewind Festival – Relive the 1980’s in the biggest celebration of music from the decade in the country

Henley Literary Festival – One of the best in the country with well-known authors from all genres telling their tales

Brakspear Festival – A week of music guaranteed to get you tapping your feet and snapping your fingers

Living Advent Calendar – A live performance somewhere in Henley every night during Advent

Christmas Festival – One night when everyone flocks to enjoy festive entertainment in the town centre

Festive Sunday Shopping – A special festive day for shopping on a Sunday before Christmas, with pop-up performances, discounts and offers.

Nice one!! I love a creative vibe (I am very much into the visual arts) and so you raised my interest in Henley there. I suppose I must visit both Marlow and Henley. And find out if Gillots has any spaces...or any hope for spaces... saw a nice house in Shiplake...not too far from Henley... good to know that the lack of a 6th form might not be a problem. I wonder why they don't have a 6th form though. But if Borlase's or the college are good options I suppose I shouldn't worry?

thank you - visiting soon I hope!!

Shiplake is a small village with a butcher, a garage, a pub, a corner shop with post office, a tennis club, a church and a lovely church hall. It's got its own train station (with free parking) and is a 7 min drive from Henley town Centre.