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

mmmm thank you for that. some good bits, some bad bits... and not in Borlase-country. But Cressex Com School and GMS in catchment... mmm

oh, last post referred to Lane End. Sorry didn't see the other posts there!

Wargrave...mm dunno....not keen on religious school (or boys school). I know, I am fussy... ;)

Must check out Wokingham then!
thanks! :)

LOL Ktown! People tell me Gerrards Cross is really posh and I should want to live there! But there seem to be no schools to go to there... and so there's little to do (although Marlow can't be far to drive to??).
Yes, thanks for the tip, have bookmarked some flood maps...
Gerrards Cross and Chalfonts come across (from here sitting behind a computer) as quiet green areas with not much happening. They are served by the Chalfonts Community College which has a good ousted report, but for some reason people are not keen on it in this forum..... I haven't discounted it as I imagine it's easy to get to Marlow or Wycombe for shops, easy to get to Stoke Poges and London.... so as a quiet green base perhaps....? Might have to get a 4x4 though...

Gx ain't posh.
amersham would be my choice or the countryside around beaconsfield.

LOL, well that's good to know.

More people seem to like Amersham. I am not keen on the single sex schools but Amersham School seems well liked at Chesham grammar is not far.... whether they have places available...

Not many houses that suit us available there though, but will keep looking!

Why is Amersham so nice?

What do people not like about Chalfonts Community College?

It might be worth looking at some census information just to get an overview of different areas. HERE is 2011 census info for Henley. It shows there are more than UK average no of elderly people (not surprising) but also that there are an 'average' number of young people. It also shows a much higher than average level of people with degrees (not surprising) and a very low number of people in civil partnerships (I wouldn't have guessed that 🤷🏻‍♀️)

I love a few facts and figures and I remember going through the population stats for various areas when we chose where to live.

I also found the ofsted school reports useful. We didn't even get a chance to visit the school my DCs ended up at before they were enrolled as we were living overseas but found the info in the ofsted report describing the atmosphere and ethos of the school to be accurate.

It always risky paying too much attention to different people's views on different schools as every child has such a unique experience.

My eldest DD I think would be a bit lost in such a big school. She's not loud, she gets on with tasks she's set, she's just sort of 'there' in class. Like she could be easily forgotten about.
My other DD is the opposite and would probably be fine.
But I don't know if it has that 'personal touch'
The Headmaster of TBS has so far been outstanding and he really seems to treat every child as an individual. Every parent I know who has a child there hasn't a bad thing to say about the school.

Shanebitchy, which school are you talking about being big? Chalfonts Community? getting confused here, sorry. What's TBS?

marlowrocks, I love that idea! It tells a lot to see the census info.
Ofsted does give some impression I agree. Some reports are quite old though. Our current comprehensive has just introduced a new discipline system and I hate it. They have a good ousted report though and at the time didn't have this new system... So you just never know...

Yes my children had Lane End students in their year groups.

Lane End is catchment for JHGS and I think RGS.

Henley has a falling number of secondary aged children projected I believe.

Yeah sorry! Chalfont I think she'd be lost at as it's so big.
TBS is The Beaconsfield School.

Meant to add Frieth will have a year 6 place.

Amersham has the great transport connections into London (tube and train), stunning old town, everything you need practicality wise in the new town.

Choice of three grammar schools (the two Dr Challoners and Chesham High) and the OFSTED good Amersham School.

I know you're not keen on single sex but have you ever visited one? They are not the closeted strange isolated world some seem to think they are. Don't discount some great schools without even seeing them. Challoners boys is now co-ed in the 6th form too.

Housing stock is your problem in Amersham though and there are some areas which are significantly nicer than others!!

What do you actually want from a house and what shops do you need on a daily basis? We live on the outskirts of Marlow and I rarely go there to shop. It is lovely for meeting friends for drinks or dinner and is brilliant for being affluent people suitable presents but it doesn't have any practical shops. I find ASDA & John Lewis up at Handy Cross very useful but also spend more time in High Wycombe (decent M&S and House of Fraser and wide range of other shops) than I expected when we moved here.
A bit of me still lists after the house we viewed on Institute Rd in the very centre of Marlow but it only had one small parking space, a tiny garden & much less floor space than the place we ended up buying. Where we live makes so much more sense as we are at home so much more. It also saves me a fortune in just mooching down the high street! It would have been much more convenient as the DC (currently bottom end of primary) get older as they would be able to go out whenever they wanted. I am conscious that the nearest decent bus stop is over a mile from us so I will be a taxi service for a long time.

Also to consider: Penn.
Other end of High Wycombe - absolutely beautiful. Mary Berry lives there too!

Oh Penstemon, you read my mind today. I was just telling my kids today 'how often do I actually go to the high street?' (that said, ours is very boring) and indeed I make more use of a John Lewis and M&S than the High Street (just for a coffee with a friend). I wouldn't want to be in or near the centre as I have a gardening-mad husband who is dreaming of a huge garden, but I wouldn't want to be too isolated either (some neighbours to feel safe and have a chat now and then). And it would be nice for the kids to be near friends and near school..... So 'near' a town perhaps....yes...this is a process to figure out what I actually want... how sad is it that I want to be near a John Lewis? LOL !

Thanks CauliflowerSqueeze....must check out schools there...

Thank you Zodlebud, good points.. wasn't too keen on the ofsted of Amersham school however...

Ollycat - great info, thank you.... will check with borlase's whether its in catchment but I suppose for them its a matter of the nearer the better... still can't imagine they'd have a space for us.. LOL seems a very 'wanted' school....

Shanebitchy, ah thanks! we don't really mind a big school as my eldest is in one now (would prefer a smaller one though) as long as they stream or use sets properly. A big school might also have more spaces coming up.... Their CCC ofsted report sounds quite positive despite a mention of a new behaviour policy...mmm..

We live on the outskirts of Marlow and I rarely go there to shop.

I live in Henley and I regularly go to Marlow to shop 😂. Admittedly I'm more of a moocher than a shopper but I like the shops in Marlow.

You haven't the mentioned budget. I would say it's pretty fundamental. There are PLENTY of places in Marlow that I wouldn't want to live.

I also think you're thinking in a non grammar mindset. Children around here don't go to local schools necessarily. The grammar school system sends children miles to school. Most get buses.

Personally I wouldn't want to live in Lane End.

Marlow and Henley are incredibly busy. So many cars. Depending on budget you won't get much house for your money. Not much garden.

LOL Marlowrocks that's funny

WhatinTheWorldIsGoingon - why wouldn't you want to live in Lane End? I really want to know as its got some houses we've put in our fav list (the list is long though so it means little). Budget wise we need to stay below the stamp duty line of 925.

Yes I don't have a grammar mind set. Where we live everyone signs up to the local comp, which is considered good (many come from further out on buses but we live in the town) and nobody thinks twice about it. My son walks to school, 15 mins walk. All the kids in our town go to the same school....

Yes, I realise I could not get the house I want in the towns but looking for within catchment but outside town, if that makes sense. Hence the Lane End question..... Or Frieth, Shiplake, or Chalfonts St Peter/Gerrards Cross. I think I don't want to be all alone in the countryside, but I don't want to be within a town either. But with teenage kids, some stuff around would be handy - I can send them out to the supermarket to get a pint of milk, they can meet up with friends and I don't have to drive for miles to get them to the sports club.... it all has its pros and cons... ;). Schools are a major thingy though.... and since we are currently far from London I am starting to think I could actually nip out to London for the day within school hours! oh, that would be fun...

SWBGS is very "in" at the moment- it's always been "in" but the last couple of years even more so having only offered catchment siblings and then catchment (without siblings) to 3.1 miles - so not all of catchment by any means. Prior to that it has historically offered all of catchment and not much else.

I shop loads in Marlow- Jigsaw, Whistles, Mint Velvet, White Company etc. Clarendon Fine Art has some great contemporary art exhibitions and my most favourite painting came from there.

Oh and there's Sunrise Health and Beauty who must wax every one within a 10 mile radius.

What sort of things do your kids like? Football, Rugby, Hockey, Netball, rowing all amazing at junior (and beyond) level in Marlow. Jam Theatre offer all sorts of dance / drama / singing etc. High Wycombe Music Centre and Chiltern Music Academy offer excellent opportunities out of school - Borlase's in school music, dance and drama offering also superb.

I've spoken to my children about where they live in the past and they are both very aware of how fortunate they are with the opportunities on their doorstep. Tge downside is of course that it's pricey and a little bit too "Marlowey" for its own good at times! I think the same could be said about SWBGS sometimes

Many people move here out of London before their kids start primary specifically for the schools.

If you aren't keen on living in a town then Marlow and Henley are not for you. With your budget you will get a beautiful house with some good land if you are willing to go out from Marlow a bit more.

I find Lane End a bit of a nothingness to be honest. No good bus links. One small newsagents. I'm sure it has a village life but there is nothing there for your boys that I know of.

Thame is a lovely town. Always in Midsomer Murders! Far more for your boys. No ridiculous grammar school system either so it would be a case of walking to the local school. Much further to commute thank Marlow and I find it a bit out in the sticks in terms of motorways/other towns. Far far more for your money.

Also have a look at Bourne End although I'm not sure of school.

Watlington is very close to the M40 and is Oxfordshire. Has its own secondary school and a few shops and nice pubs.

London is very easily accessed from around here. We go all the time. You can get to Wembley Ikea in 30 mins on a Sunday morning!

Personally I would be looking at minimising commuting time. Have you looked at Flackwell Heath?

You could go to London and of course there's Bicester Village just up the M40.

Or there's Wooburn Green. Forgot about that one.

Flackwell Heath wouldn't be my choice- under the motorway and squashed up to Wycombe!

Wheeler End will give you more for your £££ but no GMS / SWBGS catchment. V pretty but again motorway noise.

If you've seen this house it's not in Lane End but about half a mile out on the main road - lovely house lousy location

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48254100.html

Flackwell Heath isn't under the motorway. It's above it!

You can buy this and thank me later.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48464280.html