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Secondary education

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Original poster

Info on Marlow, Henley, Thame, Chalfonts

356 replies

Spanielmad · 19/08/2017 22:38

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

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:03

Ollycat, it does sound nice. I bet I would shop there more than I shop in my current town (the only clothes shop is M&Co which I don't like). But I would not need to be 'in' Marlow or Henley, just near and in catchment. I don't mind driving in, I suppose.
I don't know if Borlase is for us, but no point thinking about it without doing the test first and visiting it. We think our kids can go all the way - education wise - and want to make sure they get all the options in life. My kids are not into music (although one has musical bones but doesn't want to know!) or theatre, but they go to a badminton club and like athletics. At school my eldest joins various sports clubs such as football, cricket, running which run at lunch time. Already noticed Wycombe has the nearest badminton club....

I can well imagine people move out for the schools. We are currently living in our town for the same reason. When we moved here (for work again) we chose the town with the best rated school.... Now we have to repeat the process but its much more complicated this time!

Fluffypenguinbelly: I was hoping for a nice house and garden outside the towns as well but finding one within the catchment of a good school turns out to be harder than I thought!!
Thame seems ok, not as nice as Henley or Marlow though (as far as I can tell from my computer!) but the school seems very good. And I am not sure how bad the M40 would be for DH (google says 30 mins but whether that's true....). Also seems a bit 'random' on the map... but it sure is on the list!

Bourne End has lovely houses but a 'requires improvement' Academy that I was advised to avoid... :(
Will go and check out the others you suggested, Watlington and Blackwell. Heath.... Thanks so much!

thanks everyone. :)

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:04

its a shame that Lord William's ofsted is 6 years old... :(

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penstemon · 22/08/2017 22:06

MarlowRocks I tend to go to Henley for a mooch!
OP London is definitely possible within school hours. I do it quite a lot. Fast trains from High Wycombe are now down to about 24 minutes and Chiltern tends to be reliable.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:11

oooh National Gallery here I come!

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:14

FluffyPenguin - no, garden too small! Grin

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fluffypenguinbelly · 22/08/2017 22:15

The badminton centre is right by John Lewis you'll be pleased to know!

The M40 South bound is pretty crap depending on the time you leave. Before 7 and it's ok, after that and it's a slow trundle. It loses a lane at High Wycombe. You'd never do it in 30 mins from Thame.

Bit controversial but if you're boys are bright and you feel pretty confident about 11+ then what about in High Wycombe itself. The top of Amersham hill around the RGS has some fab houses.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:16

Ollycat, that house is on our fav list! Garden TOO big but hubby is drooling (no way he can maintain that much land, we'll need some sheep to keep the grass short, LOL). Bit lonely maybe. Dunno. would actually go and see it.

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:19

No houses for sale in our price bracket/wish list in Flackwell Heath. In catchment of Highcrest...(is that any good?)

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Ollycat · 22/08/2017 22:20

fluffypenguinbelly I was going to say it was by Asda - you put a much better spin on it!!

OP the house is lovely but in a tricky spot by the road (road fast there) - you couldn't walk to Lane End unfortunately as no pavement.

Marlowmarlowmarlow · 22/08/2017 22:20

I would have this one if I were looking in Marlow at your budget OP.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60497764.html

(Old user name but I grew up in Marlow, it was lovely. Happily settled elsewhere now due to work but I enjoyed it when we were there.)

I wouldn't worry so much about single sex schools. I went to Wycombe High and would chose to send my DSs to single sex grammar school if they existed in our part of the country.

Interested to hear Great Marlow is good these days, it wasn't highly thought of in my days.

Like others I would definitely pick Marlow over Henley. I also agree that Marlow is great for 'nice' shopping but Wycombe is. A lot more practical for standard shopping.

Glad to now be living somewhere less busy and with less traffic though, I do notice it when we go back.

Marlowmarlowmarlow · 22/08/2017 22:22

Sorry cross posted with lots!

I agree Ollycat about that house you linked. Lovely house but really shit location especially with teenagers.

Oncewaswho · 22/08/2017 22:22

What about West Wycombe? I've been following this thread and nodding as I lived and worked in this area a long time ago but no info about schools.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:24

ooooh boys can play badminton and I can go shopping?? Fluffypenguin, it sounds perfect! LOL Grin

I am confident about my boys academic skills but NOT about these scary tests. We've never even seen an 11+ test and they were never tutored or anything. I don't want single sex schools so that leaves us Borlase, Chesham and Burham, Henry Floyd. Am not sure how much I should want it or risk it.... If they don't pass there has to be a good upper as an alternative that offers great academic possibilities ....

ah, see! From Thame it would be more than half an hour to Stoke Poges. DH wouldn't leave before 7 so he'd be in rush hour traffic. I think he's willing to commute up to an hour (especially if it means good schools and a nice house) but I think the closer the better.

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Ollycat · 22/08/2017 22:24

This is not a pretty house but good location

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67396673.html

Kids could cycle to town (and there's a school bus)

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:30

ah, good to know it is a busy road. We'd have to drive everywhere. Big nice houses always seem to be on busy roads.....grrr...still I haven't discounted it as its one of the biggest houses I've seen within budget. And the boys would be happy to be allowed to play football in the garden without ruining the plants! Grin

The one Marlowmarlowetc posted is on my list as well, but it requires work and I fear it isn't big enough (we'd have to compromise on space to be able to be in Marlow - one to think about). Perhaps possible to extend (when the lottery coughs up) but that would be at the expense of garden. maybe.

West Wycombe? any good mixed uppers there?
Wycombe is in the book 'worst places to live' (or something in that line) he he....

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Ollycat · 22/08/2017 22:31

Gypsy Lane backs onto woods - loads of young teens play up there on the rope swing.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66199835.html

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:31

That road would be great...but that house is TINY. seems all other houses on that road all a few million each...

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Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:33

yep Gypsy Lane on my short list too - is under offer though and it is not a very big house - lots of small rooms...but maybe...

young teens not causing trouble? just playing I hope?
Backing onto woods sounds good....we (obviously, see my name) have a spaniel who would appreciate that....

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Marlowmarlowmarlow · 22/08/2017 22:34

Spaniel you mean you didn't love the wood clad kitchen on my one?!?! I picked it mainly due to location, you could do the improvements over time if it is big enough.

Ollycat · 22/08/2017 22:34

I wouldn't live in West Wycombe- Wheeler End (close by) much nicer.

Oak Tree Ave - popular family non through road with big green in the middle.

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:34

ugh, we're posting too fast. The TINY house was the one on Frieth Road.

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fluffypenguinbelly · 22/08/2017 22:34

That Oak Tree Road house is fab. Perfect in fact. The more I think about it the more you need to be in Marlow I think. This house is walkable but far enough away to not get too much traffic. Lots of options to get to Stoke Poges.

Schools are a complete bugger. My opinion is that if my children didn't pass I'd rather that I had the option to send them out of grammar school catchment to a 'normal secondary school'. That way they wouldn't have had the top 10-20% creamed off to grammar school like at GMS.

Ollycat · 22/08/2017 22:35

Spanielmad hopefully not causing trouble as my ds and his friends often go there!

Original poster
Spanielmad · 22/08/2017 22:36

yes the Oak tree avenue house (which had a sold sign on it but it disappeared again) seems a lovely location. and I love the look of the house. All perfect but I doubt it has enough space for us. We'd have to down-size... (we need a lot of space for all sorts of reasons, greedy lot we are)

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fluffypenguinbelly · 22/08/2017 22:36

That brick and flint one in Lane End isn't just on a busy road. It's on a 60 mile an hour busy road on a corner on a hill. Not possible to walk at all and I would fear for my life pulling out onto that road. Also no neighbours at all.

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