Moving to Berkshire

[Relocationlocationetc]

Honest advice needed please !

Moving to Berkshire for work (job based in Reading centre). I am moving first (quite soon), with husband and kids to follow - kids will start in Sept 2019. I need good secondary school recommendations please - state or private sector.

My son will be starting A-levels (probably maths/ computing etc) and daughter will be starting Yr 8.

We want the impossible when it comes to where we live, I think - commutable to school by the kids, but not too busy and built up.

Love Goring and West Berkshire/Oxfordshire border, but that may be a bit tame for teenagers - and not easily commutable to decent schools.

Don't need to be somewhere that is commutable to London.

Thought I should try to rent in the area where good schools are - before they move down and before we buy, so need to 'front-load' decisions about schools now. Also not sure how long we have in terms of waiting lists for popular schools.

Would be grateful for any advice - new to Mumsnet, so not familiar with the abbreviations you all use !

THANK YOU !

If you pick somewhere with a station the kids can get into reading to meet friends or for entertainment so gets over that worry. They can also commute in to reading which widens school choice plus lots of schools run buses round that area - the Choise is huge.

Twyford/Wargrave? Piggott's a nice school and they're more into the countryside. Twyford - small town, one stop on train to Reading, Wargrave's more of a village.

Shouldn't be any trouble getting in anywhere for 6th form

Tbh it's not even a small town, just a big village with decent amenities

Newbury has several good senior schools. Great town loads going on for teenagers so no real need to transport them elsewhere, but still market town feel.

Where in Reading will you be working? Traffic is pretty horrific so if you can be a bit more specific the advice can be more tailored.

Agree with Newbury - no need for private school unless you really want to. Good schools full/oversubscribed in Y8 but if you move within catchment there is plenty of movement so a place should come up. 6th form will be fine - all school want 6th formers.
I work in Newbury school - happy to discuss further if you want to PM.
Disadvantages are schools are big and dynamics within school and with other close by schools can be an issue, depends on your children and your concerns.

Thank you all very much. I thought I had posted an earlier message, but I think I must have messed up as I don't see it here - you can tell I am new to this !

How about Wokingham ? Either Holt or Embrook or Reddam House ? Going down to have another look this weekend.

Again, thank you. Too many decisions to make !!

And I will be working in the centre of Reading - quite close to the station, although I will have parking available to me.

Thanks

You'll be better off training it into Reading. The traffic is awful. Another one recommending Newbury if you can get somewhere within walking distance of the schools / shops / station etc.

If you can get within the Holt's catchment area, then it's supposed to be an excellent school (friends with daughters there highly recommend it). The Forest school (boys only) has a good sixth form apparently - better than the lower school.

Finchampstead is Wokingham outskirts and relatively quiet (but not properly rural I'm afraid). Buses to / from Wokingham and Reading, but I'm not sure how frequently they run. If you can get to the train stations, your entertainment, socialising opportunities for the teens will be much greater.