Good school (grammar or state) recommendations, London zones 4-6, M25 areas,Berkshire or bucks?

[gingerparkin]

Hello
I'm asking for my lovely friend who is moving back to the UK after some time abroad. She will need to choose where she moves to based on the best options for secondary as her daughter will be in year 6 in September (when she will be back by).

We would be really grateful for any suggestions for any areas with good secondary schools which are in commuting distance of London (preferably within zone 6 or less) and also interested to hear from people who are a bit further out. Her daughter is very bright and currently privately educated and based on my experience of 11+, it is very much within her gift I think.

Thank you very much in advance. Any leads appreciated :-)

You won’t get into a Bucks grammar school living in London and commuting out. She would need to register for the test as it’s taken around 3 weeks into the autumn term in September. I think it’s a non starter unless she actually moves to Bucks. Look at the Bucks CC website for details of registration etc. They also have admission details for each school on their web site including distance away from school where the last child admitted lived. It won’t be London.

I don’t know about anywhere else!

Newstead Woods in Orpington is a super selective. If interested I would move as close as possible to one of the good comps in the borough (Hayes would be my choice) and daughter could then travel to Newstead if she got in or go to Hayes if she didn't. I think Bromley/Hayes is either zone 5 or 6

Sutton has five grammar schools (and some of its comprehensive schools are excellent too) and neighbouring Kingston has the Tiffin grammars too.

Outer South London like Wallington girls and Nonsuch. Several selective private options too. Is the dd the right age to take it though, year 5 or lower?

Outer South London like Wallington girls and Nonsuch. OP those are Sutton grammars (the other three are boys only with SGS and Wally Boys admitting girls in their sixth forms)

Posts crossed!

LIZS

I second the suggestion about moving close to a good comprehensive in Bromley. Darrick Wood in Orpington is popular and also close to Newstead Wood Grammar. DD is in Y9 and loves the school.

You need to be within a 9 mile radius Ideally by time of of submitting the CAF. But I believe you can change address upto early Dec and still be classed as on time. You have to submit a supplementary info form to apply for the test in Spring of Y5, the test is in September each year. If the SIF had a different address keep the school informed of changes. Bromley borough (like most authorities) require proof of address when submitting the CAF and in the past this has been the child benefit form, even if not entitled to CB, you can call up and get one.

Near Darrick and Newstead you also have the primary schools of Darrick junior and also Crofton if your friends daughter needed a Y6 place.

You could draw a circle around London and then plot where the grammar schools are (and narrow search to those areas). Here is a list of all the grammars in England (and conveniently the Greater London ones feature at the top).

Just to say though that (super-selective) grammar schools aren't the be-all-and-end-all. There are many excellent comprehensives in London too.

Beaconsfield High School does take girls from the Uxbridge / Hillingdon areas but as mentioned above 11 plus test is in mid September plus its quite a specific test which can be tricky to pass without some practice

Agree the timing might be an issue. If she goes into year 6, she'll be walking straight into the entrance exams, and competing against children who have been preparing for ages.

Safest to choose an area with good comprehensive schools? Take some of the pressure off? Where about in London do they need to commute to? I know the s w Herts area - Chorleywood is on the Met Line, and has great schools if you move right next to them.

If they move near Kingston, they can try for Tiffin Girls, Nonsuch and Sutton girls - all grammars. and tell them she;ll need to practise NVR and VR tests to prep for some exams.

f they move near Kingston, they can try for Tiffin Girls, Nonsuch and Sutton girls - all grammars

Sutton High School is an indie, though, not a state grammar. Although the OP may have meant, 'grammar or independent', rather than 'grammar or state', since grammar schools are state schools.

I didn't realise that Marching. Because Sutton boys is state grammar, I assumed the girls' school was too. Sorry.

Sutton High is a GDST school (like Wimbledon High School) so not sure if it ever was 'state' (maybe direct grant back in the day?).