Cove Secondary School, Farnborough, Hampshire.

[milliecat13]

So we have seen a couple of houses we really like in Farnborough. The one thing holding us back from buying one is the lack of seemingly good secondary schools.
The only one in the catchment area of the houses we like is Cove School and I’m yet to hear anything good about it.

We have a 2 year old - she’s a long way off secondary school I know and a lot can change in 9 years. Am I worrying unnecessarily? She is my first so I have no idea really how School admissions really work. Is it likely we’d get her into a school outside the catchment area? Any advice gratefully received!

I've just had a look at the official data. The school looks dire but Wavell looks ok. I have no idea how admissions work in the area.

You definitely need to get the primary catchment right, though.
The website below is a good starting point.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools?for=primary

It's tricky as you say a lot can change in 9 years. I worked with a lot of schools in the Camberley/Farnborough area from 2009-2012. We're hoping to upsize so looking at school catchment for DS and its surprised me that schools that were not so great back then are now outstanding or good. I don't know if you've considered it but is Aldershot an option? I recently discovered Alderwood school and it looks amazing.
On a side note, Rushmoor has a big redevelopment plan for Farnborough and Aldershot so in 5-10 years it'll be a different (hopefully even better!) place.

Alderwood has abysmal progress scores and GCSE pass rates of 22%...

Oh really? I hadn't looked into the senior school so much just noted the Ofsted rating. I rather liked the infant school.

The primary does look fab on paper.

Try to buy in Fleet instead, the schools are much better. Or make sure you are in catchment for Wavell.

Cove secondary school or Fernhill secondary school which one has the best SENCO department ?!! Or Sen provision ?!