Princes Risborough / Aylesbury Schools

[LauraI9158]

Hi, currently desperately trying to relocate to aylesbury area in time for sept school term when my son is due to start in year 7. Options are limited due to current COVID crisis, but have found somewhere to rent in Princes Risborough.
Put my school choices down as John Colet, Chiltern Hills Academy and Aylesbury Vale going mainly on offstead reports.
Now worrying if we move to princes risborough school if he would be allocated PR secondary as catchment area. Struggling to find any up to date information on the school performance, ancient offstead report says inadequate but nothing since?
Would really appreciate any advice and opinions at all on your experience of secondary schools in the Aylesbury area, and Princes Risborough schools and how the area is as a place to live.
Many thanks in advance
Laura

If you have applied for a school and can be given a place there, you will be - and if more than one of your stated preferences can offer, you will get the one you placed highest on your form. You won't be given a place at one you didn't apply for instead.

However, if you can't be allocated a place at one of the schools you applied for, the one you are allocated will be the nearest school with a place available, which won't necessarily be your catchment school.

(I'm afraid I have no personal experience of schools in Bucks, however, so can't help te what those particular schools are like / how likely you are to get a place from out of catchment, but on the latter score, I believe that Bucks CC publishes data on admissions - last place offered etc - on its website).

I know John Colet is the most sought after of these. You haven’t put down any grammar so I assume you are not looking for one.

John Colet is invariably full. Did you not ask about possibilities with Bucks CC admissions. You should also look at admission history on the Bucks web site. It will give you a very clear steer regarding whether they take all who apply or what distance is the cut off. You have missed off the most popular school for PR residents, which is The Misbourne. Also have you looked at Lord Williams in Thame, Oxfordshire. I have no idea if you would get in but it’s a very good school.

PR secondary school has had problems for years now. As does PR Primary. I have often wondered why. I think the secondary suffers from a better school nearby - The Misbourne.

The AV Academy is up and down in terms of quality and it’s some distance from PR. As is Chiltern Hills. Why do you want a school in Chesham? At this stage you may well have to take what you are given. Lots of Chesham people prefer The Misbourne too.

This is the current position regarding offers. You might get offered PR, Mandeville or AV Academy. They have taken all applicants. As you can see, The Misbourne takes a greater distance from the school which impacts on other local schools.