Best state secondary schools in Hampshire and can we afford to live in catchment?

[NellyJames]

We are relocating to Hampshire. DH needs to get back into London just 3 times a fortnight so commute not really an issue.
Our eldest will be finishing GCSEs when next DC moves into Y6. Youngest will move into Y4. So we’d like to be in catchment for an excellent senior school for the younger 2 and where older one can do Alevels. I understand there’s far less pressure on 6th form places.

2 snags: we need 5 bed as it’s very likely that infirm MIL will move in within a couple of years max (she has no property so can’t contribute)
We have a max budget of 700k which I know will limit choice in very expensive SE.
DH has suffered a mini breakdown and whilst work have been phenomenal with regards working from home on a permanent basis (he’s quite senior) he’s very keen to be near the coast. Not to live on the coast but to be able to access it within an hour or so.
But schools will really determine where we end up.

I live near Winchester and I wouldn’t describe us as ‘by the sea’, the schools are great and the community into London is no problem, but you can’t pop down to the beach to walk the dogs. It’s at least half an hour away.

community - commute

I agree Elis I don't really feel that Winchester/Romsey are 'near the coast'. In theory we are only 30mins from Bournemouth but it is definitely a 'trip' to go to the coast, and actually we hardly ever go as we don't want to go when it will be busy/crowded to get there.

If we were in Totton it would feel much closer I think.

I would really look at Christchurch, on the sea, lovely little town, excellent comp in Twynham, on the main rail line to Waterloo. And you get on before Southampton and Winchester when it gets busy 😂

Lovedean, Hampshire
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93152903.html

[quote ListeningQuietly]Crofton Catchment
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86340155.html

Crofton have the coolest Year 11 leavers "ceremony" there is
www.dailyecho.co.uk/photographs/news_galleries/2015_photos/may/crofton_egg_flour/[/quote]
My ds left there this year.
They didn't get to do this

Shame really as it's a fab school and a fab end of year event. We've been to watch previous years when other pupils we know have left!

I'm Fareham so not in Gosport or lee.

But son went to Crofton.

Beach is 10 minutes away.

But secondary schools aren't good. I'd avoid both academies like the plague.

Brookfield is fairly good near Park Gate/Salisbury green and beaches etc that way too.

I also wouldn’t rule out houses with downstairs bedrooms if you’re thinking about having MIL to live with you. You might even be able to create a separate bedroom & sitting room if there is also a downstairs shower room.

Noadswood and Applemore have good reputations
R I G H T
and you'd get a lot for your money. However this area doesn't have a train line any more
although there's talk of its reopening
Not going to happen.

WAterside is off my list TBH

@SabrinaThwaite, yes, a downstairs bedroom will probably be really useful long term but I’m not keen on three.

I think part of our problem is that we’re currently in catchment for a school that’s not only graded outstanding but also has super high results (Exceptionally high for a state co-Ed) so I’m struggling to find something similar. But it’s quality of life too I guess and DH’s mental health.

Nelly
Ofsted Outstanding means nothing unless the inspection was within the last two years
there are "outstanding" schools that have not been visited for over ten years during which all staff and pupils have changed
Hampshire schools are all comps
so the headline exam results are lower
but the County outcomes are above average

The North is not the same as the south
it just isn't
but I'll be honest
ACCESS to the south coast will be more relaxing financially and mentally than
LIVING at the South coast
look very closely at somewhere like Petersfield

• easy access to everywhere
• friendly
• not too expensive

It's true that Winchester schools are good but... there are lots of buts about Winchester. It is developing quite a disjointed feel about it as prices are so high meaning people who grew up there can't afford to stay. Also parking can be an absolute nightmare in streets where houses don't have drives and it's a battle to park anywhere near your house.

Each to their own, but why would you buy a terrace in Winchester with difficult parking when you can get a detached house with a drive also with good schools and transport for the same money elsewhere in Hampshire

I also came on to say Bay House School and sixth form. I went there and had a pretty idyllic childhood growing up in Alverstoke in Gosport. As we got older we went shopping / out in southsea in Portsmouth and generally thought we had the best of all worlds. My seven years at Bay House were pretty much all brilliant.

I’m very jealous of those of you still there. My best friend moved to Hill Head and to have the beach right there is amazing. I’m now 70 miles north of there and my children can’t understand why we can’t live by the beach!

Thanks again @ListeningQuietly. Yes, local school’s Ofsted is recent and really very good. They were also graded outstanding last time quite a few years back as that’s one of the reasons we bought this house. Their GCSE results are very high, one of the highest in the country for a co-ed comprehensive. Not sure what you mean by, ‘the North is not the same as the South.’ Do you mean in terms of school performance or community or general day to day living? Is there other things I’m missing and need to consider? It is a big move and there probably are things I’ve not fully thought through.

I think part of our problem is that we’re currently in catchment for a school that’s not only graded outstanding but also has super high results (Exceptionally high for a state co-Ed) so I’m struggling to find something similar. But it’s quality of life too I guess and DH’s mental health.

Outstanding schools don't mean much. A local academy to me was outstanding for 10 years due to not being inspected.

It's crap! (And isn't outstanding anymore since re inspection)

If you're still looking at Lee/Alverstoke Bay House then re rest assured children who can do well will get exceptional results - BH students have gone on to do medicine and even to Oxford/Cambridge.
Not what people expect when they lump Gosport as a whole and its reputation 🤣

Hillhead

Has your husband had experience of a 2hr commute? It doesn't sound too bad but even once a week it can get very draining very quickly. That is 4 hours stuck on a train.

Especially when you have to factor in getting to and from the station either end.

We live in the Robert May's catchment so the train is 1hour but the full door to door is closer to 2.

We are only 1 hour from the coast and go there regularly as we have a boat.

I would seriously look and fully time commute from Fleet, Hook or Alton.

@itsgettingweird, thanks. Their ofsted is recent and their exam results are very high. They have some of the highest exam results in the country for a state comprehensive. They sit very high when you take out single sex and faith school. But we also live in an affluent area and of course, that affects results. The kids are all starting at 11 assuming they’ll go to university then on to a professional career. Lots of RG university offers and a handful of Oxbridge offers every year. Bay House sounds like a different sort of catchment. Not that that’s a problem for me if it’s a good school. It just perhaps gives me concern about buying a house in the area. But I know we’re downsizing and moving for a different sort of lifestyle so I need to take that into account. I also need to consider my MIL so it’s not just about school although it’s important to me that I don’t disadvantage them with the move. The beach does look glorious although I imagine it’s rammed on a sunny day.

I also think Alton is worth a look. No state 6th forms but an excellent college, access to other colleges, about 45 min drive to the coast and direct trains to London. Two good state secondaries.

@TheletterZ, thanks. Yes, he’s currently getting the fast intercity down from Manchester or Wilmslow once a week. so just over 2h. I don’t think living in Fleet or Hook would give him any more than he has up here as we can be in N Wales in about 1h. But I appreciate he’s currently not thinking about anything other than ‘emptying’ his head a bit following a mini breakdown.

I would seriously look and fully time commute from Fleet, Hook or Alton.

These aren’t by the sea - there’s no popping out for a windswept walk when you have to drive for 2 hours to get to the sea and back again.

A two- hour commute once a week is fine.

Petersfield is only 1hr and 6 mins on a fast train to Waterloo and only 30mins from the sea.

Are you just looking for sixth form or other ages too?

[quote NellyJames]@itsgettingweird, thanks. Their ofsted is recent and their exam results are very high. They have some of the highest exam results in the country for a state comprehensive. They sit very high when you take out single sex and faith school. But we also live in an affluent area and of course, that affects results. The kids are all starting at 11 assuming they’ll go to university then on to a professional career. Lots of RG university offers and a handful of Oxbridge offers every year. Bay House sounds like a different sort of catchment. Not that that’s a problem for me if it’s a good school. It just perhaps gives me concern about buying a house in the area. But I know we’re downsizing and moving for a different sort of lifestyle so I need to take that into account. I also need to consider my MIL so it’s not just about school although it’s important to me that I don’t disadvantage them with the move. The beach does look glorious although I imagine it’s rammed on a sunny day. [/quote]
Bay house is Alverstoke catchment. It's in Gosport. Gosport as a whole peninsular is a very mixed area. Alverstoke is an affluent area with lots of very large houses and outstanding schools.

If you look at Bay House compared to the other 2 secondaries (Brune Park and Bridgemary) you'll see a stark comparison.

Then when you go further along the coast to Lee on Solent and Stubbington again you'll see it's an affluent area and the local schools (Crofton infant junior and secondary's) are all high achieving.
Lots of Crofton students attend BH 6th form and areas of Lee are in BH catchment and children travel from there.

If you are looking for easy London travel (ferry to Portsmouth and train), easy access coast and good Secondary with 6th form is highly recommend looking at these areas.

The other options further out would the suggestions Romsey way by others. But travel isn't as easy to coast or shorter to London.

The beach I took photo off isn't generally rammed. Parking can be difficult at times but it's never Bournemouth/Brighton scenes.
Lots of kite/windsurfers use it and also lots of sailing clubs along the front.

The beach -Stokes Bay - bear Alverstoke is also lovely and also never really rammed. Walkable from that area and loads of open green spaces too. Also there's the lake if you kayak or paddle board as an alternative.

@LittleBearPad, thanks. Those areas are too far north and too commuter belt for us. We live in commuter belt now and we need a shift change to enable DH to continue to function.
@itsgettingweird, thanks again. All really useful information. We def need to be by the sea.
I probably should consider the Suffolk coast too as we’d probably get a bit more for our money but DH really wants to be close to the south coast for whatever reason.