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.

Nelly
The more you post the more my head says Petersfield
you can store a dinghy on your drive, launch from anywhere
walk the dog in the hangars
less than an hour to London for work
no stress on schools

Yes we thought the same @itsgettingweird. It helps.

@NellyJames we moved down about 20 years ago now from London suburbia..although DH grew up around here. He didn't like the lifestyle at all. We were lucky enough to be here when DH started suffering with mental health issues. For the last 12 years or so he treks off for a 5 mile walk 4-5 a week that includes a bit of coast /forest/countryside...it keeps him sane and happy we know that having a dog would enhance that..currently can't be done as I normally work FT in an office and he does shifts. The doggy life very much fits !
look after yourself too , it is so hard trying to be the one that keeps everything together.

Thanks @wineandsunshine. He’d want to be able to walk to these places. The ideal would be woods one way and coast the other both walking distance esp if not a touristy bit of coast. I think he just needs to step back and get out of working long hours in the City; get a dog and have a nice garden.

@ListeningQuietly walking the dog around the lakes or along the southdowns way.

I'm not sure when you will see results of Bohunt new sixth form but that could be an option too.

The ideal would be woods one way and coast the other both walking distance esp if not a touristy bit of coast.

I think you're going to struggle to find that given your budget / size of house / transport / schools requirements.

Orange
Bohunt is tricky because I am aware of a FLOOD of ex private school parents out of London
(it was already mad at that school but its worse)
so for the OP, outside of the "daily commute bubble" is good

@ListeningQuietly, yes, you maybe right. It’s def on our list to visit. Thanks so much for all your help and advice.
@OrangeCinnamon1, are you Petersfield way too? We’re Cheshire commuter belt. Between living here and working in London, he’s just burned out. For all our sakes, we need to make this move.

I moved away from Gosport (Alverstoke) 5 years ago having lived there for 20 years.

I don’t miss Gosport itself at all but I do miss the location - beach one side, Alver Valley the other, South Downs and country parks above you, Southampton one way and Portsmouth the other way. Once you escape the hideous peninsula of Gosport you have the M27 corridor which allows relatively easy access to the M3, A3, A34 etc.

Alverstoke schools are good (as long as you don’t have any SEN...) and Bay House gets good results.

Honestly, have you looked at Christchurch?

Do you definitely want to move?

It sounds like a very big life change following a breakdown. Would some therapy or a holiday be an alternative for your husband while you decide if this is what is the best for all of you?

It can be easy to think that moving leaves our problems behind but it really doesn’t unfortunately. We are still us and now we are us in a brand new place with no support network.

Just wanted to offer an alternative viewpoint.

@NellyJames

Thanks *@wineandsunshine*. He’d want to be able to walk to these places. The ideal would be woods one way and coast the other both walking distance esp if not a touristy bit of coast. I think he just needs to step back and get out of working long hours in the City; get a dog and have a nice garden.

@NellyJames

I don’t know about schools but for coastal walks you may want to consider Emsworth or Warblington near Havant or Westbourne, Southbourne etc just on the Hants/Sussex border.

I wouldn’t go for Portsmouth although Old Portsmouth is lovely and the train would be easy plus in the Autumn the waves crash over the walls which is excellent!

Thanks @Ilovesausages. Yes, I want to move because I can see that my husband desperately needs this. It will be different after being so urban but I’m sure they’ll be lots of new adventures. I just want to get the school right. I imagine schools to be different down there as our school is busy and vibrant and very diverse ethnically speaking and probably more like a London comp. Parents are mostly professional commuters. And I guess there’s naturally less of that as you move out of commuterville.
Thanks @Sidge. Alverstoke is very much on the list to visit. And I keep hearing good things on this thread about Bay House.

@SabrinaThwaite, yes, you are almost certainly right. We’ve had the house provisionally valued at 825k but I want to be able to stash a bit away just in case our situation changes. The situation with DH has made it all seem a little precarious. I know my budget doesn’t go far down there. Hell, it doesn’t go far up here either. 🙄 So in theory we could stretch it a little but I’d rather be safe and comfortable all things considered if that doesn’t sound mad. He would go tomorrow if DC1 wasn’t half way through GCSEs.

I would have a look at Wickham, Bishop's Waltham, Waltham Chase. A lot of people I know have been happy with Swanmore school (secondary, no 6th form), the surrounding countryside is lovely, you aren't far from the beaches at Hill Head and Lee-on-the-Solent and you could drive up to Alton (30-40 mins) to catch the train once a fortnight. Not sure about property prices though.

Emsworth would tick the sailing / walking / coast boxes, and you would find something for your budget, but I'm not sure about schools.

@LittleBearPad have you done the Thorney Island Walk? I've only ever done part of it ..it does require some organisation because-MOD- but apparently when the tides out there is a massive sandy beach at the point.

You currently live in Cheshire & DH commutes to London from there? Sounds like a huge strain!

I could give you a socially distanced walking tour of alverstoke. ! If you see anything on rightmove here that you like I will talk you through the location of it if you like.

@myworkingtitle, before lockdown he was in Manchester Mon&Tue and in London Wednesday to Friday. Fast train down is 2h15mins.

Thorney Island ... it does require some organisation because-MOD- but apparently when the tides out there is a massive sandy beach at the point

No organisation required if you’re on foot - you just get buzzed through the gates in and out (we’ve never had to show ID). The sandy beach at the point is very pretty, fine white sand not dissimilar to East Head. It’s about an 8 mile walk all round.

Alice Holt forest is stunning. We have so much woodland around us, Creech Woods, Havant Thicket, Queens Inclosure, South Harting. It’s a beautiful area.

I'm fareham.

But the schools are not what you'd be looking for! You can find the total history of the issues I had with local academy all over Mn. I won't bore you now! My ds went to Crofton in Stubbington in the end - they are also very good and many students go to Bay 6th form or fareham college which is outstanding often rated (and recently!)

If schools weren't a huge thing for you I'd really recommend Fareham/Funtley or Knowle Village. Students who can do well tend to in fareham schools though.

@EasilyDelighted

I would have a look at Wickham, Bishop's Waltham, Waltham Chase. A lot of people I know have been happy with Swanmore school (secondary, no 6th form), the surrounding countryside is lovely, you aren't far from the beaches at Hill Head and Lee-on-the-Solent and you could drive up to Alton (30-40 mins) to catch the train once a fortnight. Not sure about property prices though.

I would have a agreed but loads of families with kids there I know are becoming very unhappy with the direction the school is going.

But that is anecdotal as ds never went there and it's only 4 families!

Everyone I know has left Swanmore now (as in finished y11 not left foe other reasons) so definitely a good idea to try and get more up to date opinions.

If walking and beach are required have a look at Hythe, matchwood area.

Access to good schools, new forest close by, beaches close.