Is moving to Orpington worth it for Grammar schools?

[Tekkem23]

Hi
DH and I are debating whether moving to Orpington is a good move. We have a son in Y2 and live in London but wanted to move to an area with better state schools and would like to go for grammar schools if possible. My worry is that Orpington only really has St Olaves. Will we have realistic options to apply to other grammar schools in Kent? We don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot that we are out of catchment for many other Grammars (eg Dartford) or need to get a ridiculously high score.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a lot

Orpington and Petts Wood are in a triangle where traditionally you get access to Kent, Bexley and local grammars. DD attends Newstead but could have gone to Dartford, Tonbridge, Weald. Chis n Sid etc. For the Kent grammars scores do need to be higher. You also have the good back up of Darrick Wood as a comp. A lot can change though in so many years before secondary.

Yes, make sure you’ve got a backup in case your child doesn’t get into any grammars + check the transport links from a potential house to the grammars in Bexley and Kent. I’m not sure about admissions criteria but it does seem like quite a few children get into the various grammars out of catchment.

Other than that, do you want to be in outer London? It’s different to living in the inner city (sounds like that’s where you are) but if you want a change in lifestyle you’ll enjoy it regardless of whether your son gets into a grammar.

We looked at Orpington but (and it’s just personal!) but for me it just felt too suburban, not London but not the country either. I’d agree with @JoJoSM2 that life there would have a very different feel to central London. In terms of Grammar access, I’ve no idea about Dartford but both Judd (Tonbridge) and Skinners (Tunbridge Wells) you’d be out of area and competing for a small number of places with a lot of competition from other out of area kids. That’s quite a bit of pressure to put on DS but I appreciate he might be exceptionally bright. A friend based in East Sussex’s DS didn’t get a Skinners offer with a score of 387 two years ago. However in September next year the new Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys annex will open in Sevenoaks which might be an option - typically score wise they take boys with lower Kent test scores. There are frequent trains between Orpington and Sevenoaks.

Olaves admits on highest score only with no catchment so you can imagine the level of competition. Dartford out of area also only has a few places for very high scorers. It's a pain to get to from Orpington.

Somewhere like Sidcup would be a good move; would only need a pass for the Bexley Grammars but an easy journey to Olaves by bus or Dartford by train. It's quite suburban though. Blackheath might be more London like for you - trains to Dartford and school bus service to Olaves. Not all Bexley Grammars come out to SE3 though. Look on the elevenplus exams website for more information.

SE3/SE10 not reliably in catchment for any Bexley grammar - it varies massively year on year.