Princes Risborough School?

[BedknobandBroomsticks]

Hello,

I'd really like to get some insight into Princes Risborough School, considering a move to Risborough with DS who is 9. Not sure if he'd cope with the pressure of 11+ although it's slightly complicated as he's actually very bright but has ADHD and autism. He talks like a little professor and has very academic interests, picks things up very quickly (if we can get him to focus!) but is quite vulnerable socially and struggles with things like handwriting and focusing enough to actually produce work. I've looked at the Risborough school website and see they've become an academy and don't have a current OFSTED rating but were judged inadequate some years ago. However I have no idea if this is a reflection on the school as it is currently and if it would be a good fit for an academically able but quirky and very scatterbrained child! Anyone know much about the school? It's either that or try and get him through the 11+, or possibly move within catchment of Lord Williams in Thame but we'd struggle to afford the latter.
Thanks in advance.

Depending on where you need to get to in London, have you looked at transport by Oxford Tube? It is a fast and very frequent coach service between London and Oxford using the motorway and is much used by commuters.
It comes off the motorway at Lewknor to pick up and drop passengers. If it was suitable, you could easily live in the catchment for Lord Williams.

The station for Thame is Haddenham and Thame Parkway in Haddenham. It’s not far from Thame. Closer snd much easier than Marlow to High Wycombe station which is not a pleasant drive in traffic! However the Elizabeth Line is coming to Maidenhead so that will change things.

I would not look at the secondaries in Aylesbury or PR to be honest. All have had problems on snd off for years. You will find some primary schools have the odd child that passes the 11 plus but if you want children that are brighter in greater numbers, look to leafy lane areas.

Leafy lane also applies to most secondary schools. Waddesdon is top because it selects on religion. It’s catchment is tiny. You cannot get in otherwise unless you are churchgoers. Then you can live miles away. The other sought after secondaries are The Misbourne in Gt Missenden and Aylesbury parents want The Cottesloe or John Colet. So look at these snd live in catchment. Wendover is still popular by the way. Houses are selling. Just a couple of roads are affected. PR is quite a nice place to live but I’d go to Thame every time. It’s way nicer. It isn’t more expensive than PR.

Village schools are sought after around PR. PR primary schools have never been great. People either go private or go to village schools such as Monks Risborough, Great Kimble and others.

The Sir Thomas Fremantle in Winslow looks like a warehouse for DC snd has, at the mining, no playing fields. Parents didn’t like Buckingham School so the STF opened but it’s not like the John Colet or The Misbourne. It has limitations to say the least!

at the mining!! At the moment has no playing fields. It’s also on a building site and looks unfinished.

I would suggest OP that you might need to be a bit flexible over things, getting all your requirements: excellent school with no admission stress, no HS2 interference, walk to station, still affordable - might be quite tricky!
Note as an aside, Thomas Fremantle are closing their VI form, only current Y12/13 will complete.

Well although Winslow is getting a station it’s not linking with a quick route to London! It’s gong Oxford to Cambridge so I cannot see Winslow as being any good at all. The 6th form at RLS Buckingham would be vastly superior. Or one of the Aylesbury grammars.

Aylesbury is way cheaper than PR, Thame or Wendover. However you won’t find excellent secondary schools other than the grammars. You cannot walk to the station at Thame bug you can at Tring. Although the station is out of town, it’s a flat cycle route. However Tring isn’t cheap but it’s a comprehensive school there. Quite a lot can get into the Aylesbury grammars though! Tring isn’t on HS2 route. Neither is Thame.

Also in Bucks, you do not have to take the 11 plus. You can withdraw.

Haddenham has a station and you can get in to Lord Williams from there. Friends kids went there.

Thank you so much Tizerorfizz. That’s good to know not all of wendover has been blighted by HS2, I will definitely look into that.

JSL52 Haddenham isnt in the catchment for Lord Williams unfortunately as that would definitely be a good option if it was!

You would need to look at the admission stats for Lord Williams to see if children from Haddenham get in on a regular basis. I know they used to.

Wendover has a very strong community feel. I do know if well. There are certainly very many residential roads that are still very popular and within walking distance of the schools and the station. It is also very handy for amazing outdoor spaces.

@Peanutbutterandjams

Thank you so much Tizerorfizz. That’s good to know not all of wendover has been blighted by HS2, I will definitely look into that.

JSL52 Haddenham isnt in the catchment for Lord Williams unfortunately as that would definitely be a good option if it was!

They do take kids from Haddenham though. I know four kids there atm from Haddenham. Maybe just lucky.

@JSL52
You would have to look at admission stats to see if they get in every year. Birth rates, parental choices, 11 plus results, new houses etc all make a difference.

You would be taking a risk with Haddenham. Last year the longest distance offered was 3.182 miles. The situation with Haddenham has swung up and down over the years. Entry is now 12 form, but more and more houses are being built in Thame. Children currently attending from Haddenham maybe siblings, or maybe there was less pressure on their year group, or they just live nearer to Thame - Haddenham is quite big.

may be siblings

@Frontloaded
Yes. That doesn’t surprise me. I would live in Thame and book a taxi for the station run if it’s not a daily journey! Or cycle.

[quote TizerorFizz]@JSL52
You would have to look at admission stats to see if they get in every year. Birth rates, parental choices, 11 plus results, new houses etc all make a difference.[/quote]
Absolutely

Would you look at Wing? Only 2 miles to the station at Leighton Buzzard (fast train to Euston takes 30 mins) & the Cottesloe school is a decent Bucks secondary. Also cheaper houses than Thame/wendover direction, though arguably because it’s not as nice! Leighton buzzard is ok as a town, it’s literally over the border in Bedfordshire (they have their own system of primary/middle/secondary schools which is unusual) but as a town it’s decent enough - lots of nice countryside too, with the canal running through it & good walks. Might be a bit out of your area but if you want commutable Bucks then may be worth a look if you haven’t already.