Yes. I live in one of the Sevenoaks villages. Knole has a really bad reputation locally - only one child from her Primary class went to Knole (which considering we are in catchment speaks volumes for it’s considered desirability). However, to be fair to Knole, our local alternative (Wrotham) is much closer and higher performing. While parents here seem to avoid it like the plague, I think they’ve spent quite a lot of money on it and it’s reputation is to an extent a historical legacy.
Of the parents I know with DC there, one (DDs Brownie leader) had both her sons in the grammar stream and she was very happy with it. At least one of her DS’ went on to University (although was doing a Sports Management degree so perhaps not the most academic of courses). The other parents are of the boy in DDs class who went - their older son was already there and they both felt it was a good school that didn’t deserve it’s bad rep.
Location wise, it’s a bus ride from the station heading out to Greatness. It’s a huge school. It wasn’t what we wanted to DD but has some very good facilities. Performance wise it’s under par compared to the other local alternatives in Sevenoaks (Trinity and Wrotham). I’ve attached the stats for you. However if he was in the grammar stream he would obviously be with higher performing children.
While DC do go to Knole from a pretty wide area I believe. I really don’t think it’s do-able from Maidstone (and would involve some complicated train route, changing at Otford then getting a bus from outside the station out to Knole). It really wouldn’t be do-able from Ashford. House budget wise (and you haven’t stated what you’d be looking at), Sevenoaks is obviously a very expensive area. Great if you’ve got the budget but if not then I’d suggest looking at Tonbridge if you want a town. Bat and Ball & Dunton Green are the cheaper parts of Sevenoaks. Bat & Ball is very close to Knole. Sevenoaks villages where you’ll find cheaper properties include Borough Green and Wrotham which have a direct bus to Knole. But when I say cheap, you’d be looking at £450-500K at least for a 3 bed.
You say conditional so I assume that’s on listing Knole first? Truthfully, if you are offered any of the Faith schools (Bennett’s, St Simon Stock or Trinity, I know I’d plump for them over Knole but that reflects probably a bit of bias on my part!