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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Grammar Schools within 1hr15 drive of Milton Keynes

37 replies

Rococo01 · 13/08/2023 23:55

Hi !

We’d like to relocate to get ourselves into catchment for Grammar Schools. We do need to be within 1h15m drive of Milton Keynes. We have both a daughter and a son.

The house move is purely for education reasons so we want to be as sure as we can be that we’re doing the right thing. I will be going to open days come September even though we’re a few years off applying. In an ideal situation we’d like to have a good non-grammar, state secondary school back-up option.

We’re primarily looking at the Aylesbury schools but also toying with High Wycombe / Buckingham. Are there any other places we should have on our list ?

Where would you move to and why?

Any opinions on the schools in the areas mentioned ?

I guess our major worry is we end up moving somewhere for schools and then they’re not what we thought they’d be or one child doesn’t get in and there’s no back up.

Keen to hear opinions and thoughts.

Thanks,
R

OP posts:
Wenfy · 14/08/2023 00:27

Buckinghamshire /Aylesbury/Bedford for grammars.

But MK / Buckinghamshire / Northamptonshire has some good private provision too. And often many parents whose kids fail the 11+ do end up going private as state provision isn’t always good. That’s the problem with grammar catchments - it does tend to ruin State schools. MK has a huge gang problem in some of it’s state secondaries with turf wars etc.

Original poster
Rococo01 · 14/08/2023 00:31

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, it’s not our intention to move to Milton Keynes but we need to be able to get there for work.

Unfortunately private wouldn’t be an option for us in any way so that’s why we want to tread carefully.

I think Bedford has some great schools but they’re all private if my research serves me correctly.

OP posts:
Wenfy · 14/08/2023 00:32

Another option for you is Leicestershire. Somewhere like Oadby or Rusheymead has excellent State Provision that is better than private or grammar. No State grammars there though, just independants that have retained the names - but they are open to giving bursaries to state children.

Wenfy · 14/08/2023 00:35

Wenfy · 14/08/2023 00:27

Buckinghamshire /Aylesbury/Bedford for grammars.

But MK / Buckinghamshire / Northamptonshire has some good private provision too. And often many parents whose kids fail the 11+ do end up going private as state provision isn’t always good. That’s the problem with grammar catchments - it does tend to ruin State schools. MK has a huge gang problem in some of it’s state secondaries with turf wars etc.

Sorry put Bedford on the wrong list lol

Opihr · 14/08/2023 00:49

Rugby?

PettsWoodParadise · 14/08/2023 04:58

Check out elevenplusexams for a lot of information about grammars. There is the regions page https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schools but then also the forum where you can chat.

Be careful about moving for grammars without also checking the options for non-selective schools if the DCs don’t pass.

abcdefghijklmnopandthatsit · 14/08/2023 06:01

As a PP has said, you do need to be happy with the non-grammar provision as well. Every year, there are "surprises" with someone who everyone expected to pass flunking the exam and not getting in on review.
Also, think about whether you want co-ed or single sex. If co-ed, the options are more limited.
Do pay attention to the last distance offered criteria. They vary wildly from school to school. This is particularly relevant if you go non co-ed as your second child won't benefit from sibling preference and so you'll be trying to get into two separate schools

Goldencup · 14/08/2023 06:10

I am a Kent person so know very little of other areas. Dartford might get be 1hr15 from Milton Keynes. But it is incredibly competitive. That problem with grammar schools is either they are mega competitive ( DGS, Skinners, Judd) or they destroy the non grammar option ( the whole of East Kent basically). You don't say how old your DC are if they are stull KS1 unless an educational professional has specifically told you they are SS material I wouldn't bank on it.

TeenDivided · 14/08/2023 06:30

Are there not any non grammar areas within that distance that have good comps? That way you get the good education without all the stress of 11+.

Mumdiva99 · 14/08/2023 06:37

"MK has a huge gang problem in some of it’s state secondaries with turf wars etc"
🙄😂
@Wenfy where has your information come from???

There are amazing schools in Milton Keynes. I've not heard of any turf wars going down in schools. (And I have friends that teach in different schools).

I have kids at a comp here. When we were at the awards assembly there are amazing achievements by many many of the pupils. Both those just leaving and those already working.

Stop being snobby about comprehensives.

ThePoetsWife · 14/08/2023 07:32

Rugby which is less than an hour's drive or 15 mins train journey away has three grammar schools.

TriceratopsRocks · 14/08/2023 07:34

Warwickshire has some decent grammar schools. The ones in Rugby (separate boys and girls schools, both with mixed sixth forms) are the closest to MK. It's under 1hr depending on traffic. Alternatives are Stratford on Avon or Alcester, but I don't think they would be close enough in rush hour.

PettsWoodParadise · 14/08/2023 08:33

A young person able to get themselves to and from school is something not to be underestimated. If they are reliant on you driving them that can be very cloying especially if the majority of their school mates are using public transport.

Takeachance18 · 14/08/2023 08:43

PettsWoodParadise · 14/08/2023 08:33

A young person able to get themselves to and from school is something not to be underestimated. If they are reliant on you driving them that can be very cloying especially if the majority of their school mates are using public transport.

The parents are going to do the driving to MK and children attend a school local to where they chhose to live, so hopefully wont require parents driving them

PensionPuzzle · 14/08/2023 08:49

Another one coming to say Rugby/Warwickshire, just check which other options are nearest as some non-selectives in Rugby are superb and others are not...

PettsWoodParadise · 14/08/2023 09:07

Ah! Thanks for clarification @Takeachance18 missed thet bit!

redskytwonight · 14/08/2023 09:20

Other than Buckingham/Aylesbury I would think a lot of these suggestions run the risk of the commute being longer than 1h15 in rush hour. Unless planning to leave very early and/or living the right side of the residency area and/or going somewhere near the motorway in MK.

bluechameleon · 14/08/2023 09:33

Some children in Central Beds attend Bucks grammars. You'd probably want to avoid Dunstable because the Secondary options aren't great, but Leighton Buzzard middle and upper schools are all pretty decent.

ChocFondant · 14/08/2023 09:42

Not to derail the thread but there are definitely gangs in MK and a growing problem with knife crime. This doesn't mean all the comps are terrible - there are great schools with great teachers but I know through work that this is a growing issue.

redskytwonight · 14/08/2023 09:50

There is a growing problem with gangs and knife crime in a lot of the UK - Milton Keynes is hardly unique!

Mumdiva99 · 17/08/2023 13:15

"Congratulations to #### who achieved AAAA and is going to study medicine at Cambridge and to #### who achieved AAA and is off to Sheffield to study Computer science"
And this today from a terrible gang ridden comp in MK!!

Mumdiva99 · 17/08/2023 13:16

Oops the bold is where the 4 A stars and the two A stars made text bold rather than show the grades correctly.

Wenfy · 17/08/2023 15:21

Mumdiva99 · 14/08/2023 06:37

"MK has a huge gang problem in some of it’s state secondaries with turf wars etc"
🙄😂
@Wenfy where has your information come from???

There are amazing schools in Milton Keynes. I've not heard of any turf wars going down in schools. (And I have friends that teach in different schools).

I have kids at a comp here. When we were at the awards assembly there are amazing achievements by many many of the pupils. Both those just leaving and those already working.

Stop being snobby about comprehensives.

I lived there for 15 years moved a couple of years ago. Lots of stabbings and drug related crime in my area which was in the catchment of three of the ‘best’ secondaries. But I appreciate this isn’t something white people living in the leafier suburbs are aware of.

The truth is in MK people of colour feel compelled to try and get kids into private as the secondaries or out into Leicestershire / Northamptonshire / Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire proper where state provision is better.

CatMattress · 17/08/2023 15:24

Rococo01 · 14/08/2023 00:31

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, it’s not our intention to move to Milton Keynes but we need to be able to get there for work.

Unfortunately private wouldn’t be an option for us in any way so that’s why we want to tread carefully.

I think Bedford has some great schools but they’re all private if my research serves me correctly.

Cottesloe is a state school in Beds, but on the border with Bucks. It's an excellent school if the Bucks or Aylesbury grammar schools don't work out.

Wenfy · 17/08/2023 15:25

MK has a massive drug and gang problem within schools and kids living centrally will be exposed to it. Unlike other cities where you can escape to an area without - as MK is so small pretty much all the central areas are affected. It’s got to the point where even Furzton and Loughton and the Shenleys are pretty rough. My friends didn’t let their children walk home alone.