Where should we move for good state secondary education?

[Peewee233]

This feels like an impossible task right now because the choices seem endless!

We currently live in the North West- there are two good grammars but woeful comps in the area. We’ve decided to move for various reasons but the quality of education here being one reason. The primary school education has not been great, our kids are bright but we feel like they’ve been let down. The lack of investment in the north is definitely evident here and a big contrast to where we lived near Oxford.

Due to recent events we are now quite flexible with where we move to. We’re looking to move to a town/village near a town with access to a number of good/excellent state secondary schools.

We’ve considered a move to the midlands/gloucestershire/Shropshire/Leicestershire, loads of places really.

Can anyone recommend somewhere that is lovely to live but also strategic for secondary schools?

Lincolnshire has loads of grammars - there are 4 within a 20 mile radius of me. However, you may need to calm down a tad...

Northern Ireland.

I'd just decide where you fancy living then deal with schools later. Even the northwest is vast in terms of good schools

I don't think there is an easy answer to this sadly.

Finland

In addition, OP, don't make the mistake of coaching your DC within an inch of their lives to pass the 11+. The Grammars around here are littered with kids whose parents are determined they attend a selective school, then can't cope with the wider curriculum...
If it's any consolation, bright kids do well in the state system (I teach A Level)

tbh I would suggest a direct correlation between grammars and less good non-grammars! I am from an area that is still heavily grammar-focused and if you went to the sec mod, tough bananas.

So really you want a non-grammar area with good comps. If you narrow it down a bit that might help? But may I pitch in with two suggestions:

*Littleover (in Derby) in catchment of Littleover C S.
*West Bridgford (Notts) in catchment of West Bridgford School

There must be many more tho

@pancakestastelikecrepe I went to one of the local Grammars here and it was excellent. I was shocked when we moved back to find a factory- type system of intense coaching for the 11+. Hundreds of kids are put in huge halls for hours on end every week throughout year 5. I agree, it’s ended up with one of the grammars being no better than the struggling comp in the area because the kids can’t handle the work once they get there.

When I went hardly anyone was tutored to get in and if it was the same now I’d consider putting mine forward for the 11+ but I’d prefer to save them the stress and find somewhere that has a decent comp instead.

It Is hard to narrow it down when the area you’re considering is so vast.

Maybe just start with something like the Sunday Times best schools list, and work through them one by one to see which ones might be feasible?

We moved partly “for better schools” and I have regrets. I think I got a little bit swept away in the madness of league tables, ofsted, exam results. Now I’ve been a parent for longer I feel I have a more nuanced view of it all and I look back on our old area and see that whilst it didn’t have perfect schools on paper, it still had an awful lot to going for it.

My DH on the other hand is still really glad we moved and thinks the DCs have much better opportunities here so it may just be me!

@Peewee233 yes, times have changed re Grammar - I'd turned down places for both my Ds based on this...

The exception was this one:
www.caistorgrammar.com/
However, I didn't send my boys as there is a huge emphasis on STEM and mine excelled in Humanities - both did very well at local state school and won Russell Group places

As someone looking to move nearish Oxford @Peewee233 can I ask what your old area was that had good schools/investment?

@Writerscompanion we used to live in Witney. There are a few independent schools but the local comp was quite good I think. I also loved the town and it wasn’t far from Oxford. At least I’ve seen friends posting about their children who appear to be being exposed to opportunities linked to universities etc that the children here could only dream about. I’ve heard Chipping Campden and Chipping Norton also have good schools (also lovely areas).

@Peewee233 thanks so much!

I have DGC in the NW. They had outstanding primary school choices, their comp has worked fine for them, judging by their friendship groups and results to date. The eldest is now at a state selective sixth form college, where there is a mix of private and state pupils, and is heading for a Russell Group uni.

If you don't want London then Kent and Bucks have many county grammars. The acceptance rate is like 20 perc of the local kids.

Littleover community school
Landau Forte ((takes all abilities but there is an entrance test)
Ecclesbourne
Queen Elizabeth Grammar (not actually a grammar!)

All Derby(shire)

York has plenty of excellent state schools, with catchments both inside the city and in the surrounding villages. They are all comprehensive, so you don't have the stress of 11+ but that means that high-fliers are well catered for at their local schools and aspirations are generally high - quite a few of my friends' children have gone to Oxbridge from a variety of local comprehensives, as well as other competitive destinations including US universities, degree apprenticeships etc. Housing is expensive in comparison to average income, but if you are selling a home in London/the Home Counties that's probably not an issue. I think it's a pretty great place to bring up kids, but I'm obviously biased because it's where I chose to settle.

Hampshire? Fully comp county, schools don't have 6th forms generally, instead a variety of 6th form colleges covering A levels, vocational, agricultural, mixtures.

@Peewee233 not sure what part of NW you're in, but Preston has quite a few good comps (and depending on distance you could aim for Lancaster grammar too).

We are in the NW, dc at grammar in north yorks, and there seem to be quite a few good comps in the area.

If I was to move for schools, I'd probably move back to where I'm from in the south west (Worcestershire). We didn't have any state grammars and were too far out to try for Birmingham ones, so everyone went to the local comps or private.

Cambridge? I would stay away from a grammar county as it’s just batshit, frankly, the level of pressure there is to get in nowadays.

I'd second Cambridge (or rather a village college outside Cambridge, given that the city house prices are ludicrous). Most are good, some are fantastic, and you have multiple sixth form options.

Again depends on where you are in the North West but parents in this area who are trying to avoid Trafford grammars are heading to:

Lymm
Knutsford
Cheadle Hulme

As areas with strong comprehensive schools

'Utopia' in this area is Altrincham (and Sale) which offers both grammar schools and excellent high schools. But, school places are in demand and lots of families moving into the area specifically for schooling.

Another vote for Hampshire. My daughters school has a top stream which is a great alternative to grammar schools. Although house prices are crazy!

batshit because of?

County grammars have acceptance levels up to 24%. These are not superselective schools as grammars in London where there is 1 out of 10 or 15 acceptance level