Relocating from London to Kent for schools?

[Wondermess]

Hi everyone, we live in North London with 2 DC (6 and 3) but not overly happy about the school DS is at (year 2), also secondary schools here are nothing amazing. DH works in Bromley so it's a long commute, hence we're considering moving to Kent hoping to get into better schools and also reducing his commute so he can be more present. Considering Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas, we need a good connection to London because of my commute (only twice a week). We'd only consider state schools however I heard that in Kent, if kids don't get into grammar schools, the other state secondary schools are not that great because the brightest kids get into grammar so they are out of balance. Is that right? If so it's a really big gamble so I'm really trying to weigh up all options and future-proof as much as I can. Thanks all :)

I'm nearer Tenterden - I commute 2/3 times per week and it's an easy commute from headcorn or Staplehurst. I absolutely love Tenterden. We're using private prep but hoping to go to grammar for secondary. Otherwise, yes, I think we will go private again for secondary because we're less keen on the non-grammar options. TW and Sevenoaks also lovely but I'm obviously biased towards Tenterden!!

But also to add - I don't know much about state non-grammars in TW and Sevenoaks and they may be very different - Canterbury, for example, has good options.

Why don’t you put a couple of local to you now schools in the ofsted comparison site, and looked at pecentage of kids getting gcse in Maths and science. along with some secondaries in the bits of Kent you can afford/like- I did the same an decided to stay where we were.

Bromley schools are really good, so may be a better option than further into Kent. www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=305&geographic=la&for=secondary

I'm in Bromley and there are some great secondary schools here. Bullers Wood (girls school and boys school) are excellent. Also, Darrick Wood (co-ed) and Langley Park (I think there are boys and girls schools) in Beckenham are good. My daughter is at Bullers and I am impressed with it!

I had hoped to get her into the grammar (superselective Newstead) and she sadly missed out by 2 marks. I am pleased she got a place at Bullers so she can walk. She would have had to get a train to Newstead.

I think you will find the percentage getting 5 passes at GCSE pitifull at a kent secondary modern compared with a London comprehensive. In our area the secondary moderns get under 20 percent whereas when I've looked at London comprehensive 59 percent or so is more typical. So yes it is a bit of a gamble in that sense but you may have other reasons why you want to move?

Yes sadly the grammar system makes a right mess of the education system in Kent, but there are some very good non-selective schools. You just need to do your research & live as close as you can as they are very oversubscribed.