recommend really good schools half an hourish circumference from Windsor?

[samsysoo]

Hi
We are moving from Canada over to the Uk. My hubby will work around Windsor ish area. We don't know where to start. We have two bright Primary school age girls who it would be good to see at a grammar school later on. The problem is we can't afford the top prices for property. So we need a nice village with reasonable prices, good primary schools and secondary school access. HAS ANYONE ANY IDEAS? PLEAEAEAEASE???? We are completely befoggled where would be a nice place to live?

[mumsneedwine]

Cheapside, neat Ascot. Fab primary school and catchment for Charters (not grammar but excellent comp - latin for bright kids and lots of expectation.)Or Cookham, which would give access to Bucks grammars. Depends how much money you want to spend. North Ascot a lot cheaper but still has excellent primary schooling. Or Maidenhead if have girls as could go to Newlands. Does that help a bit ?

[EBDteacher]

Burnham is not bad. The house prices are quite reasonable, in catchment for Burnham grammar (amongst others) and 15mins from centre of Windsor (by car).

For Burnham primary schools- Priory is Ofsted Outstanding but I read in the paper that it is expanding to have 1000 on role- that would be too big for me to stomach. Lynch Hill is also 'outstanding' but the actual immediate area it is in is not great- not sure how close you would have to live to get in. Lent Rise used to have the most fabulous reputation and I think still has it's outstanding rating (as far as I know) and St Nicholas in Taplow is more 'villagey' and also supposed to be good. So there are quite a few choices!

Closer to Windsor the Laing Estate has reasonably priced housing and the 3 tier schooling system, which personally I think is good. Sadly Windsor Girls senior school is not a patch on Windsor Boys so less great for you in terms of senior schools.

I'm afraid, around here, if you want the quintessential English village you will have to pay top whack for a house! I can't think of a lovely village with reasonable house prices unless you were prepared to go as far out as somewhere like Wallingford.

[picnicbasketcase]

Sorry, do carry on.

[EBDteacher]

Just a thought- you might want to consider Wokingham. There are some great primary schools there and the Holt is a really good senior girls school.

[mumsneedwine]

Second Wokingham. Or Crowthorne. If you have church attendance then could live in Binfield, and go to Ranelagh for secondary (amazing school).

[samsysoo]

THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOMUCH .This is such a major help. All of the ideas above are a starting point which I will investigate. PLEASE keep em coming-insider knowledge is crucial to help us!!!!!!!!!!!

[EBDteacher]

I used to live in Crowthorne and teach in Wokingham. Now live in Burnham and teach in Bourne End so I know the north western quadrant of your search area pretty well. PM me if you want to know any particulars of that area!

[MrsMeaner]

I'd avoid state schools in Windsor, tbh. The best one seems to be St Edward's Middle (up to year 8), but you need to live within spitting distance.

There is modestly priced housing in Windsor, btw - lots to Victorian cottages. You have to trade size for location.

The best comprehensives close to Windsor are Charters (Sunningdale/Ascot) and Ranelagh (Bracknell). They have large catchment areas which include modest housing.

The part of Surrey close to Windsor is not great for schools, unfortunately.

Slough grammars are very overcrowded.

Can you stretch to private schooling?

[EBDteacher]

My friend's kids are at St Edwards (and it is fantastic). She does live within spitting distance now but when she got them in she lived on the Laing in Dedworth which is not that close? She is catholic though in theory.

I'm not sure being able to go private helps much actually in Windsor does it? I suppose there is the Bridgidine but I believe it has financial troubles.

My money would still be on Wokingham with a view to the Holt.

[MrsMeaner]

EBD, all independent schools in the Windsor area have financial troubles (maybe not Eton). The school you mentioned has had quite public financial troubles recently, but they are now being managed by a team of top accountants and troubleshooters, I believe. A lot of independent schools will be looking to them to learn how to do their finances properly.

[EBDteacher]

Oh good, I'm very glad to hear that of the Brigidine MrsMeaner. My friend (mentioned above) went there herself on a scholarship and certainly got a fantastic education. Last I heard was all the free school business in the papers.

I meant that there just aren't many senior independent schools in Windsor. Lots of preps but you are looking at further afield for senior unless you want Eton or the Brigidine racks brains for others but can't think of any.

[MrsMeaner]

True, the senior schools are further afield - Sir William Perkins's, St George's Weybridge, The Abbey, etc., but they buses from Windsor, as well as fairly decent public transport.

It's hard to pick and area that is right for schooling all the way through. Most families would be more concerned to be close to good primary schools, and then be willing for their senior school children to travel to school. You also have to want to live in a place for itself, rather than just schooling.

Not sure how these ramblings help the OP :)

[ItWasThePenguins]

Mumneedswine I would have to disagree.. HATED every minute of Ranelagh, was definately not pushed to my limits and found lots of people thought the same. They are very good with bottom end achievers, getting them C's, but nothing else.

I also went to Cheapside, which was great.

Would suggest Charters (sunningdale) or The Marist (girls catholic school), Sunninghill. Sir William Perkins also good.

Fanrborough Sixth Form college best for A-levels, (train ride away)

[MrsMeaner]

I wouldn't rate Marist

[EBDteacher]

I did one of my PGCE teaching placements at Ranelagh (many moons ago) and have to say I didn't enjoy it. However I didn't enjoy my PGCE so it's not necessarily a reflection on the school. I found the staff rather stuffy and miserable trusts that it's so long ago that none of them will be mumsnetters. I much prefered my other placement at Garth Hill, however it should be borne in mind that I get my kicks out of teaching kids with behavioural difficulties!

We have rather hijacked...

For what it's worth, OP, I have chosen Lambrook (in Winkfield, west of Windsor) for my DS, although I have no idea where he will go for senior.

[ItWasThePenguins]

Garth is defintely my preference over Ranelagh. Doing well these days.
I'm really annoyed my mum chose Ran over Garth for little bro (yr 7). Fuming.

[MollieO]

I'd steer clear of Marist too. No idea what the teaching is like but I've had the misfortune to encounter quite a few pupils from there and they are all without exception really unpleasant. It may just be the ones I've met but if I had a dd I wouldn't choose it.

Oakfield is a very good middle school with a truly fantastic headtecher.

[samsysoo]

Thank you all so much. You really have no idea how helpful these suggestions are. I thank you sincerely for your time and efforts. We have a few starting places now, when we had none. I am eternally grateful. Thanks...and here's to a community of lovely mumsnetters!!

[mandala63]

I cannot emphasise how bad the Marist is. I went there for only a year before moving. Horrible, unpleasant girls, the teachers are just as bad if not worse (my head of year was particularly bad - reducing me and a number of other girls to tears and even panic attacks), they pressure you with so much work and their results are pretty rubbish. The facilities are very unimpressive too, although the school constantly brags about them for some reason. Another thing is that if you are not sporty you will immediately be bound to have a horrible time there. Not only will you have nothing to do at lunch because everybody else is at sports clubs but you will be bullied by the pe teachers because you're not very good, and for that reason you lose serious confidence. A girl in my class was very upset at one point because a teacher made a comment about her weight. Lastly, you are not inspired in any way shape or form to believe in yourself or to try new things.
Sorry rant over and no offence intended.