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Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 4:10 am
by Tiredmum191
Hi everyone.

I am currently living in NW London but we are hoping to move to Caversham/Woodley/Earley some time this year, we are in the process of selling our house. (Hoping to rent in one of those areas first before buying.)

I've been trying to do some research into the different schools, however the different boroughs and catchment areas are confusing me!

I would like my son to take the entrance test for Reading School this year (Sept 2017) if he passes the test, will the location affect him being offered a place? How near do I need to be living to the school?

What are the next best schools after grammars in the area?

Are there any specific areas I should be looking into? I also have a daughter in yr 2 and a baby. So I need somewhere with a variety of schools/nurseries.

Thanks

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:31 am
by Tinkers
Depends first of all where you are working and need to get to, and if you have other DC to think about.
Caversham into Reading is not an easy journey.

You only need to be in catchment and qualify for Reading school to get a place. The catchment is approx 15miles but you can see it on the admissions pages (link to those at the top of the Berkshire forum.)

Personally I think you need to look at your plan b in case he doesn't get in. Caversham would put you in catchment for Highdown, but it is oversubscribed and you need to live close. Woodley/Earley (actually in Wokingham) gives you other good options. Maiden Erlegh (ME), Maiden Erlegh in Reading (MER), Bulmershe are all good schools, and all oversubscribed this year. MER is a relatively new free school but run by ME. However you need to live within a mile of ME to get a place, not everyone in catchment gets in. Trying to buy/rent near is a big struggle! MER works on feeder schools, so you'll need to look at which ones feed it. This year the radius they took from after all the feeder school DCs got places shrunk considerably.
The local primaries in Reading and Wokingham are quite full though so you may struggle to get a primary place. Something to bear in mind.
If plan b can include private schools there's also a range of those locally. I've got friends and colleagues with DC at St Joes and they are all happy with it, also a friend with DS at Leighton Park and happy with that. There's also Reading Blue Coats too, plus a few slightly further out. Crosfields goes to 13.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:41 am
by Tinkers
Also bear in mind you'll need to be catchment when applying for the test (although I think they are consulting on changing this to the end of August). Either way you'll need to move before taking the test itself to be considered 'in catchment' for Reading.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:54 am
by Tiredmum191
Thanks Tinkers, great advice and lots to think about.

I agree with you and think that I need a back up plan. Its all so overwhelming when you don't know the area.

Plan b could include a private school at a push, but I don't think it's sustainable for a long term solution.

I'm a teacher so hoping to be able to get a job quite easily (fingers crossed).

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 11:02 am
by Tinkers
Most of the schools in Wokingham will be fine tbh. Forest is the only one I can think of that is a little below par, but not that much.
This year all Wokingham schools were full except Forest, Emmbrook and Waingels. I was surprised at Waingels not being full.
East Reading or Wokingham is probably your best bet.
For journeys into Reading, then near the train line or the 4/17 bus routes. (See Reading buses website for maps of routes). Bus 21 from around Earley as well.

Most schools struggle a little with recruitment of teachers.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:32 pm
by stevew61
Lots of discussion on the regions of Reading here,

https://www.reading-forum.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=76" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best taken with a large pinch of salt.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:30 am
by StackOverFlow
Similar family structure like you @Tiredmum191. We have no. 1 preparing for 11+ this Sept, No. 2 in nursery and No. 3 just a few months young.
We have been living in Caversham for a number of years, so maybe can offer you a little bit inside here?
We rarely need to cross the bridge to go to town for everyday business :lol:. Maybe like once in three months. If we do, we tend to walk.

Primary school you have got outstanding ones like Caversham Primary, Emmer Green (always oversubscribed and you REALLY need to be very close), and some good ones. Caversham Height is a new free school, still at a temporary site. I have heard good things about them. Personal view is close parents social makes a real difference.

Preparatory school you have a very good quality one: Caversham Preparatory, next door to a very good nursery - Chiltern College*.

For your DS1, indie secondary - Blue Coat is more academic than others mentioned above.

Gillotts school at Henley-on-Thames is another state comprehensive for consideration - they rate very high in GCSE. Although Caversham is not in their catchment, they do have bus service to Caversham and takes students from there.

* Edit to correct a few typo, grammar errors etc.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 11:39 pm
by Tiredmum191
Thanks Steve and Stackoverflow. Lots of reading for me and things to think about. I'm hoping to drive down on the weekend and have a look around the areas.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 10:00 am
by berks_mum
OP i was in the same situation as you when my dd qualified for Kendrick. Talking to many people I found that Caversham and University areas of Reading are best. Of course others may have different views.

We decided to go with East Reading/University area because it would be much easier for DD to walk/cycle to school, OH to cycle to Train station. I thought if I am moving to Reading then dd should be able to walk/cycle to school. We considered Earley/Lower Earley but decided against it. Palmer park, library, swimming pool, little shops and motorway close by was the main selling point for me. Having lived here for more than a year no regrets at all.

Someone I know near MER(Maiden Erleigh reading) have a younger one in Alfred Sutton primary and older one in MER. Their mum was happy as the older one drops/picks up the younger siblings so she is free from school run. Area around MER is very convenient for day to day living. Only downside may be the houses are older type and many were brought by buy to let investors to rent out to students. But it is changing with more families moving in for school reasons which also means houses going up in price though.

Re: Moving to Reading! Which area is best?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 8:58 pm
by mpsv
Hi berk- mum,
Did you mean your daughter qualified for Kendrick but you lived outside reading ? Were you out of catchment as you said you are moving into reading . I want my dd to try Kendrick but we are out of catchment I have got a job in reading now so probably looking to move closer the time . I might rent a house from September 2017 . My dd will be writing her exams on sep 17.