11 Plus Exams Forum

My son has got an offer from St Olaves school and if we accept this offer then we will need to move to Orpington before september. We are thinking of renting initially.
Please can you suggest which areas near to the school and train stations are good and which ones to avoid?

Have you got any younger children who would need primary school places and potentially decent comprehensive places if they don't get a grammar one? If so, are they boys or girls?

Sorrel wrote:Have you got any younger children who would need primary school places and potentially decent comprehensive places if they don't get a grammar one? If so, are they boys or girls?

Yes i have a 1 yr old boy

Well, I think primary schools are mostly fine, and you'd obviously be moving into area well before applying. For secondary schools, Darrick Wood and Ravens Wood are generally fine, but Harris Academy Orpington is the former Priory School which was closed after being found Inadequate, and the Harris Academy was Requires Improvement last year.

Orpington is not in Kent. It is in the London Borough of Bromley.

Lots of children commute to the school and walk from Orpington station so anywhere along that line. Petts Wood has the excellent primary of Crofton and a lovely community feel. Nice shops, parks, restaurants and clubs. For non selective for boys if they don’t get Olaves, Dartford or the Bexley grammars for boys Ravens Wood is popular. It depends a lot on your budget too as to what locations will work for you.

Have a look at Chelsfield, it’s a nice area not far from Olaves and has a station with good links to London, it’s also close to the M25. Also Green Street Green (there’s more than one so make sure it’s the one in Orpington - I think the post code is BR6) is really nice, again it’s close to Olaves and not far from Orpington railway station.

I've moved this to the correct region for you.

You could even come out as far a Knockholt. Lovely village, great community and beautiful countryside. Good trains into London, very quick to Orpington and covered by the Oyster card. Any further out and you are into Network Southeast.

I lived near the Orpington Hospital for 10 years. A 2005 development and in catchment of Warren Road Primary an outstanding school. Walk to train station was 15mins, walk to Olaves about 10mins, walk to Warren Road about 5mins. 4 or 5 buses to High St. Great links to London Bridge from Orpington station (fast train about 15mins). 5mins and you are on the M25, 15mins drive to Bluewater Shopping Center......etc. Goodluck