Is it worth moving into Kent?

[Kiwi]

Hi,

We live on the Kent/Bromley border, but in the Bromley side, and I've noticed that Newstead Woods and St. Olaves are both super selective so distance isn't really a factor. However, there are a host of Kent grammars, such as the ones in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, where the offer criteria for people who live in certain parishes such as Otford or Halstead is much more favourable. Only a handful of places are typically available to "out of area" applicants.

As we live right on the border, but the wrong side, we would still be "out of area" and at the bottom of the queue. Therefore, what are people's thoughts on whether we should move house to just the other side of the border so we ARE in a Kent parish? Is it worthwhile?

Are there success stories of people living in Bromley borough getting placed into a Kent grammar?

Our first preference would still be one of the Orpington ones but there are only 2 to choose from whereas there are several in Kent.

[doodles]

I can't advise you whether to move or not, that really is a personal decision because you will need to factor in all sorts of things such as other children, commutes for you/dh, budget etc etc. However, before moving I would advise looking carefully at the admissions criteria for each school that you are interested in, look at past years as well and see if children from the areas you like actually got places. Also look at the commute for your DC, you might move into the county but would the commute be one that you would be happy for your DC to do for the next 7 years especially in the winter months.

[Kiwi]

That's a really good point doodles.

When you say look at admissions data for the schools. Do they have it by location?

[PettswoodFiona]

I know people in my area of Petts Wood who sit the three tests of Bexley, Kent and the Orpington superselective relevant for their child.

If they get a high score for the superselective, fine, no need to move - it is fairly easy to tell for Newstead but less so for Olaves as you don't get he score.

If they pass Bexley it is a lottery if they get in on distance.

For Kent a very high score could mean for a girl that they are highly likely to get Tonbridge girls or Dartford Grammar and the transport links are good (train for Tonbridge, private coach for Dartford) from the area so again no need to move. However for just a Kent pass for girls it is easier as traditionally Weald of Kent has come out as far as Petts Wood and Orpington but usually a few months after initial offer day and there is no guarantee that would happen again. I do know a family who moved after results into a priority area for Dartford grammar so they didn't need such a high score and they had their new address by the official change of address date of first week of December (check if that is still the same) and had even exchanged on their house but at a huge cost and massively reduced price as they didn't want the LA to think they were gaming the system or might move back to their old house. Total distance moved was about five miles and they commuted back to the area for the last two terms of primary. They didn't have younger children to consider either.

It is a lot of pressure on a child to move the entire family for the sake of a school, and a lot of 'new' stuff going on all at the same time too.

[Sorrel]

The Tunbridge Wells Boys and Girls Grammars seem to have come out to Orpington the last couple of years too. Check out the Skinners offer thread in Kent - apparently Otford, despite being in the inner area, hadn't yet received offers by July in their first year of the new system:

https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum ... 19&t=58308" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you're near Orpington station it's a quick direct journey to Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells. Is your oldest child a son or daughter and will they be sitting the tests next month or next year?

[thickasabrick]

Our first preference would still be one of the Orpington ones but there are only 2 to choose from whereas there are several in Kent.

For secondary education there is only one boys' and one girls' school so you don't have a choice.

[Kiwi]

Thanks all for your very helpful and considered comments.

Sorrel: Thanks for info about Skinners, I didn't know that. Skinners say furthest entrant this year was 10.099 miles in Inner Area.

PettswoodFiona - great insightful comments.

With regards the family who moved post results...there is only a very short window between results in October and the moving deadline (is it early December?)...is it possible to get your house sold in such a short time???

[Sorrel]

The 10.099 miles for Skinners inner area was the first round of allocations, in March 2019, so it did go further out in subsequent rounds - to Dunton Green by July I think. But yes, would be maddening to move and then be one of the unlucky ones!

Not sure what Judd's inner area is - and that is by score within the inner area rather than distance - but it'll be on their website. I know it's not identical to Skinners.

[doodles]

Do you have a DS or a DD?

There's a lot of information, including the parishes and areas covered, to be found on the individual school websites. If not there is information on transferring to secondary school on the KCC website.

[PettswoodFiona]

Just to add that Newstead does have a catchment but it is a large one of 9 miles so if you did move into deeper Kent this might disqualify you for Newstead if you have a DD. For a DS St Olaves has no catchment.