Moving to Tunbridge Wells

LopezLopez

Hi everyone. We want to move to TW this summer. We've already missed the boat for school applications and from what Kent council have told me, the only schools with places are the really bad ones. We want our children to go to a school somewhere within walking distance so we are thinking that we'll put our children in the waiting lists for the decent state schools and perhaps put them in private schools in the meantime (as we cannot afford to put 2 children through private school). Could anyone give me any feedback on The Mead and Rose Hill and perhaps any others I might be missing? We're not familiar with the area at all so any advice at all would be much appreciated. Also, it looks like we'll be renting initially as we have not been able to find a decent house within catchment of a decent school. Again, any local knowledge about what the best roads are for St Johns, St Marks and St James would be very much appreciated. Thanks all.

ruggedtoast

Dude, you cant afford to live in Tunbridge Wells. No one can.

emsywoo123

LopezLopez wrote: »

Hi everyone. We want to move to TW this summer. We've already missed the boat for school applications and from what Kent council have told me, the only schools with places are the really bad ones. We want our children to go to a school somewhere within walking distance so we are thinking that we'll put our children in the waiting lists for the decent state schools and perhaps put them in private schools in the meantime (as we cannot afford to put 2 children through private school). Could anyone give me any feedback on The Mead and Rose Hill and perhaps any others I might be missing? We're not familiar with the area at all so any advice at all would be much appreciated. Also, it looks like we'll be renting initially as we have not been able to find a decent house within catchment of a decent school. Again, any local knowledge about what the best roads are for St Johns, St Marks and St James would be very much appreciated. Thanks all.

Ah, Sunny tunny, my old stomping ground. Sadly for you, I moved before I had DD and DS, so no real schools knowledge of the area.

You might get more of a result on the Families board?

jenhug

you could try googling the 11 plus forum, there is a section for kent parents, i'm sure they can help you.

Running_Horse

I hate TW. Stuck up people with too much money. That is all.

davsidipp

my sentiments running horse its such a no personality area full of boring people i like areas with real people even if its a bit rough around the edges.

LopezLopez

Enlightening and helpful... NOT! Cheers all!!

hazyjo

No kids, I'm afraid, so can't help re schools (which is what you mainly wanted). Call me 'boring' with 'no personality', but I loved TW Nearly bought a house there, and looked at tonnes. Real character homes. High Brooms is the less desirable side, which you probably know, but there were some nice properties heading over that way. I particularly liked the pastel cottages off Camden Road, and the Victorian ones off St John's Road.

Wasn't meant to be as couldn't sell my house. The second I looked in East London, I got a buyer. Sometimes fate intervenes...

Jx

Running_Horse

LopezLopez wrote: »

Enlightening and helpful... NOT! Cheers all!!

You'll fit right in at Scumbridge Wells!

Kent has the 11+ exam still. That means the majority of secondary schools are going to be "the really bad ones". We cannot magic up excellent non-grammar schools for your (no doubt) brilliant children. If you want your children to go somewhere "decent" for free, do like us and buy a house near an excellent primary, and hope nature has done the rest.

You can't just turn up five minutes before term starts expecting to get into a grammar school. And your plan of going on a waiting list sounds somewhat optimistic.

sandown_2

Welcome

Blackdog

LopezLopez wrote: »

Hi everyone. We want to move to TW this summer. We've already missed the boat for school applications and from what Kent council have told me, the only schools with places are the really bad ones. We want our children to go to a school somewhere within walking distance so we are thinking that we'll put our children in the waiting lists for the decent state schools and perhaps put them in private schools in the meantime (as we cannot afford to put 2 children through private school). Could anyone give me any feedback on The Mead and Rose Hill and perhaps any others I might be missing? We're not familiar with the area at all so any advice at all would be much appreciated. Also, it looks like we'll be renting initially as we have not been able to find a decent house within catchment of a decent school. Again, any local knowledge about what the best roads are for St Johns, St Marks and St James would be very much appreciated. Thanks all.

Hi, Please don't be put off by other posters, Tunbridge Wells is a friendly place to live but like many places in the south east is expensive (but no where near as expensive as London). I have heard good feedback about both the Mead and Rose Hill schools. There are also some great state primary schools. The three areas you mention all have nice roads in them but are varied so feel free to PM me if you have specific roads in mind. Good luck with your house hunting.