Mumsnet Talk

Hi. This is my first ever post so please bear with me.

I am looking for advice about secondary schools in the Woking area as dd (10) will be going next year & I am really confused what to do. We live close to Winston Churchill school but I have heard so many awful stories about it (drug dealing, girl getting pregnant by teacher, bullying, especially bullying from teachers etc) that I really can't face face her going there. So we have come to the conclusion that we should send her to Woking High instead. I haven't heard anything bad about it but I am worried that it may be because we don't know as many people whose children go there. Could anyone tell me what the school is like?

Next problem, if we don't get in there we are considering going private. We are nowhere near rich and I would have to up my working hours to do it, particularly when dd2 (8) goes up in 2 years time. Am I being insane to even consider private when it would make life a little more uncomfortable for all of us?

If we did go private, we are considering Tormead or Farnborough Hill. Does anybody have any insight into which one would be best?

Any advice would be gratefully received, particularly as to whether Woking High is any good. Thanks

Any reason for not considering Sir William Perkins's School?

Welcome to Mumsnet, btw

Hi. To be honest I hadn't really come across William Perkins. Is it any good?

I think it's one of the best girls' schools in the region. It is very easy to get to from Woking.

www.swps.org.uk

Thanks, I will look into it.

I'm in the same position about what school to choose. We also live close to Winston Churchill but I hadn't heard anything that bad about it until now! I wasn't convinced about it due to the large intake and very average results. Not heard much about Woking High
Only heard good things about the girls private schools, I think Farnborough Hill is the least academic out of the ones mentioned.

Ime, I'm really not a pushy parent so a super academic school isn't a priority for me. I just want my kids to be safe. IDeally I would prefer to send them to a state school but am so worried about it. Don't know if I'm just being a bit pfb about it all.

I don't think you are being too pfb about it as lots of people feel the same, especially coming from a good junior school as most of them are good in the area.
I'm either going to move or go private unless something changes in the next couple of years. More limited for boys round here though, better for girls

Yes I am a bit relieved that I have girls as there does seem to be a few choices. A friend in the same boat is struggling with options for her DS.

Hopefully there will be other Woking mums to give you an idea on Woking High. Seriously worried about Winston now!

The top local state schools are George Abbot in Guildford, and Gordon's in Chobham/West End. Good luck with the catchment areas though.... Or there's the Catholic school, St John the Baptist. Again, good luck with getting in....

Huge numbers of private schools for every possible type of child if you can afford to pay....

Isn't Gordon's a boarding school?

It's boarding and day, a mix, I think the boarders are mostly army children, but the day is done on distance from the front gate.

Ah, thanks. Good name, by the way!

OP have you put your postcode into the Surrey County Council findaschool site? Once you have a list of schools you can look up last distance admitted over the past few years.

Gordon's would be great but have to live within about 600m so almost impossible. George Abbot also an expensive area to live but it is an option. Not Catholic so SJB out of the question. Think we're going to have to move!

I have checked with Gordon's and they say the catchment is usually 600m from the front door, so you are right Ime, not a chance! From what I can see, where we live the option is Winston or Woking High, if we managed to get in. I feel like time is running out and I really should have worried about this a lot sooner.

All the private school open days are coming up in the next month, so go to a few and see what you think.
I think it's worth making the sacrifice of you are not happy with the local schools, but not if the money worries will make you miserable.
Have you visited Winston/Woking High?

Just out of interest OP, where did you hear all those scary stories about Winston Churchill? I don't know anyone with DCs there so difficult to find out any first hand info

Problem: "Throwing lifebelts into the lake (or stealing them)."

Solution: "Winston Churchill School to do alcohol and drugs awareness with Surrey PCT."

www.windowonwoking.org.uk/neighbourhoods/goldsworthpark/tunein/tacklingvandalism

Goldsworth Park is one of the worst areas of Woking in terms of anti-social behaviour, I guess a lot of them would be at Winston Churchill.

Woking High is in a much better area, though still pretty close to Goldsworth.

If I had to choose I'd prefer Winston Churchill over Woking High.
You really need to look carefully at the privates, Tormead has a relatively new Head, and she is shaking things up a bit.

Just found this thread and it is interesting as I will have the same dilemma next year. Dd is in yr5 and we too have heard some distressing stories about winston. Farnborough Hill is having an open day next week (I know because I am booked on it) so it might b e worth going to have a look. Quite a few are having open days round about now. GHS might be an option too.

I live near to Woking High at the moment. It is a huuuuge school, 1200 pupils. The pupils seem largely polite but I have witnessed some racial tension.

My knowledge of the school is limited to that of someone who lives nearby and sees the pupils out and about, so it may be an excellent school but I wouldn't send my children there.

We are moving to Cornwall next week but if we had to stay in this area I would certainly consider private, very seriously.

Oh, timely for us..we maybe moving into the area and secondary schools seem to be a real challenge for a boy. We are Catholics so SJB could be a possibility but it is very oversubscribed. It seems to have a primary school feeder system - do you also need to live close to the school? Any information on the admissions process would be useful.

Not sure start but the feeder schools are very spread out across the area. I don't think there is a catchment area which is good news since you won't have to endure actually living in Woking, but without your child being at one of the feeder primaries, and the family being very Catholic, getting a place is very unlikely indeed.

Would you be moving in time for your DS to go to one of the primaries first? If so you might be lucky. They are doing an open day soon I think?