Cobham Free School Secondary

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

Am looking at secondary options for next year. I know it is early days (and there are bound to be some teething problems) but has anyone got any experience of how the first term of offering Secondary has gone at Cobham Free School?

[titchy]

Presume you mean for September 2016 as you've missed the date for 2015? Might be worth reposting next summer / autumn once they've stalled a little more and have moved out of the primary site.

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

Am looking for an in-year transfer before Sept 2015 so it would be really good to hear any views even if off the record. It looks very promising on the website - we are looking for a smaller school.

[titchy]

I suspect there's a huge waiting list for year 7 - you'd need to appeal. Are you at another school or moving? Have you visited?

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

We're moving to the area. Haven't visited yet but plan to.

[holidaysrcoming]

I know that they have spaces in the current year 7 - they did not fill their predicted intake. Not surprising - many parents may be put off by their dc being the oldest at the school and first year of GCSEs etc, but more so they are on same site as primary school, with last I heard no planning permission for another school as yet. So they are likely to be in rather cramped facilities for two more years at least I guess.

hopefully someone with first hand knowlege of teaching will come along !

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

Thanks holidays - that's very helpful. Always a bit risky I guess being the trailblazing year at a school.

[springrain]

Hi - you could try the other local schools as well, current year 7 was not that big a year so you might well be lucky.

[optimistmum]

I suggest you also look at the Howard of Effingham which is an OFSTED outstanding school not far from Cobham

[ForPetesSakeNotAgain]

Thanks springrain and optimistmum. I will give Howard of Effingham a call - I have read good things about it but had assumed our chances of getting in were around zero.

[nobutreally]

Dh went round (looking for potential start this year) & found it difficult to get a feel for it given the stage they are at. I know a few ppl who ave put it as first choice but wouldn't be totally surprised if there are a few spaces this year. Have you looked at Heathside & Thamesmead as other local decent secondaries (although neither are quite up with Howard of Effingham!)