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Original poster

LEH or Guildford!

31 replies

jennymalaysia · 02/03/2016 19:24

I can't believe it - after all the help making the decision between Guildford and Surbiton (on academic scholarship) - we decided on Guildford thanks to all the great input from you Mumsnetter - DD just got offered a place at LEH today! I suspect both are equally academic and results are comparable (though Guildford scores slightly higher)

Pros for LEH
DD brother is at Hampton - and they would share bus in - he really wants her to go to LEH - he is struggling socially and has always relied on his sociable, popular, younger sister
facilities are much nicer - classrooms bright etc....
Head has come from Wimbledon and is supposed to be great - really improving pastoral care

Cons for LEH
4k more expensive than Guildford
public transport terrible - 1-1.5 hour and 2 buses to get back
DD is very sporty - and I would imagine will have after school practises (unlike DD who does clubs during lunchtime only at Hampton) - as a working Mom - I will struggle to get her - and she will have to rely on the bus
DD got in on wait list - indicating she may struggle to keep up with her classmates (bottom set/ low confidence fear)

Pros for Guildford
great train - 30 minutes door to door and safe and easy for after school activities
lots of girls on train from Claygate - seem to be more Claygate girls going to Guildford than LEH
LEH seems to attract girls from Twickenham and Kingston area - making playdates harder to organise in future
DD scored top of the girls on her entrance exam (apparently according to registrar) - which makes me more comfortable that she won't struggle academically compared to the other girls
its cheaper

Cons
Her brother will be very sad if he does not go to LEH
it would be nice for them to be at side by side schools (brother and sister)
school classrooms are much pokier and scruffier - not as much space
Is Guildford pushier/ more stressful? Don't know!
Head is reputed to be not all that in touch with the girls (does not know girls names etc.)

Any advice would be really appreciated.....

Thanks so much

OP posts:
SAHDthatsall · 03/03/2016 09:08

Folding bike? Take the 111 to HC, walk over the bridge, cycle path to Scilly Isles, footpath and private roads past Esher CC and nearly home... Smile

Just thinking outloud really... and imagining DS doing this and trailing his cricket bag behind him... Grin

Original poster
jennymalaysia · 03/03/2016 07:29

Thanks everyone,
It really helps to get such great sensible put to the decision. I wonder what I did before Mumsnet! Thanks Mrslioness for letting me know about the after school activities - I suspected as much. Its not so much the driving time Im concerned about - it is the fact I have to leave the office at 4:40pm for a 6p pickup (and that is after DS take the 111 bus to Hampton Court after drama. I would really struggle with my job if I had to do that more than once per week.

OP posts:
SAHDthatsall · 02/03/2016 22:28

Tricky one. Obviously you know the daily bus commute which can be great and can be slow.

On emptyish roads it's 15 mins drive for you. I allow 30 mins if picking up at 6pm. An alternative to the 2 bus route which some I know use is the 111 bus and get off at Hampton Ct and walk down to meet and be picked up south of the bridge. That way the car journey is fairly quick for you even when busy.

Ericaequites · 02/03/2016 21:01

Choose the school with the easiest commute. My mother had to drive me 35-45 minutes each day. She owned her own business, but it was tricky indeed.

Wriggle45 · 02/03/2016 20:33

It feels from your list of pros and cons that the main thing pushing you LEH wise is DS....and this shouldn't be about him.
There won't be a big difference in academic ability between the girls at either... It sounds as though your DD just maybe had a better day at the GHS assessment than the LEH one!
In your shoes I'd go for the one that feels right.... And I think from what you write you still think this is GHS. (And fwiw in your shoes that would be my choice)

Mrslioness · 02/03/2016 19:37

Much as I love LEH please don't underestimate the ferrying of your daughter - it is a massive issue for us and I have a v flexible job. If she does netball or lacrosse or auditions for a musical or does rowing ... It's all after school and I regularly spend hours on the road picking her up