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Original poster

Waldegrave Girls or LEH?

35 replies

Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 20:45

My dilemma is... Should we sell our house and move into the catchment area of Waldegrave girls school (very good state school) so our two daughters can have a good, free education. Or should we stay put and pay for a private education at somewhere like LEH, presuming they get in. Obviously Tiffins is the ideal scenario but we would need to move well in advance of admissions deadline (maybe even 2 years before) so would have to presume that the 11+ isn't an option.

What would you do?

The cost of a private education for both girls is about the same as the total cost of selling and refurbishing to our taste.

All thoughts welcome.

I should add, I am talking about a genuine move to the Waldegrave area, not some dodgy rental just to get in!

OP posts:
nocampinghere · 24/10/2016 13:41

why are you choosing between LEH and Waldegrave when you haven't visited either school? Confused

Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 22:27

I haven't visited LEH.

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Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 22:26

I haven't visited Waldegrave for 29 years when my parents took me to see it for myself! (I didn't go there). I'm presuming it has changed a bit - ha ha!

But you're right. I would need to see it before thinking of a move. But my children are still really young and do they have to be year 6 before I can visit?

I don't really want to move. And I'm tempted by the convenient walking distance of LEH.

I guess like all parents I want my girls to have options in the future, have a fantastic education, lots of opportunities to explore extracurricular activities.

OP posts:
agapanthii · 23/10/2016 21:51

Have you visited either Waldegrave or LEH yet? I would do that before even thinking of a house move. Good exam results apart, they are very different schools, when you look at music, drama, sport. If it's all about just the exam results then it has to be Waldegrave; if your criteria is different then you may feel LEH is worth the fees. It doesn't sound like you want to move.

Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 21:12

I haven't looked into Sutton yet. I'll take a look. I don't really mind downsizing a bit if the trade off is worth it. It depends on how amazing Waldegrave is!

If they did get into LEH though, it would be nice to stay put (it's actually our closest secondary school) and not have to move. I'm quite fussy about interiors so I know I'd want it to look just to my taste and we have that here already.

Decisions...!

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Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 21:09

Thanks JoJoSM2, I hadn't thought about Nonsuch. I'll look into it. I think our eldest is very bright but the girls are still young so I don't know if that will translate into academic performance. I went to Tiffins myself and I think my daughter is brighter than I was. But who knows!

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 23/10/2016 21:06

Sorry, just read the downsize bit - could you just move near a nicer school in the borough of Kingston or just over the border into the borough of Sutton? Both boroughs have fantastic secondary schools.

JoJoSM2 · 23/10/2016 21:05

Moving is quite an upheaval but I would probably prefer that as the money can later be recouped from the property to pay uni fees or help with deposits etc in the future.

If you think that they are pretty able and Tiffin might be an option, you could position yourself for potentially easy commute to Nonsuch High School for Girls to give you another grammar option (there's an express bus that stops in Kingston and Teddington).

Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 20:51

Our local state secondary 'requires improvement'.

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Original poster
Badgoushk · 23/10/2016 20:47

And if we moved to the a waldegrave catchment we would need to downsize.

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