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Original poster

Secondary School with relaxed rules, happy kids and decent results

39 replies

Pixelady · 06/03/2019 09:36

Hi all, can anyone recommend a London or nearby town with a state Secondary school that is good for boys and girls, with happy kids who do well. My 2 kids are quite different so I need a school that works for both. I'm not looking for high pressure about exams, neither needs it. No bullying or social issues. Not strict, my ideal would be no uniform. No great emphasis on sports. A place with happy confident kids who enjoy their day. Any size school is fine, it's more about their attitude. And with a commute to central London not over 1.5 hours. Extra credit goes to towns with horses nearby. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Lara53 · 06/03/2019 16:16

I know Godalming - can’t think of a school like this near by unless private. There is a newish Free school in Woking

KittyMcKitty · 06/03/2019 15:56

Marlow is in Bucks which has a 100% selective secondary system- so no comprehensive schools. There are 2 schools Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School (Grammar) and Great Marlow School (Upper). They are both great schools but have uniforms and lots of sport. They both have happy confident students and both are heavily oversubscribed. They both only offered to catchment- GMS to 4 miles (PAN 210). SWBGS to 1.7 miles (PAN 120).

Marlow has lots of horses!

SwayingInTime · 06/03/2019 15:51

I was going to recommend Alton too. Enormous well regarded sixth form college too which is very university like.

Ionacat · 06/03/2019 15:47

Have a look at East Hampshire - Liphook, Petersfield and Alton. All on trainlines into Waterloo and some great schools and plenty of horses. Alton has two secondaries - Eggars and Amery and whilst you will be in catchment for one, there is never a problem getting into the other. Plenty of people send to the different secondaries depending on what suits that particular child. Both schools in Alton have uniforms but the pupils always seem happy walking to and from and general conversation is always how lucky we are. Petersfield has TPS and Liphook - Bohunt, both with great reputations.

Mary19 · 06/03/2019 15:36

Greycourt in Ham? It’s got uniform but is very well regarded. Tunbridge Wells has Grammar schools. If you have time it might be worth watching Teddington. Recent poor ofsted but great building, nice site and a big desire to improve it. Again uniform. In North London there are a few schools without uniform eg Acland Burley and Fortismere.
St Chris in Letchworth sounds like what you want but it’s fee paying

Lougle · 06/03/2019 14:20

Fortismere school doesn't have a uniform.

Blahblahblah1000 · 06/03/2019 14:17

Godalming and surrounding villages are lovely. Horses a plenty!

Surrey (that part at least) has no grammar system so probably it is more relaxed and schools more inclusive in that sense - I think geographical catchments are tight for the schools that go to 16... and then Godalming sixth form is no uniform and excellent and then you have Alton, Guildford Farnham Colleges as alternatives...

I know you mentioned state - but have you considered Bedales? Sounds exactly like the school you describe - just with a downside of the fees! 🤪

TW10Mum · 06/03/2019 13:42

Pixielady - have a look at Thamesmead in Shepperton - just outside the Richmond Borough area but children do manage to get places. My eldest two DC had a fantastic time there.

Original poster
Pixelady · 06/03/2019 12:31

Does anyone know about towns like Marlow, High Wycombe, Godalming, Chalmont, Amersham, Kingston, Richmond, Tunbridge Wells?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixelady · 06/03/2019 12:19

Thanks "ohmywhattodo", Ofsted does seem to be a double edged sword. But I guess what they really need is an additional happiness or vibe rating, a "strictrelaxed-ometer" scale, alongside their existing categories for management, behaviour, teaching and exam results. I've read lots of posts asking about schools like this for kids who are immature/shy/different/akward/ on the differently able scale. So I know I'm not the only one interested.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixelady · 06/03/2019 12:09

Thanks "ChessIsASport", is Glyn strict or normal? The reason I'm looking for a co-ed school is to avoid strict boys schools. DS is anxious and well behaved so strict is a) counter productive and b) not needed. I went to a boys school for 6th form and it was awful - small minded and tedious, especially coming from a girls school where we were treated with trust and respect.

OP posts:
ohmywhattodo · 06/03/2019 10:28

I think you might need to move abroad to find such a school 😕 Or consider home education. From my experience schools have moved backwards in terms of strictness over uniform (and formality of it too). They’re pushed by the government and worried about their OFSTED rating and so push exams and getting expected results (teachers also get performance related pay) - not that this means a child having individualised education and achieving their full potential - this means logging data on a computer program and it telling them what the expected grade for a child should be.

TapasForTwo · 06/03/2019 10:18

Not sure such a school exists TBH. Schools are under such pressure to perform well, and are judged on their results.

ChessIsASport · 06/03/2019 10:15

Epsom has two great state secondary schools but they are a girls’ school (Rosebery) and a boys’ school (Glyn) so that may not be ideal. There is a mixed school too but I don’t know much about that one (Blenheim). Nearly all state schools will have school uniform. Lots of horses. Can you take your children to some open days?

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