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Original poster

Putney High vs Surbiton High vs KGS/Wallington

27 replies

ParentingDiscussions · 21/02/2020 10:32

We are in a fortunate situation now as DD has received a few offers from schools of our choice. We are torn between Surbiton (with not insignificant scholarship) and Putney High (without scholarship). In addition, she has an offer from KGS and has a score which may help get an offer from Wallington grammar - we are less keen on these currently but keen to understand different perspective.

On both visits, we loved Surbiton high. Surbiton is also likely to prove better financially, although terms of the scholarship require DD to be in top x% every year to retain the scholarship. We have also heard positive things about pastoral at Surbiton.

On the other hand, Putney seems to be highly regarded in the area and has better GCSE results so it looks counter-intutive to leave the option (even if costlier).

We are not wealthy but can manage to afford for 5-7 years.

Travel time does not seem much different, although there is more dependency on SW train running normally for Subiton High (Putney is well connected and closer as we are in Wimbledon).

Will be grateful for inputs to compare these schools.

OP posts:
Testbunny · 21/02/2020 10:58

A tricky decision. The commute from Wimbledon to Putney is a very easy with one bus but there will also be plenty of girls going to Surbiton from Wimbledon.

It is fantastic that your DD has an academic scholarship at Surbiton which will certainly help over the years as all the extras also add up. What benefits come with the scholarship other than a reduction in fees? Maybe assess the value of those? How will she respond bring top of the pack rather than possibly middle? Surbiton take more girls so their range is broader but it doesn't mean your DD will do less well because of it.

Obviously KGS is co ed so it depends on your view on this, and their GCSE results last year were better than Putney with 87 (A*-A) compared to 82% although not much in it. KGS is a fantastic school pastorally, but it sounds as if your mind is made up and it's between the other schools so maybe discount it to make life easier and open up a place to another child. Once you have decided on the independent you then only have to wait a few weeks to hear about the grammar.

Best of luck.

Autumnnightsaredrawingin · 21/02/2020 10:50

This is a really tricky one. Surbiton is a brilliant school. We really loved it, and found it hard to turn our offer down. I would definitely be anxious about only keeping a scholarship if in the top x percent, that’s a lot of pressure. Depends if you feel your daughter would cope?

We chose Putney over Surbiton, and hope we’ve made the right choice- I am pretty sure we have. I didn’t look at KGS as wanted all girls.

Good luck with you choice, and maybe see you at Putney in Sept! Smile