Sutton High School

Thank you @HighRopes I remember being terrified my first time travelling by bus as 11, but then loved it. The bus goes out to Southfields I think but the website says they can add stops by request. My DD will probably be dropped by us for a while, wherever she goes, then find a friend to travel with.

There’s definitely a bus from Dorset Road (Kingston Road end) as I’ve seen it. Not sure about further into Wimbledon.

But you may be surprised by what your dd can manage in terms of independent travel. My summer born dd has been doing two tubes to school since Y7, all by herself, quite happily. We did a couple of practice runs in the summer before, and she generally comes home with friends, but she actually enjoys the journey in as she gets to read or play on her phone and also there’s the chance to stop and buy Pringles

I thought Sutton High has a school bus covering Wimbledon / Wimbledon Park and surrounding areas?

DD was toured by two girls on the entrance exam day snd one was from Earlsfield and one from Wimbledon, so I think there will be lots on the train. But I agree - such a daunting thought as they are our babies! But I did it at 11 so we just have to probably push past our fears!

@mimsical76 Thanks! I haven’t let her go out alone yet so it will a big step! I’m sure she will be fine.....unlike me!!!

@Mammamiammy yes it’s the only wobble I have about Sutton high is the fact my DD will be getting the train for the first time! Am hoping there will be others on the train from Sutton. She too is an end of July baby so only just 11 in Sept. I think I’ll be travelling with her for a long while at the beginning until I am confident she is able to find her own way!!!! We are at top end of our financial budget so couldn’t really justify the mini bus school service. It’s only 6 stops on train from us near Hayden’s road so maybe a lot of others will get on at Wimbledon....it’s daunting the thought of independent travel at this age!!!!

@mimsical76 well done for getting an interview at KGS. Well we are state primary and it’s a 3 form year with 31 kids in her class mostly some quite challenging boys. It’s a brilliant school but anything private mixed or co-Ed will be significantly better. One school interviewer asked my daughter what she prefers given we’d applied to both and she said I don’t know purely on the basis she’s no idea what an all girls school will be like. I would imagine a lot calmer than what she’s used to but it’s not really an issue for us. In some ways wish we were closer to Sutton as it really seems like a very lovely school and their handling of the entrance process has Ben brilliant. It seems like it would suit her perfectly, but she’s very young for her year (end of July) and at only just 11 I don’t fancy putting her on two trains each way. Perhaps I’m being over precious but it seems too much... fingers crossed for Surbiton. I hope she’s done enough. Well done to everyone else. God it’s such a stressful time. At least we have some offers. I feel lucky.

@mimsical76 when will you hear from Emanuel? It wasn’t one we looked at. We had interview for KGS as a co-Ed option but now very firmly thinking single sex and I’ve been reading so much about this. @Mammamiammy it’s a hard choice if SHs is so close to you! we have some friends from Kingston/Surbiton who get the 213 to Sutton (for grammars) so might be ok as a direct route. Definitely the smaller year group appeals at Sutton. I think Surbiton said they have 120-150 in a year which is a lot, but then the grammars have 240 in a year now which is one reason DD is not so keen. Sutton was around 80 I think. We are in a relatively small prep so she’s preferring the smaller classes and schools I think. So hard!

It certainly has! I think we found it easier to accept Sutton as it was the only school my DD has managed to get a tour of during the entrance exam! Not sure how parents are expected to accept a place at a school they have never set foot inside!.
Good luck to you all. Maybe see some of you if you accept Sutton high!
It will soon be all over 😁

And good luck to you. What a horrid process. Who’d have thought it would be so difficult to pay £18k a year for the next 5 😩

Yes all the indies are massively over subscribed somehow. So much for a global downturn 😩. Yes daughter was a flat NO from KGS with 1300 applications for 100 places. We all love SHS and as it’s literally on our doorstep, we feel like we know it very well. We certainly endure the traffic associated with it 😜. DD did a superb interview (as I was listening outside) so let’s hope her exam was decent too. Well thanks all for the tips. My fingers and toes are crossed but know we are lucky to already have two in the bag!

We looked at both schools a few years ago when open days were a thing and my daughter plumped for Surbiton despite the fact we live in Sutton.
The big draw of SHS for her was the sport, the art room and the fashion show!
Despite being shy the size of the school was not a drawback in fact it was a bonus. It means there is much more on offer in terms of clubs, sport and of course friendships.
I have friends with girls at Sutton High and they love it there but many leave at the end of of year 11 to go to a bigger sixth form. So this is something to bear in mind.
I also have to say that the lockdown provision and the pastoral care from SHS has been outstanding over the last year.

We live v v close to Surbiton High school so if we were lucky enough to get both we would have to go with location but Surbiton is getting very tough to get into.. DD was offered a place in year 4 but we turned it down due to financial implications but I’m regretting it 😩

@Mammamiammy whereabouts are you based?

Hi guys. My DD also has an offer from Sutton but now also one from Notre Dame Cobham and waiting on Surbiton. Surbiton is our first choice but there is very high demand this year. We would struggle to get to Sutton so SHS more attractive although head at Sutton was really lovely. Those of you in prep schools have you been given guidance on likelihood of getting into SHS equal to Sutton? We are in state primary so absolutely no guidance whatsoever in fact almost no school for the last year really 😡. Your thoughts would be appreciated... we didn’t get into KGS and are awaiting Claremont