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Original poster

Outstanding state co-ed school in South London/ Surrey direction

57 replies

Lightbulbs · 30/12/2023 16:44

I currently live near Dulwich but I am looking to move as we can't afford private and are not in the catchment of any very good/ Outstanding primary's and secondaries. We'd also like a slightly bigger home/ garden.

I have 2 children, 8 and 6 and so secondary schools is my top priority.

What I would love in an ideal world:

Top budget: £900k
An outstanding Co-educational state secondary school. Plus if there is also an outstanding primary that would be a bonus.
4 bed, with a study as my husband works from home.
Commute no more than 1 hour into central London.
Areas I am keen on: Bromley direction
Family live in Oxshott, Surrey but I feel it's quite expensive. Family also live in Ladywell.
A country feel....not too remote but village feel.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

OP posts:
coureur · 09/03/2024 16:47

@MsMarch oh ok, how confusing. News to me despite having lived in Surrey all my life, but we are in Waverley so opposite end of the county.

beckypv · 09/03/2024 16:45

Horsell is a village connected to Woking. Fabulous schools and housing that would fit your price bracket. Great commuting links to London and lovely village feeling with local shops, good pubs and access to countryside .

MsMarch · 09/03/2024 16:20

Although technically the grammar schools in Sutton and Kingston are NOT Surrey, they are routinely and regularly lumped together as Surrey. This has been true for a long time and people locally understand this with lots of people who technically live in Surrey attending them - we are Surrey and DD is looking at either Nonsuch (Sutton, although technically Cheam) or Tiffin (Kingston).

Surrey 11 Plus

School Admissions in Surrey including Kingston and Sutton. Tiffin Girls, Tiffin Boys

https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schools/regions/surrey-11-plus

coureur · 09/03/2024 16:17

@tennissquare Sutton hasn’t been part of Surrey since 1965. Yes I suppose there might be some pupils who live on the northern edge of Surrey who go to schools in London but it’s not something I’ve heard of.

tennissquare · 09/03/2024 16:10

Ok I was thinking of the Sutton grammars being under Surrey. They do impact the provision of comprehensives in Surrey though.

Talkinpeace · 09/03/2024 16:06

Liphook. Bohunt School

coureur · 09/03/2024 16:04

@tennissquare there aren’t any grammars in Surrey. It’s a fully comprehensive county.

tennissquare · 09/03/2024 15:47

Surrey is tricky for mixed non religious state secondary schools because of the number of Catholic secondaries and the grammars around Sutton. It's beyond your budget but it's worth reading the Orleans/ grey court / Richard Reynolds thread that is currently active to see an area with many mixed outstanding comprehensives and consequently high house prices. I agree moving towards Reigate / Horsham may help.

Horaced · 09/03/2024 15:42

Have you looked at the Ofsted criteria for an outstanding school? For example, in primary it essentially means tests at the end of every unit from Y1 up. Increasingly I think Ofsted Outstanding and what parents actually want from a school are very different. My child's school has just been downgraded after 10 years as Oustanding - I literally could not ask for a better school, I think it is perfect. As a teacher who is increasingly pessimistic about state schools, I didn't think that would even be possible but it is genuinely wonderful. Also the majority of Oustanding schools that are being reinspected at the moment are being downgraded so there's no guarantee it will stay that rating.

coureur · 09/03/2024 15:37

Haslemere, Godalming, Farnham, Guildford (if you prefer a city).

MsMarch · 09/03/2024 15:33

You might find it better to start your own thread. But at that price, you should be able to buy a 4 bed house pretty much throughout Surrey. According to Parent Power on Sunday Times, these are the best mixed secondary schools in Surrey. Some are private though. My earlier comment to the OP suggests that looking at Woking might be a good choice of rher too.

Outstanding state co-ed school in South London/ Surrey direction
gettingolderbutcooler · 09/03/2024 15:08

Reigate- st bedes or reigate school.

BeaDave · 09/03/2024 15:00

Where is outstanding state Co-ed secondary schools in Surrey?
We are after min of 4 bed house,
our budget is £1.3m
good commute to London
ideally non religious school.
our kids are 9 and 6

thought about Hinchley Wood but cannot find good house in catchment area. I think we need it asap in order to be in feeder school in Year 5, but then where else I could look for. No idea. Ideally Not far from London.

Please help? Thank you.

bobisbored · 20/01/2024 16:33

Have a look at Esher. A bit cheaper than Oxshott. Fast train to London and good school choices.

MsMarch · 02/01/2024 13:10

I would look at Woking. There are a number of excellent schools and I think you could probably buy for that sort of money.

Epsom/leatherhead could also work I think. Epsom's co-ed is Blenheim which is on track to make outstanding but not there yet, but has two outstanding single sex schools. I believe Leatherhead has an excellent state co ed as well as an outstanding catholic state co-ed school.

Original poster
Lightbulbs · 01/01/2024 23:09

Thank you all for your help and suggestions so far. A fantastic starting place and lots of food for thought.

OP posts:
Whoppitywhoopwhoop · 01/01/2024 20:11

How C of E are you?

You could consider St Bede’s in Redhill. You do need to commit to church for quite a while to meet the admissions criteria (read the small print carefully).

There are houses around Carlton Road/Windmill Way or Earlswood/South Reigate that might meet your criteria. Depending on location you could consider Wray Common/Priory/Sandcross or Earlswood for primary. You could also look at further out, Bletchingly, Nuffield, Buckland or Betchworth if you want more of a village feel. Distance was 12km from the school last year to get in (assuming you meet religion criteria) so quite a few options.

haloeffect · 01/01/2024 19:28

sorry but SM3 is very surbuban not country at all so not in your bucket list

haloeffect · 01/01/2024 19:27

Cheam in Sutton SM3 has outstanding Cheam Park Farm Primary and Cheam High School, and Glenthorn High (also SM3) is available via banding test . A decent sized four-five bed for that budget.

Firenze12 · 01/01/2024 19:14

Farnham? 50 minutes to London? Weydon was ranked 6th in the country for schools without a sixth form. All the primaries are very good too.

bellocchild · 31/12/2023 19:34

For Chislehurst, there is also co-ed Darrick Wood, but that's nearer the Petts Wood end of Orpington.

Original poster
Lightbulbs · 31/12/2023 19:04

Thank you all for your input and suggestions so far. You have all been really helpful. X

OP posts:
Original poster
Lightbulbs · 31/12/2023 19:04

We're not Catholic and are looking for a non faith or C of E school

OP posts:
Original poster
Lightbulbs · 31/12/2023 19:03

I love Chistlehurst :)

I am indeed in the catchment for Kingsdale and I know they are currently in consultation because my children are in a feeder school. I still feel it is not guaranteed because of their admissions policy and it is still a huge secondary.

It is still an option but I am done with the crime around where I live. It's so obvious and the foxes!

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 31/12/2023 16:58

Chislehurst. It's not comes but Bullers Wood is a split site boys / girls with a comes sixth form

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