Where to live near London - Kent/Surrey, looking for advice on secondary schools

[MrsBobbington]

We currently live in London, COVID means we no longer need to be here as long as we can get to London once a week for work.

DD1 is applying for secondary schools in September and it seems like the perfect time to leave the city, get a bit more space and hopefully cheaper lifestyle.

We are looking at Bromley/Kent/Hayes/Surrey... it’s a pretty wide ball park at the moment, not helped by not being able to visit schools. We like to look of Riddlesdown Collegiate, Hayes School but would really appreciate some advice on other areas eg Petts Wood. Any advice appreciated!

Petts Wood has a lovely community feel. If considering the location then lots of boys end up at local grammars, or the comprehensives of Darrick Wood or Ravens Wood. The new Boys grammar annexe in Sevenoaks may also be an option, the girls equivalent has come out as far as Petts Wood every year and only requires a pass in the Kent Test. Olaves is very competitive, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar is part of the Bexley test.

That's interesting, thank you. I'll have a look at Petts Wood, I don't know that area at all so will do some research!

Sorry, I see you said DD and for so reason I read it as DS, so schools would be Newstead (My DD is there and it is amazing!) as Olaves is the Boys school. Weald of Kent is the Kent grammar usually in catchment and Chis n Sid is co-Ed, as is Darrick. There are other Kent grammars for DDs but they require a higher score in the Kent test like Dartford Girls Grammar or Tonbridge Girls.

I don’t know much about schools (my kids are under 1), but West Wickham and Hayes are both lovely. The Langley schools are very sought after in WW.

My DC goes to Langley park and it's great.
But I think you'd be equally happy with Ravenswood or Hayes - sorry not sure of others.

Thanks for the comments. I think we are veering towards Langley School for Girls as we've seen a couple of houses near that we could afford. We'll try to go and see the area in the next couple of weeks.

Oreo, are you children at the girls or the boys school? Is there much interaction between the two schools? I was initially thinking a mixed school would work better my daughter is saying she would prefer a girls school. I guess having a linked boys school would help though

Riddlesdown did away with their feeder schools last year and from what I've heard from this year's y6 cohort at our school the new catchment is very small - you need to be in Riddlesdown, Sanderstead proper (not down by the station) or the Riddlesdown side of Kenley to get a place.

I would avoid areas with a selective system like the plague. Go for somewhere with good comprehensives, plenty suggested here.

You say Kent/Surrey but there is a BIG difference between the two.

Kent has the Grammar School system. Surrey does not.

If you think your DC has a 95%+ chance of passing the 11+, consider Kent.

If not - go for Surrey, E/W Sussex - anywhere but Kent.

@BalloonSlayer

You say Kent/Surrey but there is a BIG difference between the two.

Kent has the Grammar School system. Surrey does not.

If you think your DC has a 95%+ chance of passing the 11+, consider Kent.

If not - go for Surrey, E/W Sussex - anywhere but Kent.

Sutton does have the grammar school system though, so it depends if it's Surrey borders.

Yes, agree there’s a big difference between Kent and Surrey. At the moment I’m looking at schools first then location, the only real requirement being that I can get to London once a week for work. I don’t know either area very well at all.

Balloon Slayer - I’d be interested to know why do you say not Kent?

I have been considering selective but I’d like the reassurance of a good catchment. I think my daughter would be fine in the tests but it would put a lot of pressure on her.

There is indeed a big difference between Kent and Surrey OP.

It’s called Sussex (or more accurately east and west). Nothing to do with H&M.

Kent has the Grammar school system, (although as someone - who I thought I replied to last night, sorry! - points out there are some Grammar schools in Surrey).

If you DC gets in to a Grammar school well that's great. If not, the other schools left to them are often not good. If there are no Grammar schools and just comprehensives, there are a wide mix of abilities (and types of student/families) in the school.

We live near the border and every year there is a small scramble for the kids from Kent who haven't passed the 11+, whose parents are trying to get them into the comprehensives in our county rather than the ones in Kent.

So it could make a difference where you decide to live. We moved out of Kent when our eldest was a baby and sometimes I kicked myself as all three of my DCs would have got into Grammar schools. But all did really well at our local comp which was a much more inclusive space and they mixed with a large group of students, from those with SEND to those bound for Oxbridge.

I'd avoid the Kent grammar system like the plague, I hear nothing but stress and suffering from parents and kids over it.

Guildford has excellent secondaries, my DD has just got a place at Guildford County School and I'm absolutely delighted- it blends achievement with outstanding care.

The Langley schools (Beckenham) are great but can be oversubscribed.

Secondary places in Surrey, in the independent sector is a throat slashing type of process. Very little places, too much demand. Even the "no selective" ones are over in demand and some of them are slowly becoming more and more selective. Not an issue if your DC is academic, if not, it is a brutal process.

But I there are some good state secondary schools if you live a stone throw away from their main entrance!