Is it really true? - private schools in Surrey are the best in the country?

[arizonagirl]

Hi,

We currently have our children in a private prep school in Surrey. (Don't want to get into a private/state debate - due to husband's work, this is the right choice for us).

But Surrey is so expensive. However, everyone keeps telling us that the private schools in Surrey are the best in the country with the best selection.

I want to hear whether everyone agrees with this or not? And if not, where are the big clusters of excellent private prep schools in the south (1.5 hours commute to London). Did look at Winchester way but it is just as expensive and didn't really like the look of the prep selection; really want to keep them in co-ed.

Even my husband now is brainwashed into believing we would be mad to leave.

Thanks for your thoughts.

yet anotherissue - state schools don't do hairdressing
They are not skewed...?? My sons' school is state and only does decent GCSEs it is high on league tables... irks the local independent schools

You'll probably tell us it's a Grammar and therefore poaches all the bright kids. If not I'd like to see it's uni destinations in comparison to the inde.

my son is lucky to have an offer from a top university!

Keeping quiet about the Grammar question?

from ds state primary school at least 3/30 are hoping to go to oxbridge this year

2 state comprehensive
1 state grammar

Slough comp is indeed a term of endearment for Eton.
My nephew has decided not to bother with Oxbridge and is going the Ivy League(+ Stanford route)

Just had to say to YAI and Propatria.....

Mine is off to Slough Comp too!

Posy, so reading between the lines you are in a Grammar School area. In the few areas that there are Grammar schools the independents never do as well because the brightest kids go to the GS. It's not rocket science then and even more so league tables should not be looked at as they are already heavily skewed. In fact the independent schools in GS areas are rarely seen in the top tier of schools.

I too would choose Ivy League over the substandard universities in this country, which are constantly being fiddled with.

although we are lucky enough to get out children into state grammars we are not 'in area' and therefore nearest independent schools are over 20 miles away

we also live in a very affluent area where very many parents choose the private schools despite top state primary and secondary schools

i will never understand this - particularly for the non sporty child. I fear it must be snobbery as i cannot understand why one would turn ones nose up at great free schools

sorry that was in response to paranoid

OP lots of parents in Guildford live in areas like Ash if they are sending their kids to Lanesborough etc. (Actually quite a good location as it is convenient for Salesian if your son doesn't get into RGS). Hoe Bridge is also mixed btw (I'm not sure St Andrews isn't as well).

My kids are at State schools which is why we live in a nice area (that is the choice in Surrey, v. nice area or private or to be very rich).

Some really good thoughts - thank you. Just been looking at Oundle school - looks nice but it has a real emphasis on boarding which I want to avoid - 850 boarders compared to 250 days. I agree with Fiddledee that although co-ed is good, it might not be the right school for both. Did look at the website for Twyford but it emphasised boarding a lot and dare I say it, looked a bit depressing. The building oozes history, I really do appreciate that, but it just looked a bit grey and downbeat. Sorry - just personal opinion. And yes, the senior school option is very limited around Winchester. Will look at Cambridge way. We looked at all the Epsom schools mentioned - they were fine but weren't so keen to move nearer to London. Sorry, I sound so fussy!!!

ps found a great site to earn a extra income and they will send you free dvd on how it work , www.wantmoney.co.uk, great to run along side kids

Some really good thoughts - thank you. Just been looking at Oundle school - looks nice but it has a real emphasis on boarding which I want to avoid - 850 boarders compared to 250 days. I agree with Fiddledee that although co-ed is good, it might not be the right school for both. Did look at the website for Twyford but it emphasised boarding a lot and dare I say it, looked a bit depressing. The building oozes history, I really do appreciate that, but it just looked a bit grey and downbeat. Sorry - just personal opinion. And yes, the senior school option is very limited around Winchester. Will look at Cambridge way. We looked at all the Epsom schools mentioned - they were fine but weren't so keen to move nearer to London. Sorry, I sound so fussy!!!

ps found a great site to earn a extra income and they will send you free dvd on how it work , www.wantmoney.co.uk. great to run along side kids

I would second what people are saying about Cambridge and the Midlands. There are some very good independent schools in those areas that have a better social mix than Surrey schools IMO, and probably do better by their pupils as a consequence, as they are not as complacent. Suffolk also has pockets of excellence in terms of independent education. Hertfordshire has some really terrific schools of all kinds, and Bishops Stortford represents a minor educational nirvana, in terms of both state and private schools, and well worth a look.

In short, Surrey is really not the be-all and end-of of education, and what you are really seeing is the effect of a concentration of wealth in the M4 corridor, rather than any particular positive qualities on the part of the schools there.

twyford has very few full boarders these days, lots of flexi boarding and not at all depressing - beautiful grounds and seems very vibrant (I don't have children there by the way so not biased!) Has a great reputation as coed prep school around winchester. if you don't want boys to board afterwards, lots of people go for King Edwards in Soton - traditional grammar school type place, coed.

There is a huge choice of private schools in Surrey, and a huge gulf between private and state. Surrey state schools are disappointing to say the least.

Surrey isn't in the M4 Corridor.

My children go to state school in Surrey and I am very happy with them thank you very much!

yes, dear

"Surrey state schools are disappointing to say the least."

Must depend on where in Surrey? Around here there are regular exits to Oxbridge from the bog-standard comps (well lovely comps to be honest).

The state schools in my part of surrey are excellent. Hardly anyone uses the private sector and there are plenty of people who would be wealthy enough to do so.

I think the last few messages sum up
Surrey state schools - either excellent or a disgrace.

Surrey average house prices:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/counties/html/county91.stm?d#table

Cambridge/Cambridgeshire averages:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/12ub.stm?d#table

so Surrey is more expensive, although Cambridge isn't far off - especially if you insist on living on Hills Road or in Great Shelford.

Have a look at www.daneshillprepschool.co.uk along the M4 corridor between Reading and Basingstoke.

tsr, thanks for that. Actually we did visit Daneshill and found that although the children were lovely and the grounds were lovely it just didn't seem very academic. That would be fine apart from ds who is doing really well and loves being pushed. Also, tney didn't have classroom assistants in all classes and I felt quite strongly about that seeing as at the end of the day it is quite a lot of money. But thank you for replying - appreciated.