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.

teaching assistants in private schools is virtually unheard of, considering most class sizes are below 16!

Not entirely true - dd had dedicated ta's in her pre-prep classes (up to yr2) with 14-18 in class and a floating one across 3 classes in Year 3 (20).

I would not send my kid to a prep with more than 16 in a class but that aside I would not want a floating TA. Teachers in a private school should be good enough to cope with half the size of a state school.

TA's may be in a handful of schools but it is not common practice!

Sorry don't get your issue with a floating ta. It is sufficent to free up time for the teacher to teach and prepare lessons without also having to do classroom displays, preparation of activities, extra person to listen to guided reading, shepherd children from one room to another etc. Sets and art/craft activities etc are often done in smaller groups than 20 anyway.

there are 20 in dd's y3 class (3 form entry so 60 in the year) and each class has a TA - it's great :)

personally I think 16's getting a bit small for social groups - dd's school is co-ed so in her class there are 10 boys and 10 girls which gives enough of a range of children with whom to form friendships

Come to Ashford in Kent: relatively cheap housing and 30min from Canary Wharf by high speed happy train. Ashford school is great independent all age school: both daughters there and doing very well.

So which are the really good state schools in Surrey? Are you talking Epsom or guildford areas?

4happyhours, not wishing to be rude but you may wish to start a new thread as the one you've posted on is 4 1/2 years old?

Zombie thread!

Hi , I'm currently living in Qatar and I plan to return back to the UK soon . We lived in Bishops Stortford before we left . The house prices in Stortford have got expensive . I have been looking at villages around Cambridge as I like the look of Kim Bolton School. Does anybody have children at the school ? Or know what areas peolpe live in that attend the school.

Many thanks for any help received ,

Mum of 3

I would suggest Didcot. Possibly the LAST (and not for long now I think) cheap housing area in Oxfordshire with a direct trainline to Paddington (just 45 mins). Fantastic commuting services, great value for money in terms of house prices, amenities (3 supermarkets, cinema, theatre etc) and just 15mins drive from some of the leading private schools in Oxfordshire. St Helens & Katherines girls school and Abingdon Boys have really good Oxbridge entries and exam results. State schools in Didcot are only OK. We are making use of the cheap housing to be able to afford private school :)

Paget3 probably worth starting a new thread specifying your search area.

Move to Fleet area and send the kids to Yateley Manor or St Neots?

"the best in the country"

is always piffle
as the country is big
journey times are large
people want different things from life

if your DH wants to believe hype, leave him to it

prep schools only cater to 6% of kids anyway so their sample sizes are never statistically valid

A friend of mine works at www.bloohouse.co.uk which is an independent School in Surrey and it always seems to have good reviews and an "outstanding" OFSTED rating. Hope this helps...

I doubt it will help, as this thread is SEVEN YEARS OLD and OP is really unlikely to still be in need of a prep.

Lots of people with children at RGS and Tormead/GHS live in much cheaper places e.g. Normandy, Camberley etc. House prices are so high in Guildford because it has excellent state schools, where you need to live in the right areas to get in.
Even living somewhere like Rydes Hill is cheaper. If Tormead is your aim then I would look at places on the coach or train line.

But I do wonder where this co-ed prep is, most Preps are single sex in this area.

There are perfectly good private schools in other parts of the country but they may be less pressurised.

Drat Zombie!

ZOMBIE - original thread is 2010

Best depends on the criteria used to assess. Best for your child depends on your child. Is Surrey best for academic schools? No. Is it best for sports? No. Are there some perfectly reasonable independent schools in Surrey? Yes.

Outside of Surrey consider Brighton College, Wellington College, Christs hospital, Lancing, Portsmouth Grammar.

Live in Didcot. Fast 45 minr train to London Paddington. Cheap housing stock. Up and coming town with serious redevelopments and investments. I bought my 4 bed semi new around £350 to 400k. Easy business ride to the top Abingdon schools with cheap living costs and excellent access to London, and you get a seat most times in the morning! . Trains every 10mins!