Schools near Sanderstead / Warlingham

[blushbabybambu]

Help - I've just found out that we will be moving to the Sanderstead / Warlingham area and I have no idea on schooling. DD is just 3 and we could just stretch to independent education if we needed to. We hate central Croydon so that rules out Old Palace, but I'm wondering what Royal Russell, Croydon high or Woldingham are like (and which preps feed into Woldingham). Anyone know these or can suggest any others?

Don't forget that Old Palace's prep department is on the former Croham Hurst site, so isn't in central Croydon.

How important is a single-sex school in your priorities? Or academic results? Royal Russell has lovely facilities but never used to achieve the same academic results as Old Palace or Croydon High. I'm sure someone with more recent knowledge of these schools will be along in a moment.

Many of the state primaries in that part of Croydon are very good too - worth looking at at least. Save your money for the secondary years where the state schools are not so good!

At the risk of changing the nature of the thread, most local reasonably well-off Sanderstead parents view that the state primary schools in the areas are pretty good, and typically only put their children into private schools either from 7+ or 11+. The junior section of Croydon High seems to be full of girls who live further away where the primary options aren't so good. There is usually a surplus of private primary school places, so you can transfer in later if you felt that the state schools weren't doing enough for you.

The main disadvantage imo to Old Palace, Croydon High and Royal Russell is that they all feed into their own senior schools, and with a 3yo you can't tell what sort of senior school will suit her best, nor how the schools will change over time (eg Croydon High is now on their 3rd or so Head in 3 years I think and their numbers are dropping). The preprep/prep department of Old Palace isn't in central Croydon btw - it is in leafier South Croydon. Woldingham is a senior school only.

Although it has the same problem in terms of feeding into its own school I would include Caterham school on any list for the area.

In terms of independent co-ed primary schools, there is Warlingham Park as well Essendene Lodge & Oakhyrst in Caterham, and Oakwood (RC) and St Davids in Purley. These will at least prepare your dd for a range of senior schools

Other than the junior section of Croydon High I don't think that there are any independent primary schools in Sanderstead (which should tell you something!)

There is a new girls school opening next year in Purley. The old Lodge school is closing and there will be a Cumnor House school for Girls on that site, taking in the previous Lodge girls, but obviously hoping to add to them.

But to be honest I would look at the 3 Sanderstead primaries as well as Hamsey Green and Warlingham Village. Assuming that you are moving before your school application is in I suspect that you'll find one of these schools would suit you.

Thanks for the info - we had not considered Caterham as we don't know the areas, but a quick Google suggests it's a good area to live in - schools, transport etc - all except house prices, which is to be expected. Not sure on moving date as it all depends on finding a house, so that may scupper any chance of getting into good state schools. Better hurtle up the M3 and get to grips with Sanderstead and Caterham asap.

I agree with Ladymuck- there are some really good co-ed prep schools but Croydon High has been great for my daughter. There has been a change of Head but the new Head seems to be very good- no nonsense but warm approach. She's already responded to parents concerns about security by fencing in the huge school site completely and the girls love her. We all have different priorities i know but for me I didn't want my daughter to go through the pressure of exam prep for senior. I was impressed by the down to earth philosophy of educating girls to be independent and have careers that the senior school has and so am pleased that my daughter will be able to go through. I do know people that want grammar for senior and CHS has sent quite a few to Wallington.
Cumnor House sounds interesting but very little experience with girls, who are different, or with getting them into Senior schools. One of their receivers will be Croydon High so why not just get them in there?

The Cumnor girls school will be initially filled with the Lodge and West Dene girls and will be led by Peter Kelly who has plenty of experience of girls.

The Head of Croydon High (senior school) seems to be saying that she is head for this year, and not confirming that she is there for the long term, so next year the school may have its 4th head in 4 years? And once you're in Croydon High you're not being prepped for any other senior school. If you're certain about Croydon High then fair enough, but making a choice at age 3 when they're struggling to find a Head and have dropped a form at Year 7 this year is brave imo.

why are they struggling to find a head and can you explain what you mean by dropped a year at year 7 - you mean they take 20-odd less pupils now?

Don't know where Ladymuck is getting her info from but she's not quite right. Certainly no struggle to find a Head. Head of Croydon High is permanent and has a great track record. Apparently she came from Nottingham High. You are wrong about being prepped for other schools- obviously vast majority carry on but we have discussed Grammar Schools with the teachers and the girls are being prepared for either. Croydon High came top in Croydon with its GCSE results and had record numbers on Open Day apparently. Also reassuring that in a time when so many small prep schools go under CHS is part of the Girls Day School Trust and so is about to have a £2 million pound building programme

My post was accurate as of last September but of course she is now confirmed in the role. I think that you'll find that Mrs Leonard was deputy head at Nottingham, and that this is her first post as Head. Now that she has been offered, and has accepted the permanent post she can of course start to prove her abilities, and I understand that the parents are generally happy.

But suggesting that the junior school prepares the girls for the grammar schools in the same way that the prep schools do is fairly naive I'm afraid. The very few girls who have been offered places in recent years have been heavily tutored outside of school (which is fairly common across the prep schools too in fairness). The fact that fewer girls than previously accepted places at Year 7 is of concern to GDST, as is the competition from Trinity for 6th form places.

Mrs Leonard was also an acting Head of seniors and Juniors. She has already proved very popular. How would you know how concerned the GDST are? The seniors have had 3 girls return this year who left to go to other schools.