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Original poster

Haywards Heath - prep and state schools

13 replies

arizonagirl · 16/09/2010 22:20

Hi all,

Having toured pretty much all around the south-east in search of where to move, we are now looking at Haywards Heath (don't ask Confused

Not having much joy finding good preps. Cumnor House looks great but is £5,000 a term later on - well past our budget.

Have just been reading reports on Great Walstead Prep and Handcross Prep - not bad but not exactly too thrilling.

I wondered if any mums out there had knowledge or these schools - good or bad - or any other advice on good preps in West Sussex (commutable to London).

Also, is Haywards Heath a nice place to move to? Thanks everyone - I am going round and round in CIRCLES!!

OP posts:
Haliborange · 16/09/2010 22:24

My nieces go to Great Walsted and they are very happy there. Everything I hear suggests it is a friendly place where children are encouraged to be kind. I don't know masses about it but have never heard anyone moan.

Perhaps you should go for a visit - that will tell you more than any reports.

Original poster
arizonagirl · 16/09/2010 22:27

Thanks Haliborange - encouraging post. Wondering how academic it is as ds is doing really well. Definitely worth further investigation - thank you!!

OP posts:
Haliborange · 16/09/2010 22:31

Well my oldest niece is very bright (I'm biased of course, but she had 2 professional parents with serious brains and work ethics so if she takes after them...) and while she probably isn't being hothoused she certainly seems to be learning.

Haliborange · 16/09/2010 22:32

*has (am tired)

Bellaby · 16/09/2010 22:49

Haywards Heath is a great place to live as are a lot of the villages around it.

I went to Great Walstead 22 years ago Grin

Original poster
arizonagirl · 16/09/2010 23:02

Thank you, thank you for replying. I am not having a good time at the moment. Wow, Bellaby - 22 years ago eh? Nice memories??

OP posts:
Bellaby · 16/09/2010 23:44

Arizona - was only there for 3 years but it's the school I have the fondest memories of and talk about most. My 2 older brothers were there from 7-13 before they went on to a school in Croydon. After 2 years I started at a school in Brighton

Great Walstead was so much fun. Facilities were amazing so we did so many activities - sports, music, walks every week, building camps in the woods in summer. It's not academically selective but when I was there you used to get given a weekly position in class so that used to motivate everyone (I always came 2nd to another boy!). My family were always very academic and it certainly didn't hold any of us back - my 2 older brothers went on to get academic scholarships at their next school and that was fairly common for a group of pupils every year

If it is still similar to when I was there then I wouldn't hesitate to send my kids there

Good Luck making your decisions

Original poster
arizonagirl · 17/09/2010 00:23

Bellaby - sounds lovely (a lot nicer than my school!) Thanks to your help and Haliborange I am going to try and arrange a visit for next week.

It will also give us chance to look at Haywards Heath which I know absolutely nothing about. Is it a nice place for children? Decent town centre? My husband is a little worried that it is too hemmed in with nowhere else to go. Sorry, not fair to keep asking you more questions. I guess I just need to go and see for myself. Thank you so much!

OP posts:
Haliborange · 17/09/2010 09:44

I think Haywards Heath is fine as commuter towns go. The shops are serviceable, there are places to eat out, a decent hospital and transport into London.

If you don't want to live in a biggish town you could try for Lindfield which is just down the road and has its own high street with more florists than anyone could possibly need and a nice community, I think.

You're surrounded by countryside so there is lots to do in terms of walks etc, and you can drive to the coast for days out. For kids there's the Bluebell Railway and Drusillas down that way, and there'll be lots of other things I know nothing about.

I live in London right now but if me and my DH commuted into Waterloo or London Bridge I would certainly consider moving out that way. I can think of worse places to live than Haywards Heath.

Original poster
arizonagirl · 17/09/2010 10:27

Thanks Haliborange. Just rung the school and am hoping to go and visit next week. The secretary said 54 new pupils have joined in September which is a good sign in these times.

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captainpig · 17/09/2010 13:41

Prep-wise there is also Summerhill & Tavistock and Ardingly College (I have no experience of either of these schools).

State-wise, there are some good state primaries in the area, and I think the secondaries are OK too. Certainly worth a look. However if you also have young children that will be starting reception, you will have to be in catchment, as the vast majority are very oversubscribed.

Original poster
arizonagirl · 17/09/2010 18:58

Thanks captainpig. Do you have any views of these schools in comparison to Great Walstead. Off to look around on Monday - see how it goes. Also read about Handcross Prep - don't know if anyone has any views?

Good news about good private schools Smile

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Liller73 · 21/04/2018 08:09

Cumnor House is indeed an incredible school....you must have a look.....many other lovely schools, but the only way to know is to visit!

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