Best secondary schools in Surrey for boys (mixed or single ed.)

[realitychick]

Any Surrey mums here who are really happy with their sons' secondary schools? We're looking this year. My boys are academic, not team-sporty but have lots of other interests (music, drama, art, gymnastics, swimming etc.)

I want a school which has a real work hard, play hard ethic and places very high importance on behaviour (strong anti-bullying; not snobbish.) Don't care if it's comp, selective, private or public school, just want to find the best and see if my kids can aim for it. They wouldn't be happy with a school where you had to drive up in a certain car, or wear certain labels and I really wouldn't want them to go anywhere which makes them assume they are better than anyone else, but am looking for somewhere that fosters success through hard work, personal best and a positive attitude to life.

No idea where to start...

I love my sons state comp but unless you live in the catchment you have no chance of getting in, same for the one where I am working.

Royal grammar school guildford

does Croydon count as Surrey?? Know several people who are very happy with both Whitgift and Trinity

Thanks

Basildon - yes, Croydon is in Surrey but too far away. Annh I was hoping wondering if someone would say RGS - that's a school I like the look of. Off to see it on Saturday. Along with 1100 other hopeful parents!

Yes, we looked at it a few years ago, ended up not taking it any further but really, really liked it. In our case, we had a good state faith school option instead but otherwise we would definitely have been trying to get ds1 in there. There are some parents who contribute here who have sons there and who are very happy. Hopefully some of them will pop along to give a more informed opinion.

Where in Surrey do you live, reality?

Ooh that is very good news Annh. I only know one boy who goes there and he is lovely - but his whole family is so close to being perfect that I can't assume the whole lot of them turn out that way!

Hi MMe B - we're in Elmbridge, so there's a bewildering choice of private schools, and some very well reported state schools. Almost too much choice.

We've thought really hard about what we want our kids to gain in their secondary education and we want somewhere that has a big emphasis on academic work, but not at the expense of socialising/wider experience. Also not elitist but with a strong social responsibility ethic.

just keeping my place on this thread (2DSs, Runnymede)

if you are in Elmbridge, you are pretty close to St George's College, Weybridge (actually Addlestone).

My son is there, and is on open day duty this Saturday. It is a school for everyone, although selective for average and above performance on VR/NVR tests.

They do have fantastic sporting facilities, but also fantastic everything else. My son is not at all sporty but loves it and is really into drama (they have a theatre).

Wow. Everyone's having an open day the same day. It's City of London Freeman's too, but clashes with RGS as I think it's fairly formal, not drop-in. Think we'll try to look in at St George's too. I hadn't really thought about it much because it's RC and we're not, but it's great to have a recommendation. Good to know they have a strong drama dept. as one of my sons is very interested in this. Thanks MmeB

We're not RC either. It is a very inclusive school. They do have mass on high/holy days, but DS says very few of them go up for communion, so it's a lot less than half catholic.

One of the parts of their catholic ethos is that they are dedicated to service and charity.

LittleCheesy,

The state school provision in Runnymede is disappointing to say the least. Magna Carta, Jubilee, and Salesion (RC, slightly better than the other two).

But, for boys, there is not a huge choice of independent schools either - St George's in Addlestone, then further afield to Hampton (very selective), Licensed Victuallers, and Halliford (non-selective).

There might be some opportunity with neighbouring borough state schools based on the specialism (eg music at Thamesmead in Shepperton), or to travel to the grammar schools in Slough.

Thanks MmeBlueberry - if we knew then what we do now, I'm not sure we'd have moved here... but that's hindsight for you. Agree totally - disappointing. DS1 is young but is shaping up to be academic, so Slough grammar schools. Heathside on the science challenge, or most likely selective indie is probably what we'll do. DS2 still too young to tell. I hadn't up until now considered St George's but I saw something on another thread of yours re the proportion of RC students which surprised me.

I guess Reigate is too far but would thoroughly recommend RAAS - either boarding or day boarding.

Which is RAAS, lilac? Not heard of it.

Little Cheesy - thanks for the reminder about Heathside - I'd forgotten it. A neighbours's kids go there. They are lovely and talk so enthusiastically about their school work. Great advert for the place.

Just come back from RGS Guildford. Really liked it. liked the staff, pupils and facilities. It had a great atmosphere and ethos. Lots of the staff were quite quirky - real vocational teachers not by-the-book types. A wonderful school.

RAAS is royal alexandra and albert school I think

Royal Alexandra & Albert - you'd have to do boading; even we're too far away to get a day place (3 miles); it's very popular.

It's one of only two state boarding schools in Surrey.

DS1 is at RGS - and adores it. Actually I adore it too - brilliant staff, nice boys, academic but supportive atmosphere.

Thanks TNMD and LPW. Not sure I could bear to let them go to they'd suit boarding school, but might look at it.

Taught at RGS Guildford for ten years before going off to senior position in London. Outstanding school.