Thanks Auroborea. We did about 6 months ago and were impressed with the Prep layout but not the senior bit - maybe it was the facilities in places, e.g. outdoor swimming pool, boys woodwork area not great, etc. I do agree that it's in a wonderful setting. Last January when the snow came down, my DS was still in nursery in Dorking (I used to work there) and it took me 6 hours to get anywhere near Dorking because they had closed the Newlands Corner road so I had to go on the Leatherhead by-pass. I didn't get into Dorking until 10pm (he was the last to be picked up) and so put off by the commute (although if he gets really stuck, it does offer boarding from age 7). We've been to see Parkside, Downsend, Lanesborough (not senior bit) and Claremont Fan Court. Surprisingly Parkside suffererd from the M25 noise just as much as Downsend - you could see the M25 traffic clearly from both schools. Downsend (both the Leatherhead Lodge and the Main Site) really impressed me as the Main Site Headmaster knew every child's name, what instrument they studies, what exams they were doing, etc. He was down to earth and very easy to talk to. The Main Site has a real buzzy feel to it, lots of room to play around (children were playing cards on the outdoor tables, playing in the tennis courts, etc) and the Headmaster asked me to pick which classes to walk into. It had a lovely feel to it. The Main Site is really well organised into little communities (most senior, middle) and then the Junior has its own enclosed little communities for different age groups at Leatherhead Lodge. Leatherhead Lodge was lovely and teaches French from age 3 in addition to regular swimming, drama, PE, music, etc sessions, so there is something on every day of the week. Slight drawbacks to Leatherhead Lodge are: canteen very small and in the basement with one long but high window (there are two rooms). The other general drawbacks to both sites are: commute from Guildford (at least 25 mins) and the expense of school after care (£10 per day per session) + after school clubs (from age 7) which have charges in addition to the overall school fees; there is a school minibus from Green Deene which takes 20 mins and they do provide many weeks of holiday care. Whereas Parkside fees include the majority of after school clubs except for specialist external coach/tuition. Parkside is a much smaller community than its propectus suggests (photo makes the school look very large) - had less outdoor play equipment but large fields (as many as Downsend); to get to the swimming pool and sports areas there is a walk whereas in Downsend it was very near and the s/w pool in Downsend was part of the main building; at Leatherhead Lodge we were shown around by current parents who were using Leatherhead Lodge and the Main Site. S/w pool at Parkside looked a little forlorn but does the trick; canteen a little bare. There is no main Assembly Hall, just a room used in the main building. However, many of the classrooms were recently built in new blocks; 3 computer rooms, good artwork; didn't see any cooking facilities for children (there was a cookery room in Downsend) and a textile/art room but not many woodwork machines. Headmaster also down to earth, someone you could easily talk to but didn't show the same family familiarity as the Headmaster at Downsend. Downside - the long commute but the school is based in a leafy suburb. Parkside do lend their grounds to an external company called Baracudas which offer holiday care (8 weeks summer, some days/full week at Easter); after school care is until 5pm although the Headmaster has sent out a questionnaire to look at after school care until 6pm. Fees are the same as Downsend except that they include most after school clubs. Lanesborough Junior Site is compact but thriving - the most impressive part is that they teach cursive handwriting almost from Day 1. As the senior part is also quite compact, it is a very small community - two pitches, one astro pitch, etc so the boys would get to know each other well. Claremont Fan Court had beautiful grounds like Belmont and although the Junior section looks a little "porta cabin" it has its own small enclosed community with its own gymn that serves as Assembly Hall as well as canteen; staff very nice. However, the after school care is not great, i.e. very small building with one small room and one kitchen/breakfast area with table. We saw the Senior section and it has great art facilities (the only school to still do chemical photo printing as well as digital print; had a good cookery class and good sized teaching rooms although may be draughty in winter as apart from Music, Drama, Sciences, most lessons are taught in the Main Building. Only main drawback was that the Headmaster in his address as well as main staff looked like Accountants (we didn't get the sense that they would be sensitive). They also lend their grounds to "Camp Beaumont" which provides a wide range of sporty holiday care. We will continue to visit another two schools and let you know what we find. We'll have to make up our minds soon though.