Horsham - Which Secondary School to choose?

[HayzE75]

Hello Everyone,
We have 2 girls that are currently educated privately (as we didn't get a local primary school place offer), and are looking at moving towards Horsham - which looks wonderful.

Although we need a state secondary and state primary school our focus is on the secondary at the moment. We are lucky in that we can chose where to live based on the schools.

Does anyone have experience (beyond the ofsted reports) of Tanbridge, Weald School or Millais? I would love any feedback please. Based on what we decide will be a driver in where we end up living!!! (no pressure).

We are Catholic so I guess also have the option of St Pauls in Burgess Hill but I was less keen on that side pf Sussex (even though it is still lovely).

Thank you so very much in advance for any help you can give me - I have lived around this area for most of my life so find the whole move rather scary
x

I work at The Weald.

I would recommend any three of these secondary schools. I believe all three are in the top 10 % of comps in the country.

my advice is to go and visit each one to see what you like about them. As they are all good, it is personal preference that will affect your final decision. For instance, The Weald is the only one with a sixth form however, Millias is an all girls environment.

(if it helps, I work at the Weald and will happily be sending my own kids there in time. I consider us to be very lucky living in the catchment of an excellent school like this one)

Thanks for your response. I am amazed at how good the schools are in Horsham. It is clearly a nice area. I have been really worried about moving my eldest (just about to go into year 5) but we need to do it sooner rather than later so she has one clear year to make friends before secondary.

I will definitely take your advice and visit the schools with my daughter. She has been in an all girls environment since she was 4 and with no brothers a mixed school might not be a bad idea (or a bit of a shock!). In fact the school she is in at the moment has a secondary school attached which is getting a bit of a reputation for bullying in the early years (7-9)- not sure if that is because it is a single sex school as have no experience of secondaries at all.

Thanks again MigratingCoconuts. I really appreciate your response.

x

It will definitely affect where you move to as all three schools are fairly sort after. if you want Tanbridge look at the southwater or broadbridge Heath area. if you want The Weald, look at Billingshurst, Rudgwick, Pulborogh or Whisperer Green. if you want Mallais, then you need to be situated more within Horsham itself.

there are no outright bad primaries either and most and good to outstanding. if you want private for primary then take a look at Penthorpe or Farlington school for girls.

Good luck! Moving is hell but this part of it should be easier than for many other areas!!

Thank you so much.

I think we will go down the state route for primary as well. We live in what has been a black spot for primaries - our closest primary is .4 miles away and we were 17th on the waiting list!!! The catchment was 0.2 miles. Unfortunately the council realised and added on an extra form - not good for us though as it was after our daughters year.

We bought this house before kids so didn't think to look at the catchment areas with a school so close. We'll definitely make sure we are not caught again.

Thanks also for the suggestions of areas - we will take a look at those based on he schools x