Been told we may be retuning to UK from overseas after many years and despartately need advice to figure out schools

[timeforsomethingnew]

Have also posted this in living overseas, but think this board may also help me.

We have been told that we will possibly return to UK later this year and desperately need advice. Office would be based around Croydon/Carsholton kind of area.

After living in cities since we left UK, DH and I reckon we are best suited to city or at least town life. Being out in sticks probably not for us.

We need schools for 2 kids - DD currently finishing Y7 and DS currently finishing Y3. I am most worried about DD as she is so happy in her current very large coed school with good set of friends and involved in lots of aspects of school life. She has really found her niche this year and at 13 it might not be a great time to move her.

So here are the questions -

We would most likely choose independent schools - what are our chances of getting DD into Y8 possibly for Spring term next year? We have friends getting kids into boarding schools right now and they have already done exams and been offered places for Y9, so how does it work for us if we are looking for a place in 6 months for Y8?

What schools do you know of or recommend in Surrey area for a currently averagely academic but hardworking and sporty girl. Are any schools particularly known for sport - particularly hockey? As we might move again in 3 or 4 years, any possible day/boarding options so that if we did move later she might be able to switch to boarding for last couple of years.

What resources should I use to search for schools? Good schools guide or other? Been searching on line this weekend and making no progress, so will order something.

What areas should we consider for living in - good towns/suburbs within 30 minutes to 45 minutes of that kind of area - Croydon/Carsholton/Sutton kind of area.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

We have just moved from Banstead where my daughter attended Greenacre school. It's a small girls independent (about 40 in her Y8 group) and she really loved it. No bitchiness or 'cliques' she played hockey at least twice a week. I'm not sure how your daughter would feel going to somewhere quite small though?

Thanks Billcomptonstrousers. I don't know how she'd feel about that either! Her current school has 150 in her year group and she loves it! Thanks for the recommendation. I'm off to do a search and look at it (and also see where Banstead is!) I definitely fear the bitchiness and cliques, so getting a school with the right ethos and support will be v important for me.

Year 8 entry is non standard. Most independents take a larger proportion at 11+(Year 7) than 13+ (Year 9) unless they are predominantly boarding or only start at 13+, girls more so at 11+. You'll need to ring each for an idea of whether they could accommodate your dd and what entrance criteria may apply. Are you hoping for girls' or mixed ? For girls - Sutton, Croydon High or Old Palace, not boarding though, whereas Woldingham is (£££) ?

Thanks LIZS. Not sure about girls or mixed ... will definitely consider both. The sports opportunities would be more important that girls or mixed I think. Once we come down to short list and take DD to see schools, would probably try to gauge her feelings about it. She's only ever been educated in coed schools. Thanks for the recommendations. Off to take a look.

Caterham, maybe?

If cost isn't an issue then I would look at ACS in Cobham, its not selective and used to international students.
Worth Abbey has also been praised to me, as has Box Hill.

No curriculum girls' hockey at Caterham. How far from your specified area would you go ? St Catherine's Bramley ?

Thanks for all the input. Curriculum hockey (plus probably extra curricula hockey) a must I would say. Out of interest, do most schools only play hockey one term in a year? Think that's what my school did back in the day ....

Will check out the ones you mention. Not sure how far from our specified area we'd go. We could chose where we live to be closer to the school and we could have longer commute. So wouldn't rule anywhere out at this point.

Thought st cats was one of the super selectives?

What do you mean ? It is an independent so sets its own entrance criteria, not heard it is especially academically selective. might help . Brighton College may be a possibility if you can go that far from London.

You need to email/phone registrars about the liklihood of occasional places. Lots of good schools near Croydon. Obvious ones, as LIZS suggests, are Sutton, Croydon High or Old Palace. If you are the London side of Croydon you might also be able to consider the Dulwich schools, or other GDST schools such as Sutton High, or even Wimbledon High if you are close to the tram. .

Mixed in the independent sector is more of a problem. Places can come up at Alleyns which is fab for a sporty girl who would like a busy school.

Royal Russell has a reputation for the slightly less academic but is mixed and goes all the way through.

Read the Good Schools Guide and also discover TfLs journey planner. Being near a good railway, tube or tram line can make all the difference.

In terms of hockey, school sport will only take you so far. If your daughter is keen she should join a Club. I dont know much about SE London, but Wimbledon and Surbiton have strong clubs.

Hmm. Mid year intake, Yr8, possibility of boarding, and hockey in South London/Surrey.

A lot of the independent schools have coach networks as well as public transport networks, so you potentially could cover a wide area. There is a significant difference between Carshalton and Croydon in terms of transport connections (Croydon being very well served, and it is a doddle to get down to Brighton for example), so it may be worth getting certainty on that.

"Averagely academic" doesn't necessarily mean an awful lot unfortunately. Any CAT scores or anything for comparison? If her peers have done pretests for Year 9 entry, does that give you a gauge as to where she might fit?

The current Year 7 is a high birth year, so whilst there may be schools with spaces, many are full.

Boarding: in terms of girls schools with boarding, I suspect Woldingham is the only choice in the area. For Co-ed then Caterham and Royal Russell, and a bit further afield City of London Freeman School (the latter does hockey). FWIW, whilst hockey may not be one of the curriculum sports, I suspect that a sporty girl would find her place in either Caterham or RR. All 3 schools have a prep department so ds would also be covered. There are parents of both Caterham and RR on the boards so you can get specific queries answered. I know that Caterham are looking at taking in a couple of children into Year 8 in September, but I haven't come across any midyear admissions. The schools admit in Year 9 as well without the need to have registered 2 years ahead.

In terms of day schools, I guess the academic standard becomes more key. Reigate Grammar and Kingston Grammar (both independents) play hockey I believe, as do Alleyns and JAGS in Dulwich. I think some of the GDST schools play hockey, but not as seriously as they play netball. I'd echo the need to look at hockey clubs as well as school coaching, as for most of these schools the A team players are also club players.

Which languages has dd studied?

At a worst case, dd could homeschool or try a prep for 2 terms ahead of Year 9 entry which opens up more schools with boarding such as St Johns, Box Hill, Epsom College etc.

Thanks everyone for the very helpful comments. Lots for me to consider.

I really don't know where she stands academically. The international school she is at today don't do any of the same assessments as UK which makes it tricky - they have done lots of tests and work through the year and she's always done better than average. But she's not a strong reader . Think a school with high standards which would expect a lot of her and give her support would be ideal rather than one that is very academic and highly selective. The schools she's at now is not selective.

Thanks for tips on hockey. She plays club hockey currently as well as school, so good to know that's the way to go. That will be something I'll need to look into. Just know that if I took her to a school where she was no hockey, she'd not be too keen. If we make a move the sport will make a big difference to her.

I think Surbiton High is meant to be great for sporty girls.

Sorry, not much advice as my two are much younger!