Moving to Oxshott

[abouttimetoo]

We are moving to Oxshott Surrey in time for our eldest daughter to start school Sept 14. We have been offered places at Danes Hill and Rowan Prep. We are having difficulty deciding between the two. Any advice from parents in the area much appreciated.

I would recommend Rowan, it is the 'sister' school to Guildford High School (fantastic) and Surbiton High School (Also a great secondary option).
It is a lovely cosy girls prep but great academics too.
Danes Hill, i have heard, is very posh and rich parents. Nice grounds, lots also go on to GHS. Co-ed so probably a very different atmosphere and 'bigger' feel to it.

I have friends whose kids go to DH and they are lovely, self-made people, not posh at all!

dalmation I've never hear that GHS offers preferential admittance to girls from any prep school ( except the junior school of course)? You may be right of course, but I've never heard it - and I know girls from Danes hill in both of my DDs' years so i dont think the GHS entrance would be a factor....

BeckAndCall thanks- I've just realised I phrased that all wrong!! It has been a long week (and it is only Wednesday oh dear) You are completely right, they do not give preferential admission to any girls except from their own junior school. What I said definitely made it sound like they do!

The fact they are in the same group (and when Rowan was added to the group it was specifically to build on the strong links with GHS and Surbiton High) will mean the school has the mentality that many will hopefully go on to GHS/SHS and there should be strong links with those schools in terms of staff training etc.
Rowan's leavers destinations Rowan joined United learning around 2009/10, and as you can see (while it already sent many girls to GHS) the numbers to GHS and SHS have increased.

Anyway, OP may not care about GHS as a senior destination or it may be way too early for her to know (and as you can see they send girls to many brilliant senior schools) but it just a point if you are interested.

Many thanks for your comments, I had heard that Rowan was part of the united church schools trust and so a "feeder" for GHS and SHS. I think our biggest dilemma though is basically the choice between a girls school route or co-ed. Both schools seem very good academically and very happy reports from parents at both. We have two DD's and part of me feels it might be really beneficial for them to mix with boys at school. But then the eldest is quite timid and shy so not sure if Danes Hill might be a bit intimidating for her. Where as the small family feel at Rowan could benefit her character........ultimately as any parent we just want them to have a good education but also be happy and enjoy their school years. Ho hum

Thanks dalmatians that's helpful statitistcs. And interesting too. And your phrasing was just fine - i didnt quite understand what you were saying.
For any one individual, of course, it shouldn't matter where they go to prep/junior school. And OP, Rowans wouldn't be a feeder school as such - they have links but there are no guarantees.

You ask about the co-ed / single sex question. It's a personal choice, of course, and we all make that decision for different reasons. If it helps to have reflections 'looking back' so to speak, my girls are late teens now and they went to co ed junior and single sex senior (obvs) and have an older brother. But their friends who are only children ( girl - obvs!) who went also to single sex juniors have turned out just as well adjusted, just as capable of talking to boys, no less or more boy mad! So there's no real pattern as to how they turn out vis their co ed or single sex schooling. So that wasn't really helpful to you at all was it!

I'm glad I didn't completely confuse you Beck!

I agree on the co-ed/single sex point. My DD was at GHS from age 4 and DS Lanesborough, then they remained single sex all the way through.
Both had boyfriend/girlfriend in sixth form and no issues mixing throughout. They mixed from an early age at sports clubs and other out of school things. I agree, as unhelpful as this is with your decision, it makes no difference whatsoever IMO.
It more depends on your child's personality. For a more quiet child, I would lean towards a single sex environment. Both my DC were fairly quiet and thrived in single sex (but obviously I have no idea if the same could be said for co-ed!).
We found in terms of friendships, there were far more girls for DD to choose from and find the ones that she 'clicks' with to be her friends than if she was at co-ed (obviously boy-girl friendships happen too though and I guess that is the positive of a co-ed).
Tricky decision!