Sixth forms and colleges around the Sanderstead and Riddlesdown area, opinions?

[user1500321825]

Hi all,

My DD will be looking at sixth forms and colleges next September for entry in 2018. She is currently in Warlingham School but we all want to look around again. Currently we will be going to see Warlingham, Riddlesdown and Royal Alexander And Albert sixth forms as well as Reigate College.

We cannot afford private so that is out of the question!

Does anyone have experience at any of these sixth forms and colleges or is there any others we have missed out on? We are based in Sanderstead.

Thanks in advance.

What about Oxted by train or Wallington Girls? Dd is at Warlingham too (Year 8) and we are thinking Warlingham for Sixth form at the moment although will probably check out the other options anyway.

We hadn't thought of Oxted but it isn't that far in comparison to RAAS and Reigate, definitely one to consider.

Dd tried the test for Wallington girls but we didn't like the school overall and so she only did the test half heartedly for experience in exam conditions. Do you know where I could find practice/past papers as I'm assuming she will have to sit a test?

We like Warlingham but I think dd has really gone off the school now due to some teachers there.

If she's willing to commute into London then take a look at Harris Westminster School and Kings Maths School (students at the latter only study Maths FM, Physics and either Econ or Comp Sci A-Levels)

My DC is at Kings Maths School and some of the students commute in from quite some distance (Slough, Sussex, Essex)

Different sixth forms and colleges have strengths in different subjects. I didn't personally like Reigate even though it is a fab college and lots of friends say it has been great for their DC - but as my DS wants to do a Btec it wasn't the right place. Reigate really seemed to treat Btec students as second rate, and the course leader was uninspiring. We looked at Riddlesdown but it didn't have the same feeling of independence that the colleges have, and DS quickly decided that he didn't want a school sixth form. Instead his options are Coulsdon College and East Surrey - not as good reputationally as Reigate but much more impressive for his chosen subjects in real life.

Re Wallington I'm not sure about entry requirements for Sixth form. I went there myself and it was 4 grades A - C for internal candidates and 7 A- C for external back then. I'm sure they require a bit more than that nowadays! We are outside the catchments for it so didn't bother applying for year 7. Dd is happy at Warlingham so far. Fingers crossed that continues!

Dd wants to do biology, chemistry and maths as a levels. She wants to follow a career in veterinary medicine. This makes kings mathematics school not workable sadly, although it looks like an amazing school. Additionally, I don't think she would be able to wake up and get to London everyday! Reigate I think will already be too far for her.

Does anyone know anyone that goes to RAAS? There's posts on this site but they're all quite a few years old, just wondering whether there is any new views on it?