Moving to Surrey - best secondary schools

[APM1999]

Hi Mums... we will move to Surrey this summer and I need to find my daughters a good secondary school, preferably a state school. We’re expats at the moment and I do not know Surrey at all. I’ve been told that good secondary schools would be oversubscribed. We need to be around 30 mins driving distance from Leatherhead but other than that we are fairly flexible about location. We are happy to rent to begin with so I am thinking this could give us an advantage when it comes to schools. The idea is to find a school with places and then rent nearby and hope for the best!!! Do you think schools will be helpful? What would your advice be on school hunting? I have read other forums but mostly they were old. Any advice on good places to live would also be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

So things are more much more difficult than I thought it would be. No places, as predicted, are available at the schools we preferred. Council sounded very helpful but there’s not much they can do, other than putting us on waiting lists and finding some school for girls to attend. We will need to look at independent schools now as an alternative.

Yes we are planning to come earlier now. Howard has no places. Ashcombe is on the list!

There aren't any "bad" schools in the area though. So if they can find them places, even if one child may have to travel a bit, it may well be fine. You could appeal to get a preferred school but time is not on your side for your eldest. Did you try West Sussex and even Hampshire (ie. Petersfield) ? tbh there is unlikely to be much movement in y10/11. If you are relocating for work is the company offering any assistance?

Have you tried Cobham Free School? They definitely did have some places in that year group at the beginning of this year as I know someone who was considering one. It is a new school with no tried and tested GCSE results and year 10 the highest year at the mo. It is small though so there might not be much flexibility re GCSE options, but if you'd prefer to avoid those £ fees ...!

I know parents who are very happy with it and the teaching, although they are on a temporary site which hasn't been so popular.

Haven’t tried Cobham free school, I’ll look into it. First off we will contact Surrey council, filling in forms etc. I’ll also look into West Sussex, definitely. I just feel like jumping on a plane, coming to Sussex, hiring a car and going from one school to another!!! It’s hard being so far away!!! Husband’s company won’t help because my husband won’t ask for help!!! What can they do anyway? (Other than kindly paying for an independent school, which is out of the question!! )

LIZL thank you for your reassuring words!

Actually Cobham Free a good idea. Although state, so free, it isn't run by Surrey council so they might be flexible re admitting to a lower year.

Although the facilities are non existent being still at a temporary site (an old primary school so facilities not exactly suitable for GCSE...) and it is very small it might do the job.

They could pay for a consultant who would do the legwork for you , especially identifying schools worth visiting and narrowing a property search. Most of the secondary schools pp have listed are very large, is that what your dds are used to.

Don't rule out Therfield in Leatherhead. Both my children are there and it's a very supportive school with a good balance between getting the best out of students in academic terms and also giving them a well rounded experience. The Head is excellent, progress is very closely monitored and the pastoral care is very good. They do get in-year admissions and I'd trust them to work hard at supporting the transition.

It's not the "sought after" school locally and is a genuine comprehensive. Therefore at the moment it's under subscribed, which is in your favour. Headline results are about national average but that masks a wide spectrum and they cater well for the full range of ability. The are some very high achievers and they are well taught. My eldest is targeting top grades in all her GCSEs and I have every confidence they can get her there.

Also, options are chosen in year 9 and most GCSE courses start in year 10.

Manor House school in Bookham is open to out of age group and in year admissions and do IGCSE

Ashcombe replied with a very positive email from deputy head! Finally things are looking up. Another option is Therfield. We will definitely be moving earlier buy the sounds of it, so the girls can have the summer term in the UK. I’m feeling a bit more relaxed although did in year 10 will have some difficulty in catching up!

Ashcombe is well regarded and if your daughters like languages it offers a good choice with Spanish, French and German available for GCSE and A level. The sixth form also has a good reputation.

How about Hampshire?
Perins School is fantastic and Alresford is a beautiful and very friendly place to live.

Hampshire is a bit too far...
Latest situation is we’re still looking at moving so that girls can do summer term in the UK. I’m so happy to hear positive reviews about Ashcombe. Thank you!!

Have you looked at the league tables for Surrey?
www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=936&geographic=la&phase=secondary&for=secondary&datasetFilter=final

It is hard to find places in popular schools. With so many turning into academies now, I'm not sure whether you apply to the LEA or the school direct.

Also what might be a good school for a child of average ability and wide interests may not be a good school for a child with high ability or a SEN.

The league tables give an indication but can not be relied on. Eg. some schools only enter students for exams if they are likely to attain a particular grade or above. Some have higher grade requirements for sixth form entry than others. It is also worth looking at the range of subjects on offer at any school being considered.

It's true but the OP should be focused only on a school for the GCSEs. It may be that the same school is right for sixth form but just as easily the OP's DCs might move to a different sixth form and in that case being nearby is less relevant.
If the OP is concerned that her DC night not be permitted to do GCSEs, then she really needs to focusing on schools that do well with low ability intakes because it's relatively rare for a student to not be allowed to do GCSES. I wonder what% it is?

Hi all,
I'm moving to the UK for three years as a PhD student at King's. How optimistic should I be about getting spots for my kids in state schools: ages (12, girl) and (9, boy). We're moving from Los Angeles and I'm wondering what happens if they don't get a spot.
Thank you for listening,
Sarah.

@sarahsikandar
You might need to start a new thread, ideally with area where you plan to live in the title. The Local Authority has to offer places but they may not be close by or at higher demand schools. When do you move?

Definitely start a new thread, and include details like where you plan to live and when your children turn 13 and 10.

English academic years run from 1st September to 31st August.

So if your 12 year old turns 13 before August 31st you need a Y9 place, if they turned 12 since September 1st 2024 then you need a Y8 place.

Main transition is for beginning of Y7 so you will be looking for an in year admission (school with spaces).

Same for your 10 year old - they will either be going into Y6 (hopefully as that is when you apply for secondary), or if they have an August birthday they will be going into Y7 and you have missed the application rounds.