Ashtead or Bookham?

[BlueMediterranean]

We are looking to buy a house in Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham or Ashtead area. We have a daughter (newborn) so schools are very important for us, specially because I'm a teacher and I value a lot good education.

We know that Ashtead has the best schools (St Peters and St Andrews) but the catchment area is quite expensive. Our budget is around 550.000

We saw an amazing house in Bookham but schools are not as good, not awful but not very nice.

Would you go to the nicer school in a worse area or all the way round?

There are several schools in bookham some more popular than others.

One is rated ofstead outstanding (not that i think that is the best way to judge a school).
One does have a “reputation” , essentially this is where the less well off tend to go so the snobby people don’t want their kids to go there. I know people who have kids there and they rave about the school.
My children go to a third school, it’s our closest, it’s a good school. The kids have a lot of fun, loads of opportunities, lots of events.

What are you basing your judgment of the schools on?

Unless your child is baptised catholic you’ll be unlikely to get a place at St Peter’s.

Just to add to your consideration - St Peters and St Andrews schools sit on a very busy road (at drop off/pick up time) and are next to the M25 junction. The area is very congested in the mornings and evenings, and the air pollution levels are high for the area.

Both areas are lovely to live in and are close to nature reserves.