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Original poster

Prep schools in Surrey

77 replies

dolly1 · 29/01/2008 12:04

We are currently living in London but planning to move to Surrey by time ds is two (he's due in Spring). Not sure where yet - prob Esher or Guildford or Weybrigde - net is very wide at the mo.
But I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of good prep schools in those areas please?
Happy to put name down at birth for four or five along with deposit and then confirm nearer the time when we have actually moved.
Just don't want to to miss the boat and find that by the time we get there they are full up. Not bothered about losing deposits.

Any suggestions? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Know all the schools in our area but no point putting name down with them.

We are thinking of Charterhouse for when he is older but that's a long way off yet.

Thanks in advance.

ps any nursery suggestions would be great too!

OP posts:
snorkle · 29/01/2008 12:28

Milbourne Lodge possibly. Old neighbour went there & then Eton & it's the right geographic area (Esher).

Original poster
dolly1 · 29/01/2008 12:40

Thanks for that. Was actually just looking at it on the tatler good schools guide. Will give them a call.
Any others?

OP posts:
Surr3ymummy · 29/01/2008 15:04

Hi, I'm near Charterhouse, and we're just starting to look at prep schools. Can't tell you how good they are, but you might want to consider:

Aldro, Shackleford (boys)
Barrow Hills, Witley (co-ed)
Barfield, Farnham (co-ed)
Lanesborough, Guildford (boys) Junior school for Royal Grammar School
Longacre - Shamley Green (co-ed)

mumblechum · 29/01/2008 15:22

My friend's daughter goes to one in Guildford called Tormead. She went to the prep and now goes to the secondary across the road.

Have always heard rave reviews of it, her dd seems v. happy, lots of extra curricular clubs etc. She's not madly academic but is made to feel valued (she's not a thicky, either!)

mumblechum · 29/01/2008 15:22

Ooops a daisy, just realised he's a boy and I've recommended a girls school

Original poster
dolly1 · 29/01/2008 15:49

thanks for replying.
Surr3ymummy what age is your child? Is it the same out there as it is in London - i.e. you have to get them registered at birth practically or you have no hope of getting a place? And what are the entry requirements and deposits like from what you've come across so far?
Would love to hear more about your experience if you don't mind telling me?
Thanks

OP posts:
Surr3ymummy · 29/01/2008 16:20

I think (hope!) the situation is better than London. Our DS is 16mths, and we are planning on visiting the schools and registering at probably 3 of them in the next couple of months. We are looking at entry at age 7 as we have v good infant school in village and money will be tight with 2 x DDs in Senior school.

Expect to pay a registration fee of £100 - that seems to be the norm around here.

DDs are 12 and 10 - and they were educated in the state system until end Year 6 (DD2 currently in Yr 6), partly because I couldn't afford private for them before, and partly because the state infant and junior schools round here are pretty good.

We moved DD1 from state secondary into private senior school within 6 weeks from start to finish at the end of last year. We registered DD2 at 2 senior schools on the last possible date (Nov 07), and have just received offers for both schools . Really very relieved as I did think we had left it way too late!

I don't yet know anything about entry requirements for prep - but I presume there will be entrance exams to assess abilities.

Surr3ymummy · 29/01/2008 16:24

One thing I would add is that there is quite a good selection of girls' schools around here - there seems to be much less choice for the boys, and the competition for places is therefore more fierce.

Certainly I understand Charterhouse close their lists usually 3 years before entrance. Also DD1's school have just advised their junior school that for Sept 2009 entrance to the Senior School they are limiting APPLICATIONS to 100, and to make sure they do not delay registration.

claricebeansmum · 29/01/2008 16:27

Claremont is in Esher

Original poster
dolly1 · 29/01/2008 17:00

Thanks Surr3ymummy. Sounds like Surrey is a bit more relaxed that London.
Also with us registering him from four I think we may need to be a wee bit speedier.
I'm pretty new to all this, what with it being my first baby, but it seems there is so much more to think about than just what colour to paint the nursery and what buggy to buy! Feel a bit mad planning that far ahead but know it will pay off in the long run.
My next thing is nurseries - maybe I should look at them before schools!
Thanks again for all your tips.

OP posts:
LIZS · 29/01/2008 17:08

Feltonfleet in Cobham ? We're in Surrey (none of those areas though) and had to register by 6 months for a guaranteed place. have a look at ISC search

ScienceTeacher · 29/01/2008 17:17

Over here in NW Surrey, we have Bishopsgate (where my boys used to go) and St John's Beaumont. Not too far away is St George's Junior School in Weybridge, Hoe Bridge and St Andrew's in Woking. I think they all have nurseries attached.

Original poster
dolly1 · 29/01/2008 17:20

Thanks ladies.
Can I just pick your brains in general about Surrey while I'm on here please?!
What areas would you say are the nicest? Don't want to be rural as I'm a city girl really. I like an afternoon Haselmere but I couldn't live in that 'country' a setting.
Really like Weybridge but the transport links aren't the best.
Where is just nice all round?
Sorry for diverting from the OP!

OP posts:
ReigateMum · 29/01/2008 17:26

What about East Surrey, rather than West?

Quite a few good prep schools near here in Reigate : The Hawthorns, Micklefield

and they feed into Reigate Grammar which has a good reputation (within top 100 independents iirc)

House prices may be a tad cheaper too?

dinny · 29/01/2008 17:27

Oxted is lovely, East Surrey though (right on Kent border)

35 mins into Victoria or London Bridge, nice market town, nice countryside around but not in the sticks...

ReigateMum · 29/01/2008 17:34

30 mins into London Victoria from Redhill.... seems closer/ more accessible than Guildford/ Weybridge etc?

ReigateMum · 29/01/2008 17:35

ooh x-posted dinny! Hello!

wilbur · 29/01/2008 17:38

My niece has just started at Cranleigh Prep and she is v happy there, much more so than at her previous slightly precious girls school. Cranleigh quite far out though, so perhaps a bit rural for what you are after. G'ford has a lot of good schools.

Surr3ymummy · 29/01/2008 23:11

Most places in Surrey are nice - I guess it depends what you're looking for. Would you prefer to live in a town - in which case Esher, Weybridge or Guildford are all nice - or would being in close proximity also work - in which case you could look at surrounding villages/towns.

Do you or your DH work in London, if so is access to good train service important?

whichwitch · 29/01/2008 23:25

I live in Surrey - If you are set on Charterhouse it may be worth checking with the local Prep schools which are known feeders -I believe that Aldro is certainly one locally although it does not start until year 3 (age 7) and so you would need to find a pre prep option. Are you planning to board - when I last spoke to Charterhose they had very few day boys (3 as I recall) and this would be a consideration for me if I was not looking for boarding (which I am not).

Loads of really good local girls schools much more limited choice for boys - Lanesborough (guildford), Cranmore (East Horsley), or further out mixed intake Barrow Hills (Witley), Cranleigh Prep. All take from reception - most (not sure about Cranmore) have a nursery/kindergarten facility.

arfishy · 29/01/2008 23:44

My best friend went to Claremont and her opinion of it is that it isn't wildly academic and that the fact that it was a Christian Scientist school was a pain. And the boys hated the pink blazers .

Her younger brother went to Feltonfleet and I heard it was excellent. He was bullied at Milbourne Lodge and moved.

paros · 29/01/2008 23:44

ST georges has gone down hill .

ScienceTeacher · 30/01/2008 06:02

What do you mean about St George's, paros?

Surr3ymummy · 30/01/2008 09:30

I agree with Whichwitch about Charterhouse - it is very much a "boarding" school, and I think Day Boys could feel quite excluded. DH was initially keen that we should plan to send DS there, but we wouldn't want to board him as we are so close. It is a lovely school though.

You should probably identify roughly where you want to live first, then find the prep/pre-prep school - chances are it will have a nursery attached - as many of them do.

kaz33 · 30/01/2008 09:37

We are in Guildford - it has the best of both worlds, great shops, two theatres, cinema, great sports centre, loads of other mums - you can walk everywhere if you are in central guildford and the most fablous countryside on your doorstep. I can walk to the centre of Guildford in less than ten minutes and onto the top of the downs in five minutes and then walk for miles in great countryside.

We are anti private education but the schools that my boys go to are brilliant (4-12) and are really private schools (because of the catchement) in all but name. Lots of kids are disapearing to Lanesborough at age 7 and no doubt the RGS at age 12.

The private schools for Guildford are lanesborough prep and the RGS (but both highly academic) - think a less able child would feel a bit disheartened.

If you want a bit less towny but still a town then Godalming is another good bet and Charterhouse is their local private school.