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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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Original poster

Esher college- any opinions please?

32 replies

Surreymummy78 · 08/06/2017 15:17

Hi, going to the open eve in July with my y10 daughter. She's considering sciences/ maths. Any opinions from current Esher College parents much appreciated.

OP posts:

titchy · 08/06/2017 16:04

Can thoroughly recommend! It is large though - 900 per year so might not suit quiet mouselike kids.

Original poster

Surreymummy78 · 08/06/2017 16:26

Hi Titchy. Thank you for your reply. Daughter definitely not mouselike, but would need good pastoral support I think, currently in a small cosy school. Do you know if the tutors know the students well? Thanks again.

OP posts:

remum · 09/06/2017 09:10

Hi, I can highly recommend it. My DD joined last September and has loved it. She also came from a much smaller school and has met some really lovely friends. It is big though! She is studying sciences, maths and the teaching has been fantastic. Tutors seem to get to know them very well and at parents evening really seemed to understand my DD. They are really strict on attendance and although they have much more freedom as a parent you are informed of any non-attendance and any work outstanding. HTH

OnGoldenPond · 11/06/2017 11:42

Hi Surreymummy, i will also be at the open evening with my y10 DS maybe will see you there!

Older DD got a place last year but in the end didn't take up place as went to specialist performing arts school. Would definitely have gone there if she had gone The A level route, though. She has quite a few friends who went there and are loving it.

Neighbours DD went there a couple of years ago and did art, loved it, the teaching was top notch and she had a great time socially.

It is very popular and with the lottery entry system there's no way to predict likelihood of getting a place, so make sure you have a backup option. Unless you qualify for a priority place from attending the specified local high schools.

Saying that, don't despair if you end up on waiting list, with such a large college there is a fair bit of movement. DD was initially about 15th place on wait list and was told she would pretty much definitely be offered a place. She got a firm offer after Easter when the meetings to discuss options had to be made to confirm acceptance of offers.

Localher0 · 02/07/2017 15:56

Hi - we're also attending the open evening and have heard good things about the college. Does anyone have experience of the learning support at Esher? My DS is dyspraxic and a designated laptop user. He gets extra time in exams. We have applied but apart from ticking the dyspraxia box we didn't have to provide any further info. Just wondered if anyone has experience of the pastoral care/support given?
Thanks

Original poster

Surreymummy78 · 05/07/2017 14:43

The open evening was a success. My daughter loved the college and is now fixed on going there, although still some debate over which subjects to opt for. It was very very busy so we have our fingers and toes crossed that she gets a place in the ballot , but she will definitely be applying in Sept. Does anyone know what proportion of applicants secure a place?

OP posts:

DancingHipposOnAcid · 12/10/2017 00:07

Hi Surrey, did your DD get a place in the ballot?

DS was really fortunate and got a place, hope it was good news for you.

single1 · 07/09/2019 02:50

I love their parental policy, talking to one parent only. This means that their father is completely excluded from all our offsprings education, brilliant. Sod all the ex-husbands. Well done Esher College. All single mums pile in!!

Southlondoner109 · 27/09/2019 18:46

We are considering this 6th form are there any current students or parents who can give me an update since 2017- thanks

surreyparent1 · 27/09/2019 21:52

If you are a divorced mum, then this place is great. They only talk to one parent, so that is the mum. Actually the kids also love it because at the end, all parents are written out of the equation ... total teenage freedom ... safeguarding does not exist at all and pupils can smoke what they like. If you complain when they are a 6 form college, then by the time the complaint is processed they are an academy ... backwards and forwards every year, the people like Dan the Man boast that they are gleefully above the law. Unaccountable. Is this what you want? Think. Surrey Parent.

Surreymummy1978 · 28/09/2019 09:26

Hi southlondoner109 I am the original poster on this thread ( i now dont seem to own the original user name?)
My daughter is now in her second year at Esher and I cannot fault the college. The teaching is good and the pastoral care has been fantastic. No regrets here.

To surreyparent1 and single1 (are you one and the same?) I am sorry you seem to be having some issues but my daughter and her friends dont smoke as far as i am aware and i am certain the college dont allow them to “smoke what they like”. Also, I may be wrong her but I believe that once a child reaches 16 ( which I presume your child is to be at college) they have the right to their own records and can choose which, if any parent has access to their personal data? This would also apply to any institution, school or college?

Southlondoner109 · 29/09/2019 14:11

Thanks Surreymummy(19)78- nice to get some balance. It does look like a decent college. I didn’t pay much heed to the last two reviews far to personalised and specific to be concerning.
I wasn’t really aware of the college until my daughter mentioned it as her friends are talking about it. We are about an hours travel so it wasn’t on our radar. Having looked into it I really like what I see, the fact the teachers will be A level specialists appeals to me.
Also the size, she has grown out of her 80/ year school which will be even smaller in 6th form. I think the size and being somewhere new will be a good stimulus for her.
Did your daughter go with friends from school, it’s like mine might be the only one or one a a couple from her school?

Southlondoner109 · 01/10/2019 17:11

Well she didn’t get in but is 11 on the reserve list - does anyone have any experience of if this list moves much ?? Thanks

OnGoldenPond · 02/10/2019 22:06

Three years ago my DD was initially 15th on the waiting list. The college advised her then that she was very likely to be offered a place.

She was offered a firm place around Easter when meetings were held to confirm places. There is usually quite a bit of movement at this time as you must attend this meeting to retain your place. With such a large intake there is a fair bit of movement.

OnGoldenPond · 03/10/2019 06:27

@Southlondoner109

Southlondoner109 · 03/10/2019 07:21

@OnGoldenPond
Thanks for update this sounds promising for her- one of her friends is in the 400s so it sounds like a large waiting list this year.
We will be positive, she thinks she will get in.
I wonder if the financial uncertainties over Brexit means more private school pupils applied?

OnGoldenPond · 03/10/2019 08:55

There has always been a lengthy waiting list as they know there will be a lot of movement as you can hold multiple offers for state sixth form. Private school parents often apply as a n insurance policy in case of difficulties but often stick with the private option so freeing up places around Easter which is the deadline for serving notice at the private school to leave at end of year 11.

My view is that being 11 on the waiting list means your DC is almost certain to get a place.

Hope all goes well. DD decided against in the end as she got a place at specialist performing arts school, but would definitely have gone if she had gone the A level route. DS is there now and we are very pleased with it.

Good luck

surreyparent1 · 26/11/2019 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Zocram · 18/12/2019 14:24

I am actually agreeing with Surreyparent1 on this on. I am unsure where Surreymummy1978 got ' … the college dont allow them to “smoke what they like”. ...' from but it is reminiscent of the tragic death of an Esher College` student in 2016 which at the time was presumed drugs-related (I lost track of the story and can be positive of this). What the college "allows" is often quite different from what actually happens.

OnGoldenPond · 20/12/2019 00:09

There's a lot more smoking of illicit substances amongst DS's friends who stayed on at sixth form at his old private school than among the friends he made at Esher. Anecdotal maybe but that's my two pennorth.

Zocram · 26/12/2019 14:59

Clearly OGP is right in that what is actually going on substance-wise will differ from school to school. My attitude is that you need completely involved adults and full parent-school co-operation to keep any budding misuse (or indeed other problems) off the agenda. That is where the "talk to only one parent" policy that EC enforces (as mentioned by surreyparent1) is wrong. And to Surreymummy1978, all parents have full legal right to access offspring's data until the age of 18. And that, again, is where EC is going wrong. I really can't see the benefit of this dodgy policy. Happy New Year, let's keep the young ones safe.

Pipandmum · 24/01/2020 07:21

I don't understand the ballot. On the website is says almost all open place applicants will be accepted. We do not currently live on the mainland and do not meet any of the guaranteed criteria. How do they decide or is it just pulling names out of a hat (so to speak)? How many applicants for each place? Do predicted grades count at all?

Vinobianco · 24/01/2020 08:05

They apparently offer to those in a certain address proximity first - have friends in Esher that got offered - then the ballot takes place which randomly selects people them the waiting list given numbers assumedly like ballot as with DS friends all in same locality half got offers and then test on waiting list with places in early hundreds to one being 500 !

Localher0 · 24/01/2020 10:02

The college is non selective and predicted grades have no influence on offers. The first set are guaranteed applicants identified by postcode or borough (if at school with no sixth form), siblings or children with parents at the college. This set used to have an early application process not sure if it still does....
The second set are open applicants - basically anyone not covered in the guaranteed places. Open applicants go into the pot for the ballot and those that are left are put on the waiting list. Yes this list is huge but there is a lot of movement - especially as the A levels get closer and usually around Easter when people have to pay up for first term if sixth form. Although I guess those that can afford it will still pay the fees knowing they may not take up the place after all 6k is less than 30k over 2 years. On results day there's loads of movement. So you could easily still get an offer - just make sure you're around for enrolment in case. If you miss that then you forfeit the place. The college knows that many people keep them "in reserve" so they must have a process to manage offers.

Southlondoner109 · 25/01/2020 13:47

@OnGoldenPond we got an offer the other week - thanks for the advice. You were right

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