Does anybody live in/know Reigate, Surrey?

[dinny]

If so, what's it like? Seems lovely and we want to move there! Thanks Dinny

Hello!

'Fraid I've had to change my name as I'm a semi-regular, and I really don't want to be 'recognised' for my other posts.

I've lived in Reigate for over 10 years and love it.
Agree with everything said so far.
I also have a child (boy) in Yr 1 at Holmesdale (hmmm...JandMsMum - do I know you.... are we talking Owls/ Badgers or Otters here? )

I also have another hopefully starting next Sept (06) and I'm afraid it does seem touch & go whether you would get a place unless you could apply with a definite address by 20th October (dealine I believe)

Think Holmesdale is a fantastic school - in fact the head of a private prep school told us he thought it was superior to his school and that they (the prep school) followed Holmesdale's curriculum etc! (needless to say we didn't put DS1 there!)

Do contact me if you move to Reigate (via contact another talker above) and we can show you around!!

LIZS -I think Orchards does have a good reputation now - but hasn't it merged with another school, and I think it is spread over two sites (or am I gettign confused?)

Not sure RM - my friend who lived in that area has moved away now so am out of touch.

Hi there, dont know anything good or bad about the Orchards!! ..(so no help there then!!), although I think it might be the junior section of Sandcross which was South Park! As Ghosty mentioned Sandcross's reputation has improved over the last couple of years ... re Brambletye, cant help on that one either!!!
Well hello there ReigateMum ... we are talking Badgers for DD .... do I know you??!!

JandMsMum - hmmmmm - 'Owls' here for DS1.....
you've got me thinking - will have to go home and scour my class lists (illicit digital photos of them taken when posted on the notice board... I don't do the school run very often, DH does it mostly, so I hate feeling out of touch with who's who and where in class terms....)

I bet JandMsMum does know you Reigate Mum ... she knows EVERYONE!

Oh Ghosty - you tease... nope actually I don't think we have met... I've narrowed it down to one of three girls beginning with 'M' and I don't think I know any of them!!

How is your DS enjoying Priory? It looks like a good school, but also seems so BIG for them at 7 !

Hummm, RM, contrary to my dear SIL I dont quite know everyone!!!!! .... but nearly!!! .... only joking.. although if DH does the school run mostly, I might not know you .. the dads tend to stick together!! ... go on .. give us another clue (do you know anyone in Badgers??) .. Re the Priory my DS thinks it is fantastic and has done since his first day! .. he was never worried about the size (and neither were his friends!) .. they seem to adapt really easily and the teachers do help to make it a smooth transition. I am happy to report (that so far!) .. I only have good things to say about the Priory. Oh a little note for you Ghosty ... Brambletye has been knocked down! .. and is now a development of houses (thought it didnt ring a bell!) ...
Hey there Dinny, any more questions we Reigate women can help you with??

JandMsMum - did you go to last week's Yr assembly.... DS was one fo the 'prayer readers' (proud parent moment....)

JandMsMum ... re. Brambletye ... was it really knocked down? It did have a good reputation IIRC?
We are so due for a chat and gossip aren't we???? I promise to call you at the weekend!

ReigateMum, I am very intrigued to know which prep school head thought Holmesdale was superior to his school ... not that I doubt him but it sounds like a very strange thing for any private school headteacher to say (bearing in mind that 'bums on seats' are his livelihood ) I can bet it wasn't the head of the school where I used to teach. I don't think there is a school on the planet that he would think is superior to his

Yep I was at the assembly last week, bless them!!! ... and I do remember the prayer readers (sort of) ... would you happen to know a child called Sophia?? ... or her Mum??? ....ohh, and to be honest I would also love to know which headmaster said that as well!!!
Ghosty, yep, Brambletye is no more, nice development though!!! ... I await your call this w/end, no kids though (at Grandma's) .. so not too early in the morning!!!!!!!!!

I'm curious too - wondering if it the same school which told us ours would be going to a better one too, when we turned places there down !

Dinny, have got some info for you and will try to post tomorrow.

Well i'm about 200m over the border in Redhill, and whoever said about some people not wanting to live in Redhill its true, however the borders are so arbitary it is a joke.
My DS goes to St Joseph's which is the catholic school. Can back up everything that has been said about Holmsdale and the Parish. We have a couple of friends who have recently started reception at Wray Common, they have a new head, and people I know there are happy.
There is still a school called Brambletye, it is a junior school and the feeder infant school is Earlswood.
In my opinion the comment about most schools round here being better than average in general terms is probably true.
Let me know if you want to know anything more about the area.

JandMsMum - oh yes - know the people you mention! (a little at least...) Anyway, I have sent you a message via Mumsnet, so I have revealed myself...
C'mon, I need more clues.

BTW the prep school I mentioned was R st.M , but the headmaster who made that comment has recently left!
Was this where you used to teach Ghosty?

Reigate mum that was what i'd guessed, friends DS has just started there, had to laugh when she started telling me what the crudite of the day was - he's 4 for heavens sake.

Hello GeogTeach - I'm undercover on this thread (too much personal detail!) but you know me (through MN) and I'm known for 'spotting you' on Reigate high street.

How are you, and how's your little one? Would be nice to do a Reigate meet-up, but I haven't felt drawn into the 'Redhill or Nearish' thread... to be honest.

Incidently, what does your friend think of R St M? We still haven't ruled it out for DS at 7 (Yr3) but it all seems a bit up in the air at the moment??

Hey a thread on Reigate!!!!

I live here and love it, am just about to have my first child and is nice to know some other Reigate/Redhill mums post on here!!!

I am also a teacher but not in Reigate although I do know about The Royal Alexandra and Albert junior school and Godstone school.

I would agree with most comments on here about Reigate although funny enough I haven't had much problem with traffic, the most serious problem I've had is using Safeway/Morrisons car park, which I now try to avoid at all costs!!!!!!

Message withdrawn

Yup, thought it would be R St M ! Previous head was really trying to push us into paying up front to reserve places years ahead (this was at the time before the merger with RG and when they needed funding for the development) but then, as of May this year, they could still have accommodated both our kids for this September's intake.

SO LIZS where did you decide to opt for in the end - I saw on the private schools thread that you've a child who's just started at one??

Hi Enthusia by the way!

Perhaps we should try another meet up if there are a few of us!?

ds's school is in a village a few miles the other side of Redhill .... don't really want to be too specific but I expect you'll know where I mean !

oh Daaaaarrrrrrhling! I know exactly where you mean!!

Have you had to update your wardrobe for the school run then???

(Just kidding - we were there very recently too - it's fab, but it's just the 'school run' distance which would put me off)

Wonder if I know you too.... hmm... will have to search you in the archives

. Doubtful, as have been "out of the area" for the past few years so not done the preschool stuff there since before ds was 3 and before dd was born !

Wow, we are turning into our own little Reigate club . Sorry about the mistake re Brambletye .. they must have moved the school rather than just knock it down!! ... I live very close to R S M and hear lots of good things, although also some interesting ones re the recent headships ... Lizs, pretty sure my kids swim at the very nice pool at your ds's school and if I am not mistaken, you will find it is where Ghosty (who has gone very quiet!!) used to teach!!!!!!! along with our other SIL, who is a teacher there!!!! ... R/gate is such a small world!