Chertsey and surrounding areas

[ddas]

Hi not sure if this is the right section to post this- so please re-directed me is necessary!

We?re planning to move to surrey due to work reasons with a 1 year old ds and another baby on the way in December. Areas we?re looking at have been Weybridge, Walton, shepperton, Chertsey, addlestone etc?

We?ve only just started looking but seems to be that we would get a whole lot more for our money in Chertsey and although some of the areas don?t seem great others seems quite good which to be honest seems to be the case for all the areas there even in the more expensive Walton etc. We?ve seen a house we really like in Chertsey South on little green lane (house a min from meadowcroft infant/primary) but as not been looking long we?re a bit lost whether the area is ok, what schools are like (both state and private) so just wanted a bit of advice re these things from people who already live in the area.

Didn't realise there were so many MN'ers in this area!

I also didn't realise the scale of the shortages of school places for next year. Lucky my DS starts this September and not next.

Did anyone else get the bumf through the post today about the redevelopment of the Longcross site?

200 new homes and a 'small' primary school.
www.chobhamlane.info/

www.chobhamlane.info/

I only know that area vaguely. Interesting though.

Yes our Juniors is a named feeder school for the local secondary. DD is going there in Sept. I am not sure if DS1 will go there as well. I liked Woking High School a lot when I was looking for DD. However, we live outside the admission area and they didn't take any children outside the admission area this year.

Just attended a v interesting consultation meeting re Surrey schools in this area. Apparently the new plan will be for all infant schools to have a named feeder junior school... For those that this affects, it's worth keeping a v close eye on the website and local consultations.

All very well having a named feeder junior school, but that can only be achieved if the expand some of the primaries to have additional junior classes...

I think that's the plan anyway. i think it has to be a good thing.

HilaryM - would you be able to let me know any more details on the consultation you mention. Just been on the surrey schools consultation website and can't find anything obvious.

We are in Weybridge: DC1 at Oatlands reception year, DC2 still preschool. There is a big issue locally at the moment as junior school (Cleves, academy) trying to expand to full primary provision 4-11, and it isn't clear what would happen to the two local infant schools which would be left with no upwards feeder at 7+.

Cleves website keeps quoting a Surrey move towards full primary 4-11 only provision. Your comments on an alternative infant feeder strategy is interesting, and very relevant to our local situation at the moment.

Back to the OP, assuming the whole Cleves issue gets sorted out fairly painlessly, if the current infant & junior provision schools in our part of Weybridge remain, I'd really recommend the area - Oatlands Village, officially Weybridge but basically between Weybridge & Walton. About 10 minutes drive from Chertsey, further south east.

YHM frazzled

frazzledmum this is the document that states clearly that Surrey want most schools to be primaries.

www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/file/0007/309760/SOP-CH-1-5-May-2012.pdf (Section 3.12)

this has been a really interesting thread to read, so thanks all for your contributions. We are also movng to chertsey, and hoping our DD will get into meadowcroft in Sept... am looking for childcare for the summer hols, if anyone knows of a childminder who picks up from meadowcroft could you let me know?

on another topic, number 2 due early in Jan 2013 but not booked for delivery yet - any tips? apologies if i am hijacking the post but would be really grateful for any advice.

Another local here, sorry only just saw this thread, nothing to add but I wanted to sign in, in case the discussion continues.

FWIW, we moved house to escape the "Egham Hythe" train barriers and schools in that area.

You may be better off starting a new thread about hospitals on the pregnancy board MrsSBL

thanks for the tip. spot a mumsnet novice ;-)

Hi,

Hoping someone could give some advice...

we have recently moved down to the area from the NW and are looking to buy and with our eldest just turned three and will be starting in Sept 13 schools are top of our priority list.

We had originally been looking in Windsor, but with only one of us working we are right at the bottom end of affordability and have not had much luck! we have started looking at other areas and have been considering Englefield Green and Egham. What are these areas like for schools? is it going to be difficult to get in even if your in the catchment? is there much to do for families?

any local knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

thanks
2littlemonkeysmum

There is no catchment system in Surrey for infants/primaries. General admissions is children in care, children with SEN, sibling already at school, distance. Obviously faith schools will have their own criteria.

Virginia Water is expanding to 2 form entry and St Annes Junior 3 form entry to cater for Lyne & Longcross infants.

Generally speaking if you close to a school you should get in, just be sensible with your 3 choices - ie 3 nearest non-faith schools (unless you fulfill the faith criteria) you will get one of them.

Once you have narrowed down your area of choice then look more closely at the siblings situation etc.

Huge housing and business development at the old Dera site near Cobham & Egham could have an interesting knock on effect...

urgh not Cobham, Chobham - also joins up with Virginia Water type of area.

Thanks RandomMess!

Hi there everyone! We are moving from Bristol to Chertsey mid-August. I am looking to enrol my dd who is 7 into Stepgates community ps.....what are your thoughts? We are buying in Grove rd.....dh working in Staines. Also I wanted to know where people walk their doggies?? Thx for your help.

We choose to move to Chertsey because it's a lovely little gem, we arrived in June 2013 from Uxbridge, London, after exploring all the Thames valley area from Reading to New Malden, London. Initially we selected Weybridge/Walton on Thames, because are very green, posh, with a beautiful promenade along the river Thames, nice restaurants, nice shops, but when we discovered that just down the corner there was Chertsey and we realised that here you get much more for your money and properties have more character since it's a old historical town we started to look properties in this area. Here you can find lots of period properties with a decent size garden for a reasonable price. Schools/nurseries are very good some even outstanding, therefore there is no need for a private school which means saving money, people is very family orientated and friendly and there is a good community spirit, basically everyone know each other somehow. There are loads of parks, playgrounds and green areas if you have a child and a dog. In the high-street there are a couple of nice Italian cafee/deli, a Portuguese one and some English ones, and there is a lovely gym with sauna and swimming pool, the area is very safe with very low criminality. We are very happy here and we are settling down nicely, my son has already made some good friends. I feel that the only downside of Chertsey is the high-street, it's quite nice with some period buildings, however there isn't much a part 4-5 cafees, some charity shops, some hair dressers, nails shops, a dentist, some electrical shops and some banks. I reckon that some nicer shops would definitely attract more people and improve the area. Another downside is the train connection to Waterloo, if you want to get a fast train to London you need to change in Weybridge or Virginia Water as Chertsey to Waterloo takes ages, more than 1 hour. I guess this is the reason why prices are lower than Weybridge/Walton on Thames,if the train connection would be better this place would become very expensive. For us this is not a massive problem, Chertsey is near loads of places like Staines, Woking, Windsor, Kingston , Richmond, if you have a car you can reach those places in less than 20 minutes, obviously if you leave home before 8AM since the traffic become hectic after that time. If you property budget is below 450-500k and you are looking for a character property with big garden, good schools in a safe area and you work in the west end of London or in the Thames valley I definitely recommend Chertsey as a place to grow your family.