Dorking primary schools

[Offtosurrey]

Hi - I posted this on the Surrey local site but hoping someone here might be able to help.
We are moving to Dorking from SW London - possibly at Christmas but all dependent on progress of house sale and purchase. I would really appreciate some thoughts about Dorking primaries please.
Our nearest schools are likely to be St Martins and St Paul's. I have read the reports and will be visiting both soon but there is nothing like parents' feedback. I know that St Martins had a bad Ofsted but it's difficult to put that in perspective from afar with no local knowledge.
We will be looking for a Y2 in-year application for DD and will be applying for a reception place for DS for 2014. I know both primaries are full so am unsure what will be offered for my DD.
We will also need 2 terms of nursery for DS so any feedback on the nurseries would also be great. He is loving his current nursery that is attached to DD school so moving will be a big change for him - and us all...!
Any thoughts or advice hugely appreciated - thank you!

Hi offtosurrey. I have just namechanged to my other self in which I don't mind if I'm recognised!

I live in Westcott, just outside Dorking. I have 2 girls at Surrey Hills school in Westcott - very happy with it. It used to just go up to the end of year 3, so my older boys had to move to schools in Dorking. We chose St Martins. The head is wonderful. Enthusiastic, lovely - just brilliant. A few years ago she became head of St Johns school, which was struggling, at the same time as being head of St Martins....a step too far perhaps. St Martins had a bad ofsted and she went back to just being head of that school. I am sure she will turn it around. My ds2 had just left when they got the bad report.

I didn't like St Pauls. IMO it is preoccupied with league tables and results. There are a few children at Surrey Hills who have come from St Pauls. They didn't like the atmosphere there. Of course plenty of people are happy with it.

There is also Powell Corderoy - don't know too much about it - and St Josephs - catholic school and usually full.

There are quite a few children from Dorking at Surrey Hills, so it might be worth a look. There are mixed year groups though so if you have an issue with that (I don't!) then it might not be for you. There is an open day on November 5th....I think.

If I can answer any other questions, just ask!

I have 2 DC's at a Dorking primary - not the 2 you mention but I know them well. St Paul's has a great reputation (top 100 primary) and I've heard they are great if your child is struggling they can really get them through. Excellent at sports too. Don't be put off by the Ofsted of St Martins, the criticism was mainly of the junior school & the infants fared better. They have dramatically improved & have put measures in place.

All in all I would visit both schools & see how you feel. Despite its reputation, I felt St Paul's was a bit big and we favoured a smaller school, but that's more to do with our DC's.

As for nurseries, they are all pretty good. We went down the private nursery route & my experience of that is very positive. Other nurseries are Butterhill, St Paul's & Pixham.

Hope that helps at all? Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you both for your helpful comments. We are due to visit both schools on their open days in a couple of weeks so will be good to see them properly. It may all be slightly moot anyway, at least for the remainder of this school year, if nobody leaves Y2 at Christmas! Westcott I will look at Surrey Hills too - thanks for that suggestion.
Now all we need is for the move to progress and actually be in a position to accept a place somewhere if one opens up...
Thanks again for taking the time to post .