Independent co-ed day schools within an hour of London

[Chinagirl747]

I grew up in London but have lived abroad for the last 15 years. I am looking to come back the UK next year with my three children aged 7,5 and 2. I want to have easy access to Chiswick due to elderly relatives however I am not sure I want to bring my children up in London and am craving a slightly more rural life for them. The schools outside of London also seem to offer so much better facilities and less of that hothouse competitive feel. We have been looking in Hampshire and Surrey but my husband also needs access to the city. I want my children to go to co-ed independent day schools. Therefore we need an area with both primary and secondary day options. Does anyone have any ideas of the schools we should look at? I am so blind and no idea where to start. Financially we are in a good position so the school/area does not need to be affordable. Thank you for your help.

Haslemere is a very popular commuter town in Surrey - 50mins into Waterloo - beautiful, rural but still with a Waitrose, M&S and Costa! Great independent schools - The Royal School (daycare to A levels), St Edmunds (nursery to GCSEs) and Amesbury (nursery to 13). Pretty much on the A3 as well so a fast drive into town at the weekends.

Thank you so much Pinklady yes am keen on Haslemere and the school Highfield and Brookham is nearby.

Hello OP

Have you considered Forest? It’s in E17 so would work if you are living east of London.

www.forest.org.uk

Alternatively you could look at Highgate. This is in London but quite far out of the Centre.

Would you consider an international school? Both ACS Hillingdon and Dwight School are right on the west / north edge of London.

Or you could look at Belmont Mill Hill.

Berkhampsted school and town. Only 30 mins into Euston so not bad for city. Of course depends how far from the station you live in Berkhampstead.
St Edmunds Ware and Ware if you don’t mind Catholic train goes into Liverpool st so good for city.
Mill Hill foundation schools as mentioned above (still London but quite fas out,
Aldenham School. Radlett St Pancras not bad 1/2 hour or so

Didn’t add. Aldenham has a prep. All mentioned can go all the way through

Would you consider Sevenoaks? There are lots of co ed independent schools there (including Sevenoaks School) and it is a fairly easy commute into London. Not cheap though.

This might be helpful.

St. Edmund’s in Hindhead. Fast trains to Waterloo from Haslemere, but some parents commute from Godlaming (to London and to the school!)

Thanks everyone very helpful. Kent sadly difficult to access relatives in Chiswick. Will look at Berkhamstead. Haslemere looks lovely but worried but too rural. Will investigate godalming too.

Haileybury in Hereford?