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Original poster

Help on prep school in Surrey please

32 replies

Aliceinwonderlan · 09/04/2018 09:02

Hello lovely people,
My DS is starting reception this September but we reached the country only two days ago and is based in Leatherhead. I prefer an academic school for my DS based on his abilities.

I wonder whether you could shed some light on best academic schools in Leatherhead or nearby (happy to drive 30 mins or so).

Some of my friends recommended Melbourne Lodge but I found out from their website they are taking admissions for 2019/2020 now, so I assume they are all booked up for this year. Any chance to get in?

Downsend also came up as recommendation, although under same management as to ML I doubt whether it's academic.

Any advice would be highly appreciated. thanks

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KingFlamingo · 22/04/2018 22:21

He said Cran is more academic than Lanes producing top 1 percent in the country
What does this mean?
I am a fan of Cranmore but it does sound the head did a pretty hard sell on you! I'd be weary of Heads saying things like they are more academic than a competitor. Also his comment on RGS - realistically, in the area, there are not any day schools more academic than RGS unless you head up to King's Wimbledon or Hampton which are comparable. I wouldn't be so hung up on long term 'academicness' as the options you are looking at are great and ultimately your DS will grow and change and end up at the right senior school for him. The same will be true if he goes to Cranmore or Lanesborough - both lead to many options.

Original poster
Aliceinwonderlan · 22/04/2018 23:45

Thanks kingflamingo - yes he did.
Distance wise Cran is closer than Lanes. So if both offers more or less the same, I would go for the closer one. But am still struggling 🤔

OP posts:
GuildfordMummy · 24/04/2018 20:41

Welcome to Surrey! It's definitely worth contacting the schools you're most interested in as they may be able to find a space given you're new to the area. Milbourne Lodge is well regarded and Shrewsbury Lodge may be worth a look too. Lanesborough is a very academic and caring school and is very highly regarded. Cranmore should be avoided at all costs - nasty from top down.

BugsyMal · 04/05/2018 12:05

Hi Aliceinwonderlan

This is the first time I have ever commented in MN but I really wanted to share my experience with you! I have twin boys in Notre Dame Cobham currently in Reception and I cannot rave about it enough. My boys joined in September 2017 as part of the first year having boys there so they are definitely a minority (6/16 in their class) but boy (!) are they trying to make the boys work - they have 1 class teacher and 2 classroom assistants for the class of 16 and have started weekly Football and Rugby in the mix of such a nurturing environment. And I really like the parents too which makes it such a great experience for us all!

We were very late in deciding on schools, and if we had been quicker off the mark we would have loved our boys to go to Feltonfleet but it is very hard to get into Reception - but I hope that they will go there at Yr 3.

I just wanted to share my experience as the boys are so new there, people don't always know that it is becoming co-ed in Years R-3 - and it is such a lovely school.

BugsyMal · 04/05/2018 12:09

Hi Aliceinwonderlan

This is the first time I have ever commented in MN but I really wanted to share my experience with you! I have twin boys in Notre Dame Cobham currently in Reception and I cannot rave about it enough. My boys joined in September 2017 as part of the first year having boys there so they are definitely a minority (6/16 in their class) but boy (!) are they trying to make the boys work - they have 1 class teacher and 2 classroom assistants for the class of 16 and have started weekly Football and Rugby in the mix of such a nurturing environment. And I really like the parents too which makes it such a great experience for us all!

We were very late in deciding on schools, and if we had been quicker off the mark we would have loved our boys to go to Feltonfleet but it is very hard to get into Reception - but I hope that they will go there at Yr 3.

I just wanted to share my experience as the boys are so new there, people don't always know that it is becoming co-ed in Years R-3 - and it is such a lovely school.

BugsyMal · 16/05/2018 20:04

I LOVED Feltonfleet but we were too late off the mark to get our children registered to start there for Nursery/reception.

I have twin boys who went to Notre Dame Nursery and then started there in Reception in Sept 2017. Notre Dame was a Girls school until last year when they introduced their Lower School to being Co-Ed and my boys were the start of the boys intake.

I cannot rave about it enough. It is THE most lovely school, the children and parents and teachers are so kind. There are 17 in their class, and they have 1 teacher and 2 classroom assistants.

They have embraced the boys are are dedicated to making it work having introduced Football and Rugby to the group. My boys are confident and doing really well there, we are so pleased.

I have recently joined Mumsnet really to spread the word as I don't think many people know that it has become Co-Ed for the Infant years, I promise I don't work for the marketing Department! We are hoping to send our boys to Feltonfleet for year 3...where actually I did work in my Gap Year and I also think that school is amazing and worth a look at!

CranmoreSchool · 22/06/2018 15:09

Cranmore is a great school and the Headmaster is not leaving.

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