Belle Farm & Hersham

[mummypixette]

hi, I've come on here desperate for some advice regarding schools. I have to move to Weybridge (for work) but there are no schools at all!!! They are all full. My little girl is starting year 3. I have been given a list of schools can you please let me know if they are ok and if the area is ok to live in. I need to find a house as close to one of these schools as possible. The list will change with time too. Its a nightmare . We are not religious either and have been given mostly religious schools!
What is Belle Farm like and what is the area like in Hersham?
Cobham St Andrews Church of England,
East Molesey - St Lawrence Church of England
Esher - Cranmere Primary school
dvice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so stuck.... thank you so much

Are you able to go and visit? That gives you a better idea of the ethos of the schools and if you look at the Ofsted reports in conjunction with that, you may find one or more you think are suitable.

Do ham and Esher are hugely expensive areas and I imagine many of the families in those areas will educate their children privately.

Hersham is the less expensive end of Walton on Thames - but still expensive, as is East Molesey.

thanks so much for your reply. Atm I don't have much choice at all. All the schools are full. Atm the one in hersham looks like my only option :( its a question of which one has space! and then moving to the school. I'll be renting only. Belle Farm has a good ofsted report which will do me fine. I just don't know what hersham is like to live in. is it ok?

It’s OK, but not as prestigious as Walton or Weybridge. Mind you, it’s a while since I was there and it may be very different now. DH was brought up in Walton and his family had a business in Hersham.

I think you’re probably right in that you have Hobson’s choice regarding schools. Give it a go. If you’re renting, you aren’t committed to an area long term. If you’re commuting into Weybridge, I should imagine the traffic will be pretty awful. At least, it always used to be, though, as I say, things may have changed. Good luck.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools?for=primary

You can get more info on the schools there.

I think Hersham is popular with families priced out of Kingston and Surbiton. I don't know that Walton is meant to be prestigious but it has got a sizeable town centre with plenty of budget shops too.
Esher is prime land of supermansions. The centre has a dual carriageway with a few shops and restaurants along it (pricier stuff).
Cobham, again, prime mansion land. Smaller centre with pricier shops/restaurants.
East Molesey is probably more along the lines of a more typical family area (not cheap, though) and it's zone 6 on the London Travelcard.

I don't think you can go too wrong but if you're more moderate income, I'd probably have a look around East Molesey, Hersham or possibly Walton.

Hersham is nice. The centre had a villagey feel. It has a Waitrose, a Lidl, a Costa, and some independent shops. There is a weekly indoor market selling home made and home grown goods. There are lovely roads and some not so nice, same as everywhere. There are more and more young families moving there.

Bell Farm is not in the centre. It's half way between Hersham and Walton. It a nice school. I hear good things about it.

East Molesey is very expensive by the way. West Molesey is more affordable.

Hersham is nice: cheaper than the expensive surrounding areas of Weybridge/Esher/Cobham, but a lovely little centre and a more village-y feel. Lived there for a number of years when my two were younger and it is a great place for young families imo. Bell Farm is locally less well regarded vs very popular Burhill School (in Hersham village centre) but has a very inclusive ethos. One of mine went there for a year or so, and I was very impressed with the teaching and approach. The catchment is traditionally more challenging than Burhill, but my sense is that is changing. I don't know any of the other schools, but as others have said, Cobham and Esher are both very affluent. I would say - if there are other schools locally you like the look of, I'd keep your name on the waiting lists - by Y3 I'd expect relatively few people on the waiting list/potential for an in-year swap (Burhill and Cleves probably have the strongest reputations locally I'd say: although Ashley in Walton also well regarded, but church attendance is a criteria)

Hersham is much better than it was - waitrose always a bonus! There is a really cool crazy golf nearby, piglets play centre is nice. Also, there is a green with a playground on in the centre of Hersham which is nice. Lots of useful shops - waitrose, pharmacy, costa, Lidl etc. no clothes shops of anything, you go to Walton for that. But Hersham has definitely improved! Would rather live in Hersham than Walton I think to be honest if weybridge isn’t an option. Walton has loads of shops and cinema but some roads a bit less nice

OP, im familiar with Cranmere in Esher. It's a good school in a mixed area. There is rental housing near by and it's not too far from Weybridge. PM me if you want more details.
St Lawrence is in the most affluent area and meant to be a good school, it's a lovely area to live in.