Ideas for prep schools in SW London or Surrey

[JoJoSM2]

We’ve been looking for a school for DS and whist the local options are pretty varied and good, we aren’t 100% in love with any.

Perhaps someone could point us in the direction of schools worth exploring.

Our criteria:
-located in SW London or Surrey with a decent commute into central London (max 40mins on the train into a London terminal)
-coed, going up to 13 and a good proportion of day pupils
-lovely, spacious grounds with fab facilities and lots of greenery
-strong co-curricular provision
-we’re atheists so nowhere (too) religious

It needn’t be very academic but if mixed ability then able to support a bright child too. We don’t need a feeder for anywhere in particular either.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated

Feltonfleet seems to tick most of these boxes. No personal experience but I know several parents who are delighted with it.

Hi @JoJoSM2 I've been treading your path for a while now trying to decide on preps in those areas and by extension, where to live when we moved from London or indeed, whether to just stay put in London. Upshot is, I'd say Lambrook ticks all your boxes except it may be another 10 mins on your max commute. Also agree Feltonfleet. There were lots of Feltonfleet kids commuting from Putney when we lived there. Some daily and some boarding Mon- Thurs.

If you were willing to look at single sex, you'll open up the choices enormously as there are lots of lovely boys' preps in your proposed radius. Many have daily buses from SW London.

Thank you very much! I’ve just had a quick look at the websites and Feltonfleet and Lambrook are spot on so will explore further.

Not keen on single sex or DS commuting more than 15mins so would consider moving for somewhere perfect.

Have a a look at schools in Haslemere, Hindhead, Liphook -45/50 minutes in to Waterloo. Options for schools to 13 Amesbury, St Edmunds and Highfield. Also Churchers Junior School in Liphook feeds into senior in Petersfield at 11 (main intake) or 13+. Children from Haslemere also travel to Guildford, Petersfield, Petworth daily to access senior schools.

In Godalming there’s Aldo or but commutable by train from Guildford/Godalming there’ Cranleigh School.

Bishopsgate in Englefield Green matches all your criteria, on paper; though I don't know much about the "It needn’t be very academic but if mixed ability then able to support a bright child too." They do not sell themselves on academics, compared to St John's Beaumont around the corner (boys, catholic), or Staines Prep (goes to 11 only) but match your criteria better.

st andrews in woking?

Really like the look of Highfield (possibly too much commute for DH, though), Bishopsgate and St Andrews.

Dh and I have just spent time going over the areas, DH's commute and the house prices in the different areas. Everywhere's more expensive than our cheap patch of London and DH's commute would be a bit more difficult + no cycling to work I wish it was a little easier!

Hmm. Well there are great coeds in London too. Where are you?

We're in Sutton. Quite like Banstead Prep but it only goes up to 11 and I wasn't too keen on the nursery bit. We were impressed with Royal Russell Juniors but it'd be up to 30min drive in rush hour and worried DS might want to stay for the senior school but we'd like to send him somewhere that is strong at rugby and rowing. Not keen on Aberdour. Downesend seems a bit too far. Our nearest is Homefield Prep but it's boys only, very hot-housey and uses facilities off-site (all walkable or max 5min drive, though).
We're also worried about future accessibility of senior schools if we move out. Currently, over 20 are a single bus/train away so an amazing selection whichever way DS turns out. We could consider boarding if he's keen but had mixed experience with it ourselves so not too sure.

I know you said not keen on single sex but have you looked at Kingswood house in Epsom? Also near by is Ewel Castle and a bit further afield Dane Hill

Thank you Enko. I didn’t like Ewell Castle. I probably wouldn’t want to do the drive for Kigswood House either.
Danes Hill looks lovely but it’d be very far for us unless we move... We’ve spend the weekend seriously wondering if, after all, any school could be so much better than the local choice that it would be worth the move and a 6-figure stamp duty...

I think that is an important consideration. If you move now to be close to your ideal prep/primary, might you then have to move again in a few years, to be close to the right secondary/senior school?

Whilst we personally chose the closer, walkable school over the 'better' school a short drive away for primary, I do think that at primary age the distance matters a little less than at secondary. At secondary you are limited to schools your DC can make their own way to. Whereas at primary, you are expected to bring and fetch, so schools that are within 'driveable' distance are feasible, whereas the same distance would be too far for a secondary school - even if there is a school bus or public transport, it is likely to take a whole lot longer.

Also I think at primary age the 'perfect' school matters less. The school really only needs to be 'good enough'. The rest you can compensate at home.

It sounds like you live in a spot that has a great choice of state and private secondaries/senior schools. I think in your place I would find a 'good enough' primary/prep, even if there is some compromise involved, and stay put.