Homefield Prep vs Surbiton High for my boy

[Justinmum]

Dear mums,

We're moving to Surrey/ Kingston, and looking for a Year 4 place for our son. We hope to take up the 11+ challenge and hopefully get a place in a state secondary 3 years later. I'm now choosing between Homefield Prep in Sutton and Surbiton High School in Kingston. Which school do you think can better prepare him for the Year 7 entrance?
Any experience or advice is highly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

Homefield is a traditional, academic prep but some boys do move on to grammars rather than staying in the independent sector. It’s located in Sutton, though, so might not be that convenient for a daily commute from Kingston or Surrey. Driving from Kingston to Sutton in the rush hour is likely to take over half an hour each way.

You might also think about the logistics of getting a secondary place at a grammar. Tiffin is in Kingston with a designated and inner areas so you need to live there for the best chance.
If you’re interested in the Sutton grammars, then there’s one in Sutton and two in Wallington. You have a better chance of getting in if you’re in the borough of Sutton but you’d also have a chance from Kingston. The commute from Kingston to Wallington would get pretty long, though.
Moving to Surrey won’t help with admission chances at either Tiffin or the Sutton Grammars.

Thanks a lot for your reply.
So it sounds like there are more grammar schools around Sutton and better chance of getting a place.

Yes, there’s only one boys’ grammar in the borough of Kington and three in the borough of Sutton and easier to get into.

There are no grammar schools in Surrey.

In SE London, the boroughs of Bexley and Bromley have grammars. The Bexley ones are the easiest to get into. It’s also possible to travel out to Kent for grammars (it’s a fully grammar county).

JoJoSM2, thank you so much for your information.
I think I may choose Sutton. Do you have any advice on which area to rent?

I live in Sutton and would say that rental properties are mostly flats in the town centre so there just isn’t an awful lot of choice.

However, the desirable parts to live in are Cheam Village, South Cheam, South Sutton, Carshalton Beeches and Carshalton Village.

If you’re looking at Homefield Prep, then that’s walkable from Cheam Village and there are some gorgeous residential areas in Sutton, south of the school (Landseer Conservation area- Landseer Rd and the roads parallel to it) as well as some leafy 30’s roads close to the school (Carlisle Rd and roads parallel to it).
South Sutton, South Cheam or Carshalton Village/Beeches would be 1-2miles from the school so a bit further for a drop off but they’re v leafy residential areas that back onto the countryside.

JoJoSM2, thanks a lot! I will try these places in rightmove. Hopefully, we'll meet someday in Sutton.