Moving to Sutton

[Cyqi]

Our old DS has got an offer in Sutton Grammar. I am working in Sutton town centre. My younger one is going to reception this September. We are currently looking for house to move into. I am wondering if there is any good state primary for my younger one to move to. Considering we have already misses the primary entry application. Is it still possible to get into any of the outstanding state school in the area?

You will have to move and go on waiting lists. There is no way of knowing how long it will take. For context, my DD is at an outstanding school in the borough that is 3 form entry. I know of 3 children who left in Reception and 1 so far in year 1. There could be more I am not aware of. I obviously don't know if any moved before starting.

The positive is that basically all the schools in the borough are decent, so a place at any will be fine, although you might prefer to stay on waiting lists for the more popular ones.

Will you be buying or renting? The quicker you move the better in regards to getting on waiting lists, although you might be wanting your older DS to finish year 6?

We are buying, but considering the current market, not much choice at all. Lots of dilemma... Where we will be moving to will depend on the school. We are also considering independent schools. Considering a lot of good local schools around, will they be really worth it. My older one is currently in a posh outside London indie school which has impeccable facilities, while crappy acedamic which my older geek hates. My younger one looks like an opposite type who is very active but too young to tell if he will be acedamic too.

Tricky decisions. Are you currently near enough for your son to commute to Sutton Grammar for a bit if needed?

I don't know how well you know the area. f you are buying, you might want to widen your search beyond Sutton. Getting the bus/train is fairly easy from areas around e.g. Cheam, Ewell, Belmont, Wallington (still in Sutton) and other similar areas. Banstead is a possibility too, and has several independent schools.

The independent v state is very personal. Independent would have been too much of a stretch for us so no real dilemma. We are largely very happy with DDs school but there are times I wonder if independent could have stretched her more. There's also the unknown of how quickly you will get a place at your preferred school. There are several areas of the borough where children go to less popular schools whilst on the waiting list for the more desirable schools. In fairness to the less popular ones, I think this is often a bit of a legacy and they are doing pretty well themselves.

I do look around beyond Sutton, hopefully within 15mins drive. housing stock is terrible. We even ventured out to Tadworth and Woodcote, hesitate about traffic. it took me 20min from Burgh heath to Sutton yesterday without traffic disruption. I just visited homefield prep. The school has a very good learning environment, but not much facilities at all (probably i should not expect any for a inner city school). just feel sorry for my little one who now enjoying heated swimming pools, huge sports complex and forest school in his current indie school nursery. I can see Aberdour and Chinhurst has ok facilities, but academic wise bit disappointing. I am not really keen on hot house, but dont like the substandard learning either. We have just gone through the 11+ drama and do have serious concern on learning in "happy" school. Visiting homefield prep, year 6 boys are learning circuits despite being year 6. my son's current school year 6 is like in holiday time already, he is not learning anything. We have never been to state school and had no personal experience (educated abroad). we are also wondering what the difference are.

Aberdour isn't seen as that unacademic though it isn't a natural feeder for the grammars being mostly about the Surrey Indies.

Homefield is prepping for more academic 11+ choices like Whitgift, Trinity etc and 13+ as well.