St Anne's school in Banstead Surrey and St Andrew's School Leatherhead

[Vanda1]

Has anyone got any experience with St Anne's school in Banstead? We need to decide whether to put St Anne's down which we really liked and it is a feeder school to a really good secondary school or go for Banstead infants. The reason for the doubt is that we are not catholic (I've heard that there are quite a lot of non catholic children at the school) but my concern is that if we were to get St Anne's that there is very little chance of us getting the good secondary as that too is a Catholic school and if we don't get a space then my children may not have friends to transition with to our local secondary school (which currently isn't very good) or go with Banstead infants and know that we definitely won't get a space at the good school. Any advice and experience would be appreciated.

I'd put the school you prefer 1st. Children usually make new friends at secondary and the secondaries usually split children up across forms. Plus some will go to grammars or private and presumably some others from St Anne's will go to the same secondary, so they all mix.

I live in the area ish. St Andrews is an amazing school and has a progress 8 of 1.39! It must be one of the highest ranking in the country.

I would have thought that most parents in a feeder school would apply to go here if they meet the admissions criteria. Although, St Andrews is slightly different in terms of culture to your 'standard' school.

Obviously things may change in the years between your child starting primary and secondary school so who knows!

I know what you mean re friends. I moved a lot as a child and I'm now intent on my daughters having the opportunity to make solid friendships but the pp is right, they do make friends at secondary as required! Just depends what you want. Good luck!