Good primary schools & camps in Surrey?

[anne456]

A recent job offer has us moving to the Surrey area as a family (currently based in Scotland). I lived in London many years ago but central and without a family so this feels entirely foreign!

Can anyone recommend a good primary school for reception? Open to either public or private.

Also, any recommendations on holiday clubs in the area for 4 year olds?

Do you have a town / village / area in mind? Near a station?

You will get better quality answers

Surrey is quite large.

Budget, do you need to commute, rural or in a town?

Yep, you definitely need to narrow it down. There's a vast difference between rural Surrey and edge of London Surrey.

Location is what I'm struggling with the most! It needs to be within a 30min drive of Leatherhead and an hour train to London. Preference is a town but could do a village if it has a train station and at least 1 decent pub & cafe.

That useful to know. What about budget and what you'd hope to get?

Home budget is around 1m and we'd like 3bed, a large garden and parking. Even better if it's a bit historic. If the local primary is good we'd be happy to send daughter there...but if not would entertain private if it's under £5k per term.

Gu1?

Depending where you live you depends on the school.

Loads of prep schools - mixed / girls only / boys only

Or catholic? They seem to get better results

OP - you're going to have to narrow it down a bit more. Do you have preference on a train line? Southern Rail?

Isn't the Leatherhead junction on the M25 carnage at the moment?

I would bank on the private schools being circa £5k per term, could be higher in KS2

Start house hunting in the areas around Leatherhead - you may find nearer to a good state school links to an increase in house price. Be aware state places for Reception in Sept have been allocated but you can speak to the council and find out which state schools still have spaces.
The private schools in general won't be full for Reception in Sept due to the fall in birth rate etc. (Overall across Greater London/ Surrey there are more private school reception places available than dc seeking them).

I would look Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham, Tadworth, Ashtead areas.

Ashtead to London on the train is just under an hour, Epsom will be a bit quicker. It is a good station to drive to and get the train - Tadworth station takes you a little longer but Walton on the Hill has a very good primary school as well as a prep school. There are a number of excellent prep schools in the area, so if you do want to go prep then it is just where you want to live. I would say, however, I think that the costs go up significantly between Reception/Year 1 and Year 3 so it does depend on how old your child is.

Guildford is good for connections, but it isn't a village. If you want to get a good primary school you are looking on the outskirts and then will have to battle to the train station in the rush hour. West Horsley is nice and more of a village atmosphere, it is about 30 mins drive into Leatherhead, depending on which part you need to get to.

Which London station do you want to go into?

From Surrey lines could be London Bridge, Waterloo or Victoria?

Guildford is great for girls’ private schools - Guildford High, Tormead and St Cats. Good states too but very small catchments for the decent secondary schools and private closer to £20k PA at secondary age.