Moving to Cobham

[OvalLemon]

Hi all
DH and I have found a lovely house in Cobham, ideal train links to London and we like the local high street.
The only problem is we can’t find a prep school we really love nearby. Can anybody recommend any? Private prep school, mixed or boys through to 13? One that feeds to the top day and boarding schools in the country?
We had an appointment to view Danes Hill but the constant change in heads has put me off. DS is very sporty, loves music and we want somewhere that is academic. This is for 4+
TIA

Danes Hill
Feltonfleet
Aldro - not near by at all

For top boarding schools you have 3 options and none are near Cobham
Shrewsbury House in long Ditton
Tower House in Kew
Kings house in Richmond

For top boys day schools most preps are be ok. The number of day places at 13plus is tiny and decreasing each year. By the time your ds is 13 they will be almost non existent.

The vat on schools fees is going to a massive impact on the prep sector in Surrey which is already not full, many schools will end up closing over the next 10 years because the birth rate hasn't kept up with the number of spaces

ASC Cobham

Thank you, I’ll look at Feltonfleet. I also came across Parkside when I was looking.

I’ll think about reconsidering Danes Hill if I don’t like the others, but there are some not so great things that come up when you google the school.

Feltonfleet is v good. You're right about Dane's hill.

Ripley court? I live in the area but DC attend state school but used to have swimming lessons at RC, may be a totally inappropriate suggestion!

Thank you, I’ll take a look

Milbourne Lodge, surely? In Esher

(Look up the Leavers’ Destinations)

Thank you! I have just googled and very impressed, I will arrange a visit here.

Fully agree re Milborne and Shrewsbury House although you’d need to check waiting lists. Also I would not worry about the impact of VAT on any of those schools you’ve listed - it’s a very wealthy part of Surrey, expect minimal impact.

Thank you, I’ll be sure to take a look at those. Good to know re VAT. Ultimately like most others, if we want private school we just have to accept we might be paying more going forwards.

Where do girls tend to go if their brothers are Shrewsbury House out of interest?

@OvalLemon , the girls go to Rowan in Claygate. You need to check out other MN threads on Milbourne Lodge, it definitely won't be full for pre-prep.

Also Holy Cross in Kingston for girls.

Thank you, I will do some deep dives. I like the look of Shrewsbury House but parking does look like a nightmare!

The Shrewsbury House pre-prep is in claygate not long ditton. It's really not worth driving that far for a pre-prep, start with somewhere near your Cobham home and move for prep school stage.

Your kids could always rough it in the state schools with the commoners

Definitely Shrewsbury House from 7+(Year 3). Top academics and sport and phenomenal music, and there is a bus from Cobham.

You could definitely do another pre-prep or Shrewsbury House's own pre-prep in Esher prior to 7+.

I'm a bit confused by your parking comment. The streets around the school are very quiet and only partially restricted for a few hours a day, and even then, there is plenty of space.

Good luck and enjoy your new home!

Thank you, that’s very helpful. Sorry my parking was referring to the pre-prep but even then it might not be that bad. We are moving from London so it can’t be any worse! Thank you once again

Stay away from Danes Hill School. High staff turnover, poor treatment of remaining staff all translate into poor experiences for your children. I would know and cant wait to leave.

Thank you for this. I cancelled our viewing because a few days before we got an email saying that the head was leaving (another one). And there is some quite unsavoury stuff coming up when you type the school’s name in Google.

We are moving to Oxshott/Cobham area this summer too. Would be nice to hear about your personal experience after visiting any of these schools.

We have personally visited Feltonfleet, Milbourne Lodge and Danes Hill. We also have walked past the pre prep building Shrewsbury Houses school and it was enough to decide to not go view it, unfortunately.

Hello, do you mind if I PM you? Would be interested to hear about your experiences and share mine although we will start looking properly in September! There is one school DH and I fell in love with but it’s a 40 minute drive so too far unfortunately.

Do t underestimate SL prep rep because of the outside. There are newish classrooms at the back, and a large playing field a short skip up the road

@Workhard1717 There are several families who travel from Cobham to Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep. The facilities are fantastic and the school is a tardis once you are inside. Once your son goes onto the Prep in Surbiton, they can use the minibus system to get there which is a brilliant way to start their school day.
I really would encourage you to have a look around Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep before dismissing the idea. We love the nurturing ethos and the children all leave the school very well prepared both academically and socially for their next schools!