Prep schools in Surrey

[lastminutebabyname]

We are considering a move to the Home Counties from London. Surrey is currently the front runner due to commute. We have 3 DC (all boys) eldest finishing year 2.

I have done some research on private preps and we like the look of (but have not visited any of these yet) - Hazelwood, Feltonfleet, Hawthorns, Aldro (but don’t want boarding after).

Can anyone recommend other Surrey preps to look at? We are happy to choose house location around the school. Priorities are probably - good academics but not a hot house, plenty of extra curriculars, prepare for day senior schools not just boarding, ideally co-ed but can compromise on that.

Area wise we visited Esher and found it too built up, but did like Oxted and Cobham. We haven’t visited Guildford/Farnham direction yet, but planning to soon.

thanks!

There are plenty of prep schools in Surrey!

Hawthorns has amazing grounds. The swimming pool and play areas are superb and their holiday camp is great. They go up to 13 years old if I remember correctly.
There are the Reigate Grammar School feeders - Reigate St Marys, Micklefield, Chinthurst. All of which have different characters. There is a feeling that you are tied into going to RGS afterwards and that there is little support if you want to go elsewhere.
Downsend is a through school based in Leatherhead/Ashtead. Lots of opportunties in clubs etc.
Cranmore is another through school based in Clandon (near Guildford).
These areas are not as built up as Esher but still not fully rural. There are good links to London

What are your criteria? Do you need to be able to get into London or does that not matter?

Thanks @gato21 ! We do need to be able to commute to London - DH 3-4 days, me 2 days (although I may be able to reduce this in future).

Main criteria - good academics but not a hot house, not too much of a boarding focus for senior school choices, good extra curriculars, max 1hr 15 to the city, ideally coed but can compromise on that. Area wise we would like a detached house with big garden (budget max £2m), small town or village, sense of community and less transient than London.

Thanks!

For further out try Haslemere and Churchers College.
Otherwise Godalming / Aldro and the many secondary options.

If you are considering Feltonfleet then you are nearer to London, they run a school bus from Putney as well as Weybridge/ Oxshott from year 3 so the intake is not from the depths of Surrey.
It's always useful to view prep school bus routes to get an idea of the catchment.

thanks @tennissquare , I actually came across Churchers yesterday (and Highfield & Brookham) which do look like the kind of places we are after, although possibly too far out. But am definitely adding to the list of schools to look into more. Thanks for the tip re bus routes!

Dorking and it's surroundings would be in your catchment (slow train line though) as would Guildford/Farnborough. The fast train to Guildford is 30 mins, which is also the same time it would take to get to Epsom. If you are driving into London then have a look at the pinch points (J10 of M25 is horrible at the moment). Given you are communting into London, do both of you need to get to the same station (waterloo, victoria, paddington)?

I like the look of Bedales School as well as Aldro but they are outside of my area for the moment and I'm not keen on boarding. I also liked the look of Ripley Court which has good road links but is rather rural. If you have your heart set on attending either Royal Grammar School in Guildford or Reigate Grammar School in Reigate then it is worth looking at the feeder schools for those and base yourself near there.

Budget wise, you should be fine! Do think whether the house is close to transport as otherwise the kids will be stuck when they are bigger (simiarly for doctors, dentist etc). Also think about where the holiday camps are!

Things for you to think about!

Thanks @gato21, will check out dorking and surrounds. We would be getting the train to London - into Bank ultimately, so Waterloo or London Bridge most convenient.

Am learning I need to look at secondary schools and work back!

If you want an almost direct line then thameslink might be your best option (to blackfriars and then walk). That means Reigate/Hawthorns/Worth/Dunnotar are good options.

If you are happy to put up with aircraft noise then there are some lovely houses and villages around Gatwick airport - and there is a well stocked Tesco Extra!

You could also look at Caterham School and the Woldingham area for housing - the train line goes into Victoria though so you'd need to change at East Croydon for London Bridge.