London to Outside (Oxford, Hampton/Teddington, Guildford)

[LDNtoOutside]

Hello,

We are currently at a competitive London all-girls prep, and our daughter, going into Y6, is preparing for the 11+ for Y7 entrance, and is testing at the top of her year. At the same time, we are exploring using this to move outside of London proper. We want to stay all-girls, day (or least with a large day component), with a nearby all-boys pre/prep for our DS who will be going into Y1. We've narrowed it down to Guildford (GHS and RGS for DS), Oxford (OHS and ChCh/New), and Hampton/Teddington (LEH/Hampton). Has anyone looked at these three or some combination thereof? Any thoughts on these schools individually, or any combinations / locations we may have missed?

Thank you!

LDNtoOutside

Ancedotal only but I've heard great things about Tormead as well as Cranmore and St Teresa's (East Horsley just outside of Guildford, which is a beautiful area and lots of communication between the boys and girls schools). Manor House is also part of the Cranmore group and I've heard great things about it.

I was also very impressed by the head master of St James' Boys School in Ashford.

Yes many many families have ds at Hampton Prep/Hampton and dd at LEH jnrs and LEH and also RGS and GHS.
If you move to somewhere like Esher or Cobham you can get to Hampton/LEH/RGS and GHS by school bus or train and lots of dc apply to both single sex options and then decide for 11 plus.

How do you know your girl is at the top of her class? Does the school tell you? Alban Girls and Alban Boys, Hab Boys and Girls.

If you’re happy to move to Oxfordshire, you might also consider St Helen & St Katharine in Abingdon and Abingdon/Radley. MCS for boys in Oxford is also excellent and it’s not hard to have one child at school in Abingdon and one in Oxford. The school and public buses are very good.

If your child is at the top of her class at a competitive London prep, I think you'd be crazy to move out of London unless you think she would not do well in an environment where she wouldn't be the best (in which case you should work on her resilience). London is a much better environment for teenagers than places where the transport isn't as good, and for a very clever child the environment at a highly selective school is likely to be a lot more challenging. There will be more of these schools in London.

Hampton and Teddington (both in London) are the best options you've mentioned (although I can't honestly understand why you would opt for LEH/Hampton over SPS/SPGS or Westminster which is soon to admit girls).

What about Kings/Wimbledon high?

JAGs/Dulwich

I don’t recommend LEH at all. I took my daughter out, one reason being shockingly poor teaching and disorganisation. Lots of girls playing video games during class.

Don't know Oxford.. but SW London will give you lots of choices. Also recommend Kings/Wimbledon High (this is still London), or Guildford for a more proper exit from London (it still is quite accessible to central London). I've always thought highly of LEH, but based on recent intake, it has become obvious the school isn't as academic or popular as before. Have been seeing a number of unexpected offers which were all happily taken and junior school girls leaving for something else nearby. It's still a decent school but may not be for the top of the year kind of girl that you described your daughter is.

HelKats in Abingdon is an excellent choice and I'd have sent my son there if he was a girl!