St Mary's Ascot day girls and LEH options from Virginia Water

[Sandradale330]

I'm hoping to tap into the Mumsnet hive mind!

Looking for some advice from anyone who's been through this! Our daughter is about to start Year 6 at a prep school in Hampshire, and we're looking to move to Virginia Water, so we're beginning to think seriously about senior school options.

We're particularly considering St Mary's Ascot as a day girl, but we'd also love to know whether it's realistic to apply for Lady Eleanor Holles (LEH)?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone whose daughter:

• Is (or was) a day girl at St Mary's Ascot – how did she find it? Did she feel fully included with the boarders? How was the pastoral care, friendships and school community?
• Applied to or got into LEH while living in the Virginia Water area. How competitive was the process, and how manageable is the commute?

We're looking for a school with strong academics, excellent pastoral care and girls who are genuinely happy.

Any experiences, recommendations or things you wish you'd known would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you!

Also look at Sir William Perkins’s school at Chertsey. An easy train commute from VW. It’s sadly gone co-ed since my girls attended but it is an excellent school with a great reputation.

I second Swps. It’s a fabulous school with great academics and strong pastoral. LEH has traditionally had an issue with pastoral support, but I hear the school is trying to turn this around. What about surbiton high school as well?

Just a few pointers - I had a ds at Hampton.
The coach service from the Ascot direction seems to be efficient and there is a LEH late coach but you pay on top so if your dd stays for a LEH club after school you pay an additional charge for the late bus on top of the termly coach fees. Hampton doesn’t have many clubs after school but LEH does and you need to carefully consider this.

The social life of both schools is based round Twickenham/ Wimbledon and Kingston - how do you feel about driving to and from social events in Kingston / Wimbledon for 7 years.

There are many other all girl options in the area and remember because LEH has a prep school some of the girls like a change for 6th form - to Kings Wimbledon and other options - so there is churn at the end of GCSEs.

Any intel on St Marys Ascot- particularly as a day girl?

Also, Wellington College as a day pupil?