Living around Woking

[freemach]

We are moving back to the UK (previously lived in Scotland) from the US and my new role is in Woking.
We do not know this area at all and would like to know what areas to consider within a 30min driving commute to Woking (old woking actually).
I have no need to commute into London, although getting to airports (Heathrow / Gatwick) will be a fairly common event.
We have 4 children, ages 4 through to 12. Too many to consider private schools (unless I picked my favourite to educate ). Will need a 4bed house, max budget around £750k.
Any suggestions of where to consider would really be appreciated. Thanks!

If you want village-y Godalming and Haslemere are both lovely.

Ripley or Send

Do you want shops, public transport or rural and having to drive the DC everywhere?

Ripley & Send are poorly served for secondary schools.

Godalming and Haslemere are lovely. If you want a bigger town, Guildford is nice and has some good schools and amenities.

Within Woking, both Horsell and Knaphill are quite pleasant areas (or certainly were when I lived there) and are well served for primary and secondary state schools. Woking station has the Heathrow Rail-Air coach link whilst Guildford has a train service to Gatwick.

Thanks for the really fast responses. I suspect not too rural but I suspect a lot will be dictated by schools.

I would honestly phone up secondary schools and see what waiting lists are currently like! I can't imagine any have spaces...

West Byfleet, Pyford, New Haw, Woodham a possibility.

New Haw and Addlestone are both cheaper than Woking, £750k for a 4 bed doesn't go as far as you'd think around here unfortunately. Ash is a bit further out but you get plenty more house for your money there.

30 mins actually doesn’t get you very far away in rush hour! There is a new secondary in Old Woking (forgotten the name!) so you could also consider Worplesdon which is probably in catchment and Normandy if you want rural. Stoughton, Jacobs Well and Burpham/ Merrow areas of Guildford. Oh and Onslow Village.
Horsell and parts of St Johns in Woking. Schools can vary dramatically though so I would start by seeing which secondaries you’d be happy with and work from there. Your budget should get you into the catchment for a decent school but the house may not be very big!

Not seen as a "great school" but for your 12 year old Bishop David Brown has got good reviews from all the parents that have had to send their DC there.

@cece if you're not already on this thread I know you'll have the latest on schools in that area

I'm still traumatised at the thought of planning permission to be approved for my housing near Maclaren /New Haw - where's the traffic going to go 😱

Bishop David brown - lots of my friends have chosen to send their DC there and all seem happy with it.

I have experience of fullbrook and Woking high if you have any questions.

I believe Ripley and send both are in catchment for George Abbott which has a good reputation.

For £750 in some areas though a 4 bedroom won't be very big. Other areas you'll get a reasonable sized detached

Any feedback on the new school - the one that was at the leisure centre?

Hoe Valley - it's not good at the moment - look at this week's article in Get Surrey. They've just announced that there will not be a sixth form until 2022 (?) meaning the current yr10 that put up with 3 years in portacabins will be looking for a new school to do A levels in. There's a lot of disgruntled parents about.

Ripley and Send are problematic for access to secondary schools, don't have a rain station and as your children get older you will spend far too much of your time acting as a taxi service. West Byfleet is close to Woking but has a decent train service and also access to a range of schools. Primaries in the area are all good and for secondary you could access Fulbrook or DBD. You're not Catholic I suppose?! In which case, this opens up more schools to you.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Plenty for me to look at / research. Thank you all so much.
Not Catholic, although we did live in Italy for a while if that helps with admissions

Sadly not you have to be a baptised, confirmed practicing Catholic!!! There is a shortage of catholic places so diocese tightened up rules about 15 years ago!

Fleet and Farnborough are 15 and 20 mins away from Woking on direct train line. Also Farnham. Fleet and Farnham particulary have good secondary schools and you will get a 4 bed house in budget. Farnborough 6th form college is excellent, one of the top rated in the UK.

Although Farnham house prices are higher than Fleet/Farnborough.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Much appreciated everyone.

Ripley is a lovely place to live, foot of the Surrey Hills, lovely coffee shops, restaurants and pubs. Primary schools are are short drive all outstanding or good. Most children go to The Raleigh (inc mine), Pyrford or Send and secondary schools are not that problematic. Either George Abbott, Christ College, or The Howard. There’s an array of private school. A wonderful community and commuting is a dream but you still have a lovely village feel. We love it as do all the families that live here

Also their is a bus service directly to George Abbott it The Howard. We rode our bikes everywhere when we were younger, you can ride on the road or down the beautiful canals.

I’m re starting this thread as I wanted to ask everyone’s opinions on whether there are any good secondary state schools in Pyrford or west byfleet? I know primaries are good but unsure about secondary.

Depends are you catholic? Most children if not catholic go to Fullbrook or BDB in Sheerwater or Catholic is excellent SJB in Woking

GoRomance,

This website is a good starting point.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

Most children from West Byfleet and Pyrford will go to either Fullbrook or Bishop David Brown (BDB).

A bit further out but still a possible choice is Jubilee High.

Almost all other schools are too far away for a place to be offered unless you go on the waiting lists and have a bit of luck.