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Original poster

Moving to Weybridge, Surrey

49 replies

wools · 10/02/2009 14:35

Just wondered if any of you lived there and could tell me what it's like. We currently live in Ealing, London and I love it here. I don't really want to move as I've got one child already in school here and one about to start Reception in September. My husband though, thinks it will be a good move for the family. We have driven there several times and it does seem a very lovely place to live. I guess I'm only hesitant because it all seems so strange and new and I'm a little out of my comfort zone. Please tell me I'll love it there.

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Original poster

wools · 11/02/2009 08:00

Anyone?

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Rindercella · 11/02/2009 14:02

I grew up in the area (moved a few years ago), went to school in Weybridge, and also worked at a company there for a few years. It's ok, but I personally prefer either Cobham or Esher. Both have much more character imo.

Original poster

wools · 11/02/2009 20:23

Thanks for that Rindercella.

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bananapaddlepop · 11/02/2009 20:28

Oh Wools it's lovely. I live in Walton and I'm always over there and in Cobham and Esher, they're all really nice areas.

scienceteacher · 11/02/2009 20:29

It's a very nice town - very leafy Surrey. We lived in Weybridge when we first moved to the UK, but we couldn't afford to buy there at the time.

Our DS's are at school in Weybridge

Rindercella · 11/02/2009 21:12

Come on Wools, let us know your budget, requirements, etc., & we will find you a great place to live

Original poster

wools · 12/02/2009 09:20

Thank you all very much. It certainly seems a great place to live - just will take a bit of getting used to for me. I've lived in London all my life and couldn't really imagine leaving it. My dh though, grew up in the country so has experience of living in a quieter place, and I think he's right when he says that Weybridge is a good place to raise a family.

Rindercella, we have found a house(needs loads of work) and accepted an offer on ours so all being well it looks as though the move will definately happen.

Science teacher - what do you think of the schools there? My elder ds is in Year one and I hoped his younger brother would follow him to the same school in September. I am very sad he'll have to leave his school although I have only heard good things about the schools in Weybridge. I just hope I can get both of them into the same school. I have a 2 year old dd as well so hopefully it will be easier as regards schools for her.

Bananapaddlepop - the shops in Walton look really good, I expect I'll be in them rather more often than I ought.

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beanstalk · 12/02/2009 10:59

Hi wools,
I live in Weybridge and like it here. In terms of schools, I don't know much about the private schools although I have heard Notre Dame for girls is good. State schools - Cleves (7-11) is fantastic, Oatlands is the better early primary (5-7) but has a small catchment area as its very oversubscribed. St Charles is a Catholic school that is also very good, if you're Catholic. Manby Lodge is the other 5-7 primary, not as good as Oatlands according to Ofsted but I don't know anyone who goes there.
HTH

Original poster

wools · 12/02/2009 11:48

Thanks beanstalk, that's the kind of thing I want to hear. We are catholic so St Charles would be my first choice but I worry that it will be oversubscribed as we can't even apply until we are actually there. I was also thinking about St. Anne's in Chertsey - it sounds good.

I think I would prefer a mixed state school to private (not that we can really afford private anyway)

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scienceteacher · 12/02/2009 18:48

Surrey secondary schools are iffy, Wools, although the one in Weybridge, Heath-something, has as good a reputation as you get in the area. Salesian is the Catholic secondary.

Mine are actually at an independent Catholic school and we are very happy with it.

I don't know anything about the primary schools - except that St Annes in Chertsey is very new and modern. It would be a very tedious commute at the morning rush for you - the traffic between Weybridge and Chertsey just crawls.

Original poster

wools · 12/02/2009 20:08

Thanks Scienceteacher, good to know about the morning rush hour - that puts a different spin on things

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/02/2009 20:10

Weybridge is gorgeous, I am always trying to persuade my DH to move there but he won't leave Scotland!

catMandu · 12/02/2009 20:12

I'm very we moved out of London a few years ago much further out and wish we'd gone to Weybridge. To my mind it's the perfect mix of country living, but still London-ish. You'll love it.

funnypeculiar · 12/02/2009 20:18

Another one down the road (in -much cheaper-Hersham)

The state Secondary school in Weybridge is Heathside - it does have a good reputation. Unlike the Walton Secondary (Rydens) which has less than wonderful results.

Don't know much about St Charles, but generally state provision at primary in Weybridge has a good (if rather pressurised) reputation round here in the cheap seats .

sleepyeyes · 12/02/2009 20:49

I used to lived very near to weybridge a lovely little town/village fantastic for families. Very leafy, lovely river walks and a fab kids park that has a little paddling pool area.
Lots of sport grounds and clubs for kids.
Very much a family area and still close enough to London and lots of train links.
Shepperton and Walton are also very close by and very much the same in terms of family friendly.

Original poster

wools · 13/02/2009 08:45

Thank you all for replying - so many positive viewpoints!! I'm actually looking forward to it after everything you've written.

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Original poster

wools · 24/04/2009 07:15

Update - We've moved and love it here. The only fly in the ointment is finding a school. My ds is in year one and the younger ds is about to start reception in September. We are currently having to drive them back to Ealing as all our preferred schools are full (we are on waiting lists). Surrey have offered us a place for the older one at Darley Dene Infant school - I'm reluctant to move him here though.

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RupertTheBear · 24/04/2009 07:38

I went to Darley Dene!! Many, many years ago though so no idea what it is like these days.
I went onto Weybridge middle (no idea what it is called these days as there are no longer any middle schools are there?) then Heathside.

Original poster

wools · 24/04/2009 09:56

Thanks Rupert. I don't know what it's like either. I know that the council tried to close it down and it put people off sending their children due to the uncertainty of the future.

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cece · 25/04/2009 17:53

Darley Dene was about to be closed last year but got saved at the last minute. Not sure what it is like now. Cargirl would know as she lives much nearer to it than I do! Mine go to a school a bit further away from you... but we are very pleased with it.

Original poster

wools · 26/04/2009 07:25

Thanks Cece. It seems there are a lot of very good schools in the area - I might do a ring round them directly and see if there's likely to be any movement shortly.

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cece · 26/04/2009 13:30

There maybe space in my dc's school - I know Year 2 is very empty. But think Year 1 is fullish. There is definitely space in this years Reception as my DC's class is not full. It might be a bit of a drive for you though... I am happy to say which school it is if you PM me...

Original poster

wools · 26/04/2009 17:35

Thanks Cece. I may take you up on that. Ideally I would like somewhere close to home but beggars can't be choosers. I'm going to ring round this week and see what the deal is.

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nowwearefour · 27/04/2009 17:42

I went to weybridge middle school in the days when it existed and grew up in walton. i l0ve it round there. dh wouldnt agree to live so close to my family or i would have def chosen to go back tehre after london days. it is quite different from london so hope you get used to it. though the train link is v good. if you have girls and want to go private for secondary i can recommend sir william perkins' school in chertsey.....

CarGirl · 27/04/2009 17:52

I've found you! Hmm well my eldest went to Darley Dene - and my younger ones don't desptie the fact I live 100 yards from it! Also the commute from Weybridge to there is a pain because of the level crossing. If your going to have to commute that far than it would be worth travelling a bit further for a better school IYSWIM

Where have you put names on the waiting lists?

You could look at Sayes Court in Addlestone that def has places and the head is lovely, it's a new primary so def has places & tiny infant classes. Have you put names down at St Annes & St James? Also their is an infants school in Green Lane Chertsey but I can't think of the name at the moment.

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