Moving to Weybridge, Surrey

[wools]

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.

We just had a letter today to say that the junior school my DC attends has got an outstanding ofsted report.

Waves hello to cargirl...

Wools any luck today?

I think it's probably a good idea to get your rising reception dc on the waiting list at all your near schools and wait and see if they get offered a place, often in the first week in September some dc just don't turn up. Once you have one in school your other one will jump to top of the list due to then have a sibling at the school.

Thanks everyone - I really do appreciate your input. Yesterday was slightly frustrating and I didn't have time to ring round the schools due to driving back and forth over to Ealing.
Cargirl, that's what I think I'll do. I've got their names on the waiting list for 4 schools so far but don't think that will do it. Will look at Sayes Court website shortly.
Cece, I've got their names down for St Charles Borromeo in Weybridge, St Anne's in Chertsey, Holy Family in Addlestone and Cardinal Newman in Hersham (we're catholic so they would be my first choice but I think I will widen this out).

If you are catholic have you tried The Marist in West Byfleet?

I love Weybridge, and I must prefer it to Esher. Esher isn't villagey because it has a huge road running through it.

Weybridge to the Marist is probably do-able and I know someone who used to do it, but reception for Sept is not just full, but 8 Catholic children from within the West Byfleet parish did not get places so not much hope there.

Thanks Cece and annh. The Marist is supposed to be excellent isn't it? Oh dear, 8 children from the Parish didn't get in...probably not much hope then!

There is a large Catholic community around here which works against you! I know someone who didn't get into Holy Family despite having siblings there (all catholics!). What schools are there in Cobham as there is a catholic church there so perhaps a school somewhere? Again it would be a long journey but you go around the back of Weybridge & Walton onto the 7 Hills Road, not too bad.

Forgot to say when they get to juniors, year 3, the schools can increase their class sizes by a few more so perhaps it would be worth moving them to a school now and when the eldest goes into year 3 you should get into your nearest catholic school. Certainly worth asking your 1st choice schools about that possibility. I would also look at St James in Weybridge although it's only CofE it is a proper feeder school to Heathside if you want to go there rather than Salesians.

Again Salesians (sorry spelling!) will be changing over the next few years as in September they changed their admissions so now they are only really taking in Catholics so I'm not sure if that will improve their results. Some other Catholics were telling me the diocese is getting very particular that their children have to attend their official diocese school and not the catholic school they would like their dc to go to. I think the catholic secondary school in Sunbury is perhaps not so good, the one in woking St John the Baptist is supposed to be excellent.

HTH

Cargirl - that's really good to know about Year 3 increasing their class sizes. I didn't know that. I also didn't know about the large Catholic community here. It feels very strange knowing so little about the area in which I now live.

oy car girl what do you mean only a c of e . LOL bloomin good school IMHO. Some say that Rydens is on the up now ,(still cant quite belive it myself )And Heathside has been described as good not as good as it used to be and filthy inside . Alot of parents this year are looking at Jublie High.

Well personally I wouldn't send my dc to a catholic school but wools wants to so she may feel that a C of E school will not support her beliefs enough!!

Well we all know that Jubilee High has improved, hardly difficult after being bottom of Surrey for several years but I still find it surprising that people would actively choose it at the moment! It is our local secondary school and my younger girls will no doubt be going there but considering 18 months ago only around 5 pupils sat French and a similar amount Geography etc etc I don't think people will be swarming there for a few years!

I do agree though Heathside could do with a very good clean and lick of paint!! I'm sure it will benefit from having lost it's planning permission to expand it's PAN too. Lets face it state schools around here just aren't that fabulous.

I think that is what surprises people about Surrey, Cargirl - the state schools in NW Surrey just aren't good, especially at secondary level. It's pretty grim when places like Magna Carta are oversubscribed.

BTW, my kids are in Catholic schools and they are good. We are practicing Anglicans and have no problems with their schools. I am a bit miffed that they are excluded from Communion but that's a bigger problem that I could ever solve so I don't let it worry me. At least they sing proper Anglican hymns/songs.

Well when we talk with the youth at church (who attend catholic schools)we seem to spend a awful lot of time clearing up what they are taught at school is biblical and what isn't, and all the research time ensuring we've got our info correct. Still at least Jubilee High is on the up I do know lots of parents of current pupils who are very pleased with it indeed (years 7-9) fortunately dd1 is very very happy where she is.

I would prefer catholic but certainly wouldn't rule out C of E. My dh is C of E although all the kids have been baptised catholic.

car girl I was joking . LOL Seriously parents at St Js are raving about JH at the moment . Apparently there are only 160 places for 2010 , So thats worring as I live out of the area and H Side was reccomended as its science based ( so DS teacher reckons)So we have to move and be in somewhere By October this year . This seriously is my worst nightmare as My local secondary school English is not the first language so apparently lessons are not taught in english.My Ds would struggle with this and fail at the first hurdle so we have to move .

Where are you living at the moment?

I think it is so funny that parents are raving about JH - 3 years ago it was the dregs of society. I have to say it is very nice to visit a school where the pupils toilets are clean & smell free!

I'm not sure it will ever get outstanding results though as it will always serve such a large area of "social" housing & cheaper areas ie where I live!

I live at Heathrow . Remember the Japanese debarcle LOL

Hi all, we are planning on moving to Weybridge soon so I wanted to find out some up to date info on the area as well as any advice/info on the local state schools. I know Cleves is supposed to be fantastic as well as Oatlands infant school but wondered if anyone had any knowledge of Manby Infant School as Oatlands has a really small catchment area? Also if anyone has any advice on the best way to meet other mums in the area that would be great as well.

Hi I'm due to move there in a couple months too but my DD is 20 mths so need info on nurseries/childminders etc. Would be great
To know how to meet other people as I've missed the nct cut off for the refresher class for my next DC...

Hi Lulabel27 one of my DS's are nearly 3 and the other one is nearly 6 months old so I'm also looking at nurseries. The ones I've found on line are Churchfield House and Cherrylands Nursery, but I've not been to visit either yet. Have you found any more?

Wools - i wondered how things were going with your life in Weybridge? I'm thinking of doing exactly the same thing - as in move from Ealing and would love to hear how its gone for you? especially with moving the childrens schools??

Cleves is an 'outstanding' ofsted school. We have friends who's children go there. They were taught last year at age 7 in their first sex education lesson the word 'clitoris' and that it may feel nice to touch it and that the boys penis similarly may feel nice to touch it. After the lessons one of the mums complained that her son and his friends asked his 5 year old sister to show them her clitoris! Seems like you can withdraw your child from these lessons but no one wanted to be the 'odd person out' and all the class had these lessons. Other feedback is that it is a strict school and the pupils 'transition' period is 3 months where they get used to the stricter system. It's an academic focused school. This is the feedback I get from other mums with children at the school there.

Hi all. We too are looking to move to weybridge to start a family. any thoughts on Locke king road? seen a house there and tempted by its close proximity to the station. Any thoughts/advice welcome. Thank you! :)