moving to catchment of Howard of Effingham in surrey from abroad

[begumbeg]

Hi there
We are trying to move from abroad into the Effingham area for the HoE and want to know what is better Bookham or East Horsley village for our DSs who start Sixth form and GCSEs? Is there any difference in being accepted if there is a place? Also needed to know how to get local information on the area and how to start out there etc etc. So much to know so wondering if anyone can help?

Hi there. I don't live in the area yet so can't be certain of this, but I have been looking at moving myself so have investigated both Howard and George Abbott catchment and from my research, East Horsely definitely gets you in while in Bookham you need to be in the right bit to get in. Hth.

for sixth form, they accept those already at the school first, then remaining places are allocated by closest distance to school. it does not operate in the same way as admissions at 11, where i would agree with peppin. your younger dc may not qualify as a sibling if older is in sixth form, you need to check. you may want to check what their waiting lists are like if you are not going in at 11. There seems to be big differences in birth rates in some years.

As you are not joining in year 7 where you live won't make any difference - if there's a place you're in if there isn't you're not. Phone the school and see if they have any spaces, or a waiting list, for the year groups you want.

SHF is right re 6th form. You should call the school and find out about a late application for this as much easier to get into 6th form than the school in Y7. You need to ensure you are in the catchment area as per the website admissions section to stand a good chance of getting him into 6th form. Ask re wait lists for DS2's year - will he be going into Y9 in September or Y10? Y9 would be better as some of the GCSE courses start in Y9. Some year groups will have a really long wait list and others may be much shorter. Find this out before deciding where you want/need to live. Current Y11 has a bulge class so admission number that year was 270, other year groups are 240.

Be aware a bulge class in current year 11 will presumably put pressure on 6th form places this September.

Tichy - as I understand it the bulge class has actually meant less pressure on places than in other year groups as the extra class was not initially totally full. So speak to the school rather than worry about this.