Secondary education Horsham or Billingshurst

[Deni99]

Hi really hope you can help. We are relocating next year and need to buy a house in the catchment of either Millais or The Weald. Still trying to decide which is the better school and best fit for our 9year old daughter. I would appreciate any up to date views on either school and nice areas to live?

I have neices at the Weald. Thriving. I don't know much about that area or the schools except Dsis would have been very thorough about choosing schools!

or is it nieces? Or niecii?

Thanks AA that's good to know!

Weald - co-ed, very good reputation, large catchment area and has buses going from the villages the other side of Horsham so worth contacting school and council for exact boundaries as would give you a wide choice.

Millais - all girls, has very good/fantastic local reputation, seen as almost the same as independent schooling, uniform very similar to independent schools. Much harder to get into as smaller school and much smaller catchment area, you'd definitely have to live in the right place, and there may be other qualifying criteria so definitely contact the school
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HTH

Thanks for the advice Labro will check out catchment areas etc. What I suppose I am really asking is is Millais thought to be a much better school than the Weald to justify the smaller housing choice, choice in where we live just to get her a place against sending her to the Weald and living in one of the lovely little villages.

Afraid I only know the Weald, not Millais, so can't answer that specifically, but worth also taking into account that lovely though the little villages are, they aren't great places to be bored teenagers, so that's a vote in favour of Horsham. Although the Weald is indeed a v good school.

Yes that a good point pink. I don't want to spend every hour when not working driving teenagers around! Many thanks lots to think about.

don't rule out Tanbridge House either, which lays between the two schools.

the great thing about this area is that there really is a great choice of excellent state schools. !

Would echo all other advice given too. If you do not have a preference for single sex education then I would consider what type of area you would prefer, ie village or town.

the Weald's catchment goes as far north as Rudgwick village and as far south as Pulborough. but the biggest town to live in would be Horsham. Billingshurst itself has a main line station that can provide good connection to the city.

Sorry...Tanbridge House is another co-ed comprehensive school based in BroadBridge Heath.

Yes Tanbridge House has also a very good reputation. Thanks. I am so rubbish at making decisions I suppose it would be so much easier if there is only one good school or if wise mumsnetters could give me a definitive view on which was best. I just dont want to get this wrong!

We can't do that!

My kids will be going to The Weald in a few years and I am very happy with that. in the end it is down to the feel of the place and what suits you.

Have you visited them? perhaps that could help?

I know Shipwrecked! I have visited millais and the Weald. If I am honest I preferred the feel, ethos at the Weald but just trying to balance that against the all girls, slightly more academic focus of Millais. Anyway thanks for all your help x

Good luck