High Schools in Sutton/Epsom way

[mummytummy3]

Hi mums, we are planning to move to this area for our boys sake. We live in Croydon, and if they do not pass the Wilson's or Wallington Boys, then we only have Harris Purley, Woodcote, and Riddlesdown.

We do not want them to take 11+ so would like to have more/better options for them to choose from.

What do mumsnetters think of Glyn, Cheam, Glenthorne, Greenshaw or any other I've missed out. Do we literally have to live 0.5 miles away to definitely get in?

Some say Riddlesdown is brilliant, but when I look at results, it's only 59% A*-C. Should I be worried? I did choose an outstanding primary for my kids, but now 4 years later, it's in Special Measures. Should we bother looking at these reports any more.

Your views would be much appreciated!!

Thanks tiggytape, we have decided to stay. Seems too expensive to move over there.

Yes you are right. The schools have a very small catchment area and they don't overlap. So you have to be exactly near a certain school you want to guarantee you'll get in. All to stressful house hunting.

All we have to do is try for Wilsons and see how.

Riddlesdown got 67% A-C inc Eng and maths in 2013. The year before (2012) was a blip which they blame on the grade boundary changes as the year before that (2011) they got 69%, before that 66%

www.riddlesdown.org/Media/Website%20version%20of%20results%202013.pdf

I know someone with a bright child there and she and her husband and child are very happy with it.

Is Warlingham an option? 68% there and similar for the two years before. I live fairly near and everyone I ask (parents and children there) seem to speak highly of W'ham. I'm trying to decide between Riddlesdown and W'ham myself. (Still have a year to pick.) I've looked round both and liked both. (Not much help!)

Good luck with Wilsons by the way.

Thanks Alexandrite

Yes I've been looking at 2012 results.

I know a lot of mums with children in Roddlesdown. I haven't visited any yet. But everyone keeps reassuring me R is good.

From what I understand, R is a very organised and business like environment. It supports children who are very bright.

And if your child is not very academic, Warlingham is better suited.

I'm not sure myself. But for my boys, I just want them to stay away from trouble. Which I don't think they are sensible enough yet to do.

Hi. My dds are fairly academic (top table for everything.) I had wondered if Riddlesdown may suit her better, although I think she is keen to go to W'ham, probably because of the swimming pool! Both are very well run and business like environments I would say from looking round. R has more higher attaining kids because of the 15% academic selection by test. 40% as opposed to 31% at W'ham I think.

Only thing I'm not sure about with R is that because they separate into colleges of 400 children, each with own head and subject staff, I do wonder if there must be too wide a range of ability within each set at R. As too few children to be able to set appropriately. Ditto re subjects. How are they able to offer a wide enough range of subjects with only 400 children in each college?

Anyone know what harris purley is like?

I've not looked around Harris as it's too far from us, but someone on MNet looked around and was very positive about it. Only thing that I think would put me off is that looking at the below table, it has only 12% higher attainers, so they would very much be a minority, which could be hard. That may improve in the next few years of course.

www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=135955&superview=sec