Happy high school, commutable to London (Waterloo/Victoria)

[jegory]

Hi, I'm overjoyed with my local primary school. So now, inevitably I'm starting to worry about secondary school! My daughter is only just starting in year 1 btw but I am embarking on a mission to discover a selection of areas/towns we could think about that have secondary schools that we like, so we can make a sensible choice when the time comes...I just love a flexible plan and I'm curious.

I do not prioritise a school's gcse results tbh, I want a happy, nurturing and not too pressured environment for my children to grow up in. I reckon they can do well academically despite lots of pressure rather than because of it.

I accept that unless I go Steiner (which I wont) then there is bound to be some examination pressure, I just want a school where the children still feel nurtured and curious and happy. Does anyone have any kids who feel this way about their school? If so, I'd really appreciate some clues on where to look.
I am vaguely thinking about Cheam, Leatherhead, Epsom, possibly Sutton or Esher? Maybe even Brighton?! really though, at this stage I just want lots of ideas to consider from happy, nurtured kids and their parents. Thank-you so much for any direction you can give me.

Possibly it's a little early to think about secondary schools. A new head starting can change the status of a school overnight, and all areas have good and bad schools.

Sorry, can't help in the areas you specified.

Are you looking for an area to move to? Will your daughter be getting the train to her school? Where do you live now? State/private etc? Need more info :)

sorry, yes, more info :)

State schools only for us.
We live in Morden and I love it but am also happy to move house and commute for a change in a few years. Harris academy Morden is closest.

We work in London, probably want to stay doing so but our hours are pretty flexible so commuting is not much of a problem.
Just interested in using 'happy kids' as a way of focusing my search over the next few years so I can get to know the neighbourhoods and other local schools etc. to see if we will consider moving there.

I suppose it really is very early, but it's not about choosing a school right now, it's about narrowing my search to places that already have relatively happy teenagers attending schools they actually like.
In explanation, the London schools seem to really focus on being competitive with attainment and of-course I'll not judge before checking out the schools themselves, I'd just also like some ideas for where else to investigate too.

Avoid Harris.

I have a close friend who has kids at Therfield in Leatherhead. They are very happy there. The school is on the up, with a new head this year. There is at least one other school in Leatherhead, and I think that tends to be the first choice of many historically, but she is really pleased with Therfield. Very nurturing. They won an award for positive character development programmes earlier this year.

Leatherhead promising then, thanks!