Best secondary schools in Surrey

[Catchmum2017]

Hi Mums,
My son is going to be in year 5 from next academic year. It's a crucial time as by end of next year we need to sort out a good secondary school for him .
My DS is just an above average student .. He is good in maths and reading but when it comes to writing he is one lazy boy . He is very able but because of his lack of concentration and sometimes lack of focus, he doesn't perform according to his ability . So be that music( he started piano last year and did his initial with distinction and on grade 1 for next term ) , cricket ( he plays for local clubs and school ) and studies he doesn't perform to his best ability .. He is just a normal 9 year old boy that's what I am always told in his school . With the madness of grammar schools around me , I get a bit lost and frankly I don't see my child getting into any . He is good but he is not excellent . So instead of joining the madness I thought I will start searching for good / excellent schools around and let him grow on his own pace. I am based in Croydon but I am okay to move out in and around so that we can get him admitted to a good school . Can you suggest me some please ? I also planning to try some independent schools in Croydon for 10+ .. Can you please let me know ?

Riddlesdown and Woodcote are the schools of choice in the south of the borough. Both oversubscribed, but Riddlesdown is huge so may take from a wide area.

State schools, that is!

Woodcote and the beacon are two my sis looked at.

Thanks merlottime and iloveredwine .. Yes I am looking for an excellent / outstanding state schools in Surrey . I am looking for an overall development of my son - sports and studies both .
I know about riddlesdown .. I will search woodcote and beacon as well .. Thanks 👍

Woodcote has a sports specialism, and a brand new athletics track. It was Croydon school of the year last year. I know quite a few people with kids there, they seem very happy.

Warlingham is another popular one for South Croydon parents, although it is in Surrey rather than Croydon.

If you are entertaining moving then Howard of Effingham is one of the best in the country. Glyn over in Epsom is also excellent.

Riddlesdown has a rapidly shrinking catchment as it has become very popular and also had an outstanding ofsted recently, so despite its 300+ PAN, anything under two miles and you may well not get in. It also is semi selective. Woodcote is the same in terms of catchment.

Croydon and environs have had a lot of building recently so it is very densely populated and this is affecting catchments, plus the year your son is in was a big birth year (a dozen bulge classes put on across the borough that year), which will have a further knock on effect.

Warlingham is popular but has a small intake.

Not saying that any of these schools are impossible to get into, but if you are thinking of moving house to get in to one, you'll need to be very close by!

In terms of independent schools, lots around croydon are single sex. Royal russell isn't and has excellent facilities and a new head so is considered to be on the up academically and in terms of pastoral care.

Catchments obviously not such an issue for the private schools! But some are still quite competitive - whitgift and trinity, for example.

There are very good catholic secondaries if they are an option?

Glyn in Epsom is a very good state school, both mine have done well there.

Glyn in Epsom would be my suggestion too, in my experience (two brothers who attended) they are excellent at managing lazy but able boys to good results.

Thanks a lot everyone for you quick responses . I will research on the schools you mentioned and hopefully can sort out something by next summer . I am aiming whitgift and trinity but offcourse only if my son can manage some overall scholarship and a good percentage of that in 10+ entrance . He is good in cricket , swimming and very good in maths so if he can manage something fine else I will have to look into all the state schools you mentioned and especially the one with sports facilities .
Can anyone guide me how to deal with interview part with trinity and whitgift ? I have heard a lot depends on how well you represent yourself there .
Also will previous year end report cards have any knock on effect on admissions ?
His year 4 reports show that he is beyond levels in maths , science , reading , PE , computing but within levels for writing, French . His effort and progress has been "B" which was "A" last term . Also it's mentioned that he is an able child but due to his focus issues he sometimes need time to settle down .
What my question is I know I have to submit these year 3/4 results to trinity and whitgift .. Will that be any problem in terms of his admission with this report card especially where they mention about his focus issues ?
Thanks once again for all your responses ..

I think that you need to be realistic about prospects of a "good" scholarship at 10+. W&T would be more generous with the means tested bursaries, but the scholarships at this stage might not be as generous as you think, and certainly more discount will be awarded to outstanding academic results than to sport.

If you are looking at a scholarship then the interview will be to see whether the boy is as intelligent as the exam result might suggest and has a natural thirst and inquisitiveness, or whether he has been "prepared" for the last few years. There are a surprising number of children who seem to peak at their entrance exam.

That said, both schools take in a range of boys. I don't think that the reports so far are a cause for concern. Obviously the schools will look to see whether they tie into his exam results.

Both W and T offered DS2 places at 11+ despite every positive in his reports beginning with the phrase "When focussed, SmallDragon2..." I don't think you need to worry about the report side of it if your DS performs in the exam and at interview. The interview is really nothing to be worried about if you have a reasonably confident child. They will be used to talking to boys of all types and characters anyway.

Ladymuck is right about not being overly optimistic about a scholarship.

Thanks Ladymuck and soup dragon for your responses . That does give me an idea about the entry process .. I am going to work on his weaknesses and his strengths over the summer holidays and the remaining 4/5 months and just go and try our luck to see how he does in the entrance exam really and take it on from there . Thanks all for your help and suggestions .

Honestly, I would put him in a prep school until year 8 if you are serious about trying for a scholarship at an Indy and then apply for 13+. Message me if you want some recommendations, mine have all gone through the prep system.

And yes, honestly those reports won't help although it will be the Head's reference that needs to be glowing. If he needs to mature a bit first then a few years in prep may be ideal. At my DS' prep school quite a few join for year 7 and 8 to access great independent senior schools.

My understanding is that sports scholarships are only really awarded to those competing at minimum county level, and music scholarships at quite high grades.

Would you consider state grammar? Some very good ones in Sutton - wally boys etc.

You have to be strong at English as well as Maths for a grammar place, though Wally Boys doesn't test written English which makes it a possibility.

Hi Sciencerocks and Ladymuck ,
Thanks for your reply . @Sciencerocks- It's not the question of me considering or not considering grammar school exams -
It's the question where I am
Not sure yet whether he can make it through the tough exams .. By all means I will make him write the exams but frankly speaking I am not expecting anything out of it .. If he can
It's brilliant else I still want to keep my options open and hence i asked about the good schools in Surrey .

@Ladymuck - yes uptill this year there is no second exam in English and maths at wally boys but we never know . Every year they change the exam pattern .. Next year we will come to know what's the exact requirement.
I know I can search online for ofsted reports but sometimes that can be misleading and I thought no one can tell me better than mums who have personal experiences .
Thanks once again for your responses . :-)

Oasis Coulsdon has been fab for our friends daughter and is increasing in popularity. She was in top sets so pushed academically, said she also enjoyed lots of trips and extra curricular.

Relatively small for a secondary with good pastoral care and lots of opportunities. It is 11-16 but they have 6th form entry to Reigate College which is outstanding.

I could be wrong but I thought the Sixth form provision for Oasis Coulsdon was Coulsdon College
www.oasisacademycoulsdon.org/content/post-16-26

Although it looks like Coulsdon has the same executive head as Reigate.

Yes, Oasis Coulsdon feeds into Coulsdon College not Reigate, although some kids probably do go to Reigate. Oasis is the least favoured of all of the local secondaries, but I think it is improving.