Good independent schools within 45 mins of Gatwick

[Ineedthesunshine]

Can anyone help - I'm looking for a good and pretty academic independent school that is within a 1hr - 45 minute radius of Horley (near Gatwick). We have to move down to Surrey and I haven't got time to go from school to school - eek!

Ardingly College, Hurstpierpoint College, Worth (broad intake but some very academic DC) .

Also Brighton College at a pinch.

Lingfield Notre Dame covers a range of abilities but gets good academic results. Reigate Grammar is a traditional academic coed.

Thanks. I think Brighton might be too far. But I will defintielyhave a look at the others. I had also heard of Lancing - although again maybe this is too far? DS1 is really highly academic so needs a challenging school. DS2 is also academic but probably top 15% rather than top 1%. DS2 likes his drama and sports. So it needs to be a place which will work for both.

What sports do they play? Ardingly is traditionally sporty as is Hurst. Lancing more boarding than day. You could look at Whitgift in Croydon, about 25 mins on train from Horley.

Sevenoaks

Freemans

Great - lots to look at.

Sports wise, DS2 likes swimming and DS1 is rugby mad. I think it needs to be a selective school as DS1 thrives where there are smart kids to challenge him.

And are there any by reputation that I should avoid?

No idea how good it is but Christ's Hospital is in Horsham. I only know of it because of the uniform!

Reigate Grammar is supposed to be good.

(disclaimer - I really know nothing about independent schools. These are just ones I'm aware of in the area)

I saw Christ's hospital - I'm not sure I could get my boys in those gowns!

CH is boarding. You may struggle to find mid year places at some of these. How old are your dc?

I know LIZS I am worried about finding spots :( They are year 6 and 8 currently and hoping to join (year 7 and 9) maybe in the summer if we can commute for a bit.

Many of them will have a 13+ intake but some of the exams have already happened and offers been made. 11+ tends to be in January. Schools may do a later sitting once the acceptance date has passed in February. If your elder were offered a place it may be possible to take it up before September. Ardingly and Hurst have an attached prep school, Lingfield a junior school so your ds2 could also be accommodated earlier at those too.

they'll be joining at normal entry points, 11+ and 13+, yr7 and yr9.

the exams for entry into yr7 (don't know about yr9) are usually first week of Jan,
application deadlines have just closed.
get onto this urgently!

Caterham School - fab school and academic. Ditto Whitgift - boys only

Reigate Grammar is the top co-ed in Surrey. Excellent sports including rugby. Strong academically and despite reputation as being a hot house there is lots of emphasis on extra curricular and all round development.

At least it sounds like there's some v good choices around the area. Reigate sounds v interesting.

For sporty boys you definitely need to have Whitgift on your list. Academically strong, the extra-curricular stuff is amazing. Sport has always been the big draw there but music/drama etc now also becoming increasingly important, so boys get a great all-round experience.

Whitgift looks nice - I looked at their website and love that they do fencing - DS2 is fencing mad. But I think it might be in the wrong direction since its in the M25?

I was going to say Caterham, seems friendly when children play matches there.

Lots of kids commute some distance to Whitgift, from beyond the m25. By train it isn't that far.

Caterham is sporty and has a minibus that picks up in Horley. Whitgift would be 50 mins by car and less than that by train but with the arsing around that Southern is doing it might not be ideal. Hurst is nice but not hugely academic. Worth is in lovely grounds and very near Horley. Has a new head who is forward thinking.

If the commute works, Whitgift would bea great choice and they'd be entering at "normal" entry points of 11+ and 13+. But I think you've missed the application deadline which was sometime in November, with entry tests in January, so you'd need to contact them ASAP to see if anything can be done. I know someone who got a late place there for Year 8 so it's possible that they'd be flexible. Worth a try!

Caterham (drivable), Reigate Grammar School (drivable), Trinity (train to E Croydon from Y6), Whitgift (train to S Croydon from Y6) if you want academic for sporty boys.