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!

Thanks. Dh is going for final discussions on Monday and if we decide to go we'll contact the schools and see if they have potential spaces. Schools normally fail over themselves to have DS1 - he's an A* all the way kind of kid so that might help our plight.

What about Bede's?

You may find that isn't so exceptional in some of the more selective schools mentioned though. Unfortunately by Monday the schools will have broken up and some of the 11+ assessments will be very early in January, even before term starts. It might be worth making provisional enquiries before Friday.

Bedes has a sporty rather than academic reputation. Also about an hour from Gatwick.

yeah I'm not sure its doable for next year for the ones I mentioned if he dosn't sit the entrance exams in January - I guess you'd have to wait for a waiting list place for next September if anyone leaves.

I think Surrey must be more competitive for space than here. Although our very selective and very good school (top 30 in the country) says they have no space other than those allocated after exams - we do find in each year that two or three pupils arrive and are found space for. I wonder if that happens where you are?

I think realistically we couldn't physically make it to all the exams as we have the 11+ Common Entrance for DS2 here as well in Jan. I'm beginning to think moving might not be such a good idea.

BTW I'd really like a co-ed I think. I'm not a fan of boy's schools.

I'm definitely going to ring Reigate Grammar tomorrow as a start.

There is usually more than one exam date available if you ask, as dc often sit for more than one school and they sometimes clash. The only boys' schools mentioned are Whitgift and Trinity, Lancing may still be I think, rest are co ed. Alternative for ds2 is to do year 7 & 8 in a prep school and then take 13+ /CE entry to secondary.