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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Coombe Girls / Tiffin / Kingston Grammar / Surbiton High / Sutton High / Wimbledon High

180 replies

whycantwegoonasthree · 14/09/2017 12:39

Hey wise women of Mumsnet,

What's your opinions/ insider knowledge of the above schools and am I missing anything?

They strike me as my best options in the area but I've only had the internet to go on, and a few brief chats with other mums from school (some of whom are a bit hyper about all this TBH...)

I'm in the enviable position of needing to move house before applying for schools and being afford to pay fees if I have to. (Only just, and I'd rather not obvs. but I can.) so my options are pretty open in that regard.

I have 2 DDs, currently in years 3 and 5 at a private prep – not our choice, we were unlucky about where we lived when it came to primary applications. I'm not snobby about it, in other words.

Eldest DD is, I think pretty bright, but a bit lacking in self confidence. She's been talking with her peers and is hell-bent on Tiffin - but the idea gives me chills - it sounds like a scarily competitive place and not especially nurturing. This is said on the basis of not much actual info though.

I went to a GDST school (on a scholarship as we were broke) and had a great time, so am positively disposed to them for that reason - but am unsure of how they differ from each other.

I know nothing of Surbiton High other than it looks very much like a GDST school from the website!

Coombe girls has great reviews, and it does look like I'd be nuts not to just buy a house in catchment and escape the whole selective stressy nightmare and the fees. And I would know that both my girls could go there, whatever happened, and I wouldn't have to go through all this again in 2 years.

But I currently live in Raynes Park, and this wold mean a move further West - which on the one hand would be a shame as I like it where I am, but may be a small price to pay for a guaranteed school place! (We'd get more for your money with houses too...)

I'd really appreciate your thoughts and insight if you wouldn't mind!

WCWGOA3

OP posts:
MagicMarkers · 09/10/2017 15:14

I've been going to these open evenings/days as well (not Coombe - we live way too far away). This year is the first time I've looked at private schools and the open events are massively different from the state and state grammar ones. The private ones are a business and there is a lot of marketing materials and refreshments.

I was put off KGS a bit by the dim girl, who showed us around. It wasn't shyness: she just seemed clueless. There is also very little outside space. I'm not convinced that it's worth the money.

I really liked the headteacher at Wimbledon High and the girls seemed much more clued up. It was our favourite of the private schools we've looked at.

Sutton High was very nice, but very small and not very academic. A lot of girls leave to go elsewhere for sixth form. I get the impression that it's a good choice for someone with a shy, anxious or unconfident or dyslexic child.

I know a couple of girls who are very happy at Tiffin Girls, but it was my least favourite of the 3 girls' grammar schools. I really liked Wallington and Nonsuch, but we are out of catchment for both.

Our local comprehensive option is Ricards Lodge in Wimbledon. I've heard from a few parents that there is a lot of homework (around 20 pieces a week) and it can be due the following day. This seems a lot and it must be difficult to organise around extra-curricular activities. I've also heard that the behaviour in the mixed ability classes is poor and not well managed by the teachers. Anyone with experience of Ricards? Have you found any behaviour issues?

polyjuice · 09/10/2017 16:07

I'd be careful of placing too much store on the individual children who show you around. We had disappointing experiences pretty much everywhere when Y7s showed us around (actually the boys' schools were much better although I think they were Y8)! Older girls were generally much better.

By the way, 4 x homeworks a night is not unusual for senior school - each is 15-20 mins each although most won't be for the next day (and it includes weekend). Still plenty of time for activities - a lot of those are done at lunchtimes too.

RoryItsSnowing · 09/10/2017 16:09

What about Nonsuch or Rosebery?

MagicMarkers · 09/10/2017 16:39

I agree that year 7 children can be shy and not very informed (new to the school), but the girl, who showed us around KGS was in Year 10.

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 09/10/2017 17:27

Hmm – St John's had better results than Sutton...

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Sunshine5050 · 09/10/2017 17:49

You need to check out the St Johns fees from Year 9 before you visit, it's a different pricing structure and not comparable to KGS, SHS etc. You should compare St Johns to Epsom College where you have the boarding/house ethos.

Crispsheets · 09/10/2017 17:52

What's wrong with boys at sixth form?

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 09/10/2017 18:14

Seems to me to be the worst possible time to introduce them...

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Tabymoomoo · 09/10/2017 20:12

If you're looking as far out as Leatherhead have you considered the Guildford options - GHS or Tormead?

Crispsheets · 09/10/2017 20:28

Are you planning on keeping your daughter in a bubble???

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 09/10/2017 22:24

No, crispsheets. You'll notice I'm including several coed options. That said, I think educationally girls do better in a single sex environment, and that if they've been in one for years 7-11, bringing boys in at yr12 seems likely to be doubly disruptive.

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Greenleave · 09/10/2017 22:38

I'd agree with whycant, I will prefer to see other girls to see if they are whom I'd like my daughter to turn into. Whats the point when boys only join in 6th form.
Anyway, we are so struggle to find a tutor who has weekend availability, if you know anyone in Southwest please can you recommend. I am too scared to see school(cowardice is more of the right word), worrying if we really fall in love with them and couldnt go. (I didnt view my daughter current primary school either even I put it as the only state school of choice).
Reading GHS with interest, we would move too.

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 10/10/2017 09:36

My friend used to work at Tormead. It's a good school but the management team is super dysfunctional and as a result I'd worry about staff turnover and other chaos. Guildford is worth a thought, but what a schlep... I'd prefer to keep things closer to home.

And yes, I just checked the fees for St Johns. Fuckadoodledo. Nope.

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Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 10:08

Interesting. My dd went to a mixed sixth form and didn't have her head turned. Quite the contrary.

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 10/10/2017 10:24

Well maybe I'm just judging by what I know I would have been like if boys had suddenly arrived at my all-girls school in the lower sixth!

Joint drama/music and young enterprise was bad enough... Grin

Glad to hear your DD hasn't bee affected. I do want to like Coombe...

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Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 10:46

My dd went there. And my ds to sixth form there. I was really happy with it. Both now at university

Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 10:47

I found the girls really mature by year 12. They thought most of the boys were twits Smile

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 10/10/2017 10:53

And it's important to learn that boys are twits sooner rather than later, crispsheets… !!

Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 10/10/2017 10:54

What were your thoughts about the school in general Crispsheets? you're the first one on here with any real experience of it...

(I really want to like it... but don't YET...)

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Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 10:57

If you're in the middle sets it's harder...you do get some disruptive behaviour. But the school were quick to take action I found.
Excellent head.
My dd loved it....and it really gave her confidence. The pastoral care was superb and that is very important.

Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 10:59

We could afford private but it was alien to us.....we spent money on a maths tutor for a year up to GCSE. My ds got better A levels than any of his friends at private or selective grammar.

Crispsheets · 10/10/2017 11:07

Have PMed you

Chocolatear · 10/10/2017 14:19

My son is at St John's. It's a lovely school, very inclusive. Pastoral care has been fantastic.
The results are improving year on year.

UserX · 10/10/2017 14:48

Have you counted out Surbiton? It ticks a lot of your boxes

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 10/10/2017 15:29

Chocolate - I think the fees at St John's are a bit steep for us TBH. Also I'm not sure if being a day pupil at a boarding school is great - my DPs kids - who weekly board - say not to do it...

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