Surbiton facilities vs others and general feedback?

[Whichschool2020]

I went to the Surbiton High open day today. I was impressed with the acting principal's talk, and the show around by the girls.

But, there were a couple of things that I wasn't sold on. I realise these are all complete first world problems.

Firstly, the lack of swimming pool- this seems unusual for private secondary schools in the area. Secondly, the fact the girls have to go by coach to get to sports facilities- again, unusual? I didn't get a straight answer about exactly which sports the girls do in year 7 and how much.

Also, is a new head lined up? Any info on this?

Others that we are looking at are:

LEH, Emanuel, Jags, Alleyns, St Paul's Girls School.

We might also look at Kingston Grammar, Streatham and Clapham and possibly a couple of others.

Does anyone have any views on the above? DD is pretty academic, very sporty with a big interest in a sport that she competes in already. She also loves drama/dance etc, but doesn't play a musical instrument and doesn't really have any interest in that. So basically an all rounder but particularly sporty.

She's not due to start til sept 2020 so a while to decide but would love some feedback. Thanks!

The quick answers to your queries are:
No swimming at school but pupils swim out of school with clubs near their homes. SHS focuses on their 6 key sports with extra clubs like football and cricket.
KGS has the same distance of travel to their grounds in Thames Ditton. The SHS pupils visit HW sports ground once or twice a week plus after school netball/ hockey etc. The rowing from Year 8 is in Teddington. There are buses back from HW stopping at train stations. Not much info anywhere on new head but she is coming from another United Learning school but not comparable academically. KGS is much harder to get into than SHS and whilst you may consider at this stage not many people would sit SHS and SPSG, it more likely to be LEH or Guildford High. The sport is outstanding at SHS and musical theatre excellent. The music is so so, it's interesting to note that there is only 1 music scholar in current Year 8 and 1 in current Year 7 both coming from the SH Junior school. The school will have offered to external candidates who have chosen other schools with stronger music depts.

There are buses back from HW stopping at train stations

My understanding is the coaches from Hinchley Wood playing field only go as far as Surbiton. They don't for example go back to Teddington. That was an issue for me, so if you have a sporty dd and can't pick up from Hinchley Wood make sure they can get home.

Firstly, the lack of swimming pool- this seems unusual for private secondary schools in the area

afaik only LEH has a pool

KGS uses the kingfisher next door, but swimming is largely done out of school. ime very few teenage girls swim. shame but usual apparently. (waits for deluge of posts telling me how much their DDs swim).

Emanuel, Jags, Alleyns - all have swimming pools and on site sports facilities

Yes SHS coaches only go as far as Surbiton stopping at HW station on the way.

That's crazy though isn't it? When you look at the sheer numbers of girls going to Surbiton from Teddington area, how are they supposed to get home from the playing fields?
Surbiton train station isn't any use to anyone on the other side of Kingston Bridge.

Thanks. We are having a look at JAGS next week and LEH in early November. We are in SW11 so journey to consider.

I was also thinking about looking at Putney High and Wimbledon High too. So many choices but we've got ages yet.

If your daughter is sporty do note the LEH boat house for Rowing is in Sunbury with no easy public transport access.

Please don't choose a school based on their having a swimming pool. Pools are so expensive to run that the schools rent them out constantly to other schools and clubs and their own pupils hardly ever get to use them.

Obviously I wouldn't chose a school on whether it had a pool or not! It was just a minor thing I noticed, combined with having to get a coach to sports fields. DD is not hugely into swimming anyway- she is very strong in a couple of other sports though. I also worry about how we will narrow down which exams to put her in for- DH thinks she should do as many as possible- I think 4 or 5 at absolute most would be more sensible- especially as the exams are in January right after her busiest time of year for her sport!

Nearer the time you will find the schools schedule exams on the same day to make parents think hard about their priorities. You can always sit a back up date but the school knows from the start they are second choice. This year KGS and St George's Weybridge are the same day, last year it was KGS and SHS. 4 - 5 applications is maximum.

Also really think about the timings of the exams.
You don't want the exam of your first choice school to be day 3 or even day 4 in a full week of exams.