Surrey Secondary - Gordons / Hoe Valley?

[PatDuffy]

I'm a bit lost in the system.

I'm looking after twins, a step uncles kids. I've had boy from birth and his sister from about age 2. They've now just started yr 6 and I'm belatedly trying to find out more about their school options. We're moving to a new build in Bisley around October / November 2018 and have been told to look at Gordons or Hoe Valley?

I understand Gordons would be day boarding for them. Does anyone here have children there currently or past? What's the situation with the Saturday attendance - it's unclear on their website. I'm slightly concerned their times might interfere with the kid's extracurricular activities such as boxing and ice skating/hockey, and kayaking.

Any advice on those school, or schools in the area, would be most appreciated!

Are they looked after, or formerly looked after? In which case you can choose any school you want. Applications have to be submitted by the end of next month, and they will use the address you apply from, so if you're living far away from that area currently you will be quite far down the waiting list due to distance. Surrey does I think allow you to change address after you've applied but only for a month or so -check as it's a risk!

Don;t know either school I'm afraid.

Hoe Valley only opened last year and this year is the first at the new premises (it was in porter cabins last year). It was over subscribed for the first year (I know people in Maybury who didn't get a place the first year and Bisley is much further away) but I assume the intake is larger this year due to the larger premises.

My understanding with Gordon's is that you need to live extremely close to get in. However, if you formally care for the children perhaps you could get in under 'cared for'. There tends to be quite a few Woking mums on here so hopefully my response will bump for you a bit.

St John the Baptist is the school most parents want.

If the twins are "looked after children" then you should get them in to any of the schools so no issues about catchment.

Gordons is very sought after (one of mine was on the waiting list for 3 years til we gave up!) but it is a longer day and week so you'd have to be able to work around that. HV obviously has the newest facilities as it's only been open a few days! It won't have a tested record yet for exams as its oldest children have just started Y10 so you'd have to go based on feel of the school which is probably no bad thing.

If you're in Bisley, your other most obvious options would be Woking High or Winston.

The applications will close in mid-October so you are likely to be a late applicant but as the children are LAC that shouldn't be as much of a problem as it could be.

Agree with past posters...

My friends daughter attends Gordons (she literately lived on the school boundary (moved from living within West End village because she would not have been awarded a place...the catchment is just 100 yds if you are a day boarder). Looked after children would probably get priority and I know there are lots of children whose parents are in the forces (full boarding).

Feedback has always been very positive - I think my friends DD stays until early evening most days (mum works in the city) The activities offered within school have always sounded amazing - her DD is in the pipes and drums band.

I need to email her about some other arrangements so I will ask about Saturday school and PM you when I hear back.

Fantastic replies. Thank you all.

We have an old letter from the council requesting that we look after the kids but nothing else so I'm unsure of official standing. I've not applied for SGO as I've not yet had any reason to believe I need to - but obviously, that could be done.

Will check out Woking High and Winston too. Cheers.

It sounds like they arent, or never have been looked after. That's a shame as you'll be using the normal admissions criteria which will be an issue as you haven';t moved yet and means you stand no chance of Gordons. If I was you I would urgently, ie. today, get their LAC status clarified. SGO isn't the same as looked after.

Hi Titchy,

I've just dug up letters from 2011 from Children Services who were overseeing their care initially - I'll chase them on Monday morning to get it checked out. Thanks.

Living in Bisley, you might also consider Collingwood College in Camberley. It’s a large school and there is a school bus- or at least there was when mine were that age.

In terms of distance, Winston Churchill would be the nearest and I think you’d get a bus pass. Unless the children have an EHCP, when the school of your choice has to offer a place, or the children are designated Children Looked After, in terms of the criteria, which also is high on the criteria for admission.

I’d check out the others though because you may find that you like them. We lived in West End village and had no chance of getting into Gordon’s. Not that I would have chosen it in any case.

I went to Gordon's as has my brother and several of my family, I really recommend it, it's great for children that come from all types of background. Especially looked after and army etc. School is compulsory on a Saturday morning but tends to be more fun activities, cycling club, science club, swimming etc. They have longer hours but it's great for working parents. Also worth a look is sjb, Winston and I've heard good things of hoe valley. It's worth going to visit them as different children will settle I'm different settings 😊

Thanks for the input.

Waiting to have situation confirmed - it's crazy really as their mum is schizophrenic, can't look after herself (used to walk over bridges of the Thames with the daughter in a pram because the voices in her head told her to at 2am). Evicted from home due to being "not fit of human habitation" - the girl remembers being put in a room full of trash bags and rats when people visited. Screamed when we gave her her first bath aged two - never bathed before). The father rarely takes an interest, only visiting at christmas or when we have big family meal on for the free food.

Thanks again, everyone.

If you have the money and the choice then Gordons is a fantastic school, I know many who send their children there and all love it. It has children of all abilities, yes its day is long but I think they do all their homework in that time.
HV has brand new facilities it sounds like you are too far away for it anyway-but worth a visit to see the facilities.

Woking High has a great rep and of course SJB but you have to be Catholic.
If I were you I would definitely make sure I got the looked after status as the children will be able to choose any school that they want (and that you think is right for them).

Hi Sazzy, We can afford Gordon's day boarding fees for both but not full boarding or a private school. It does look like a fantastic school, I've seen the photo gallery and the twitter feed. Although, I'm a little concerned that the Saturday attendance will ruin our occasional kayaking/camping/travel weekends

We have had clarification from the social department in west London who was dealing with them. They were never classed as 'looked after' as we stepped in to take them before legal proceedings were pursued. They are offering a letter of support but I assume this will make little difference to school applications, we're out of luck with the priority list so I doubt they will pass admissions.