Which Surrey Secondaries have the happiest children?

[fairyhopeful]

We're doing the 11+ in Surrey but wondering from those more experienced, which secondaries out there have the happiest children? Which schools are striking the right balance between academics and mental health?!

[OneStepMoreFun]

fairy my DSs know lots of girls from GHS, Tormead and St Catz. All the ones they know seem happy. GHS is breathtakingly academic though - putting far more pressure on the girls than the equivalent boys' school. So I'd only send a child there if she is highly academic and a natural high achieving self-starter. Tormead is more laid back.I know the Tormead girls best and they are very cheerful and chilled, but do well in exams.

[fairyhopeful]

Oblomov18, which girls' secondaries are you referring to, that have issues with anxiety and self-harming? Perhaps they all do on some level... but would you say this is a significant problem at the private schools... GHS, Tormead, or St Cats, for example?

[Lineofbeauty]

OP is yoru child preparing for selection tests for independent schools or selective state schools in neighbouring boroughs/ counties?

Happiest children? Very hard to quantify.

[Malaco]

The postal county of Surrey extended into Greater London until 1996.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_counties_of_the_United_Kingdom

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Montenuit for postal purposes all you need is 26 cabbage gardens, KT (rest of postcode).

Kingston is Greater London, in that it's a London's borough, it's is not in any way Surrey. If you like putting Surrey in your address, go nuts, but it is a London borough.

[Titsywoo]

Kingston isn't actually in Surrey. I used to live in Croydon and put Surrey as my county but it isn't - it did used to be (albeit not when I lived there!) so there is confusion. Probably same with Kingston.

[Titsywoo]

Surrey is a pretty big place! What sort of area are you talking about?

[montenuit]

err i live in Kingston.
My address is definitely Surrey... what do you suggest it should be then?

6 Cabbage Gardens
Kingston
London
KT6 2AP

and no that is not my real address, obvs... ??

And those living over the bridge in Hampton should they be also using London rather than Middlesex?

Try telling that to the post office !

and none of this is remotely helpful to the OP who seems to have left, not that i blame her.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

These schools are in London boroughs which used to be in the county of Surrey 40 years ago, but are now part of greater London. People still use the Surrey word, probably because it sounds posh. People also talk about "Middlesex"" which ceased to exist at the same time. County Hall is still in Kingston, because they choose to retain their massive listed building, meaning that the HQ of Surrey County Council is indeed outside the county of Surrey. (And local government officers like me have to tell into outer London to go and meet colleagues in County!)

There are no grammars in the county of Surrey. I could mention all sorts of Surrey secondaries with happy children, but none of them involve competing against hundreds of other kids for the 11+.

[Oblomov18]

There seems to be a lot of problems, particularly self harming and anxiety amongst particularly the girls, not quite so much the boys, at all the secondaries round here.

[GreenPolishToGo]

DD and her friends left Nonsuch with stellar examination results, poor self-esteem and a stunning array of mental disorders between them - anxiety, depression, panic attacks, self-harming and anorexia.

[CrumpettyTree]

I'm in the Surrey Borough of Tandridge but used to be in LB of Sutton

[CrumpettyTree]

I believe the administrative district is London Borough of Sutton/Kingston but the postal district for both is Surrey.

[MujosMama]

Sorry, my misunderstanding! It got taken over by United Learning from the RGS group. My bad.

Anyway, I've heard really positive thing about pupil wellbeing since that takeover.

[MakeLemonade]

Tiffin is definitely Surrey, Wallington and Nonsuch are basically Surrey but technically London Borough of Sutton although previously part of Surrey.

I’ve not heard great things re happiness levels of kids at Nonsuch, it can be a real hot house.

[Clavinova]

People might put Surrey but that's not the correct postal address

Well, everyone who lives and works there does...

www.tiffinschool.co.uk/home.html
www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-offices/county-hall

[SoupDragon]

Kingston's postal address is Surrey though

It isn't. People might put Surrey but that's not the correct postal address.

[Bekabeech]

Surrey has no State Grammar schools. It's secondaries are pretty happy. I'd suggest Howard of Effingham had generally the happiest pupils I've met. Rodborough could be second.

[Clavinova]

Kingston Grammar School is a private school.

[Clavinova]

Kingston's postal address is Surrey though - and just to confuse matters - Surrey County Council's headquarters are in Kingston.

[ischristmasoveryet]

I don't think there are any grammar schools in Surrey. They are in surrounding London Boroughs.

If you are thinking of any other secondary schools good luck with that because if you're not living close ish to one you won't get to pick and choose.

[Bellie99]

Dunottar is not part of the Reigate grammar group.

[MujosMama]

Whereabouts are you looking? I grew up in Reigate and am getting to the age now where friends children are starting to look at secondaries. I went to Dunottar back in the day, have heard excellent things about the pastoral care and rounded achievement as well as academic success since it joined the Reigate Grammar group

[AChickenCalledKorma]

None of the 11+ schools you are looking at are actually in Surrey. So asking about "Surrey secondaries" without referring to grammars or 11+ in your title is confusing.

I do find it ironic that schools that pride themselves on their academic prowess persist in using a version of local geography that's about 40 years out of date, but that's a different issue.

[Itsonlyhearsay]

Sorry, wrong thread (blush)