St John Leatherhead

[Dominica1971]

Hi i’m just about accept Place for my daughter y7 at st John. We leave in Wimbledon and I was wondering if every day traveling there could be a bit far. Also I’m not totally sure if there is lots of children commuting from Wimbledon? Epsom Collage ( she also has a place there) it’s perhaps closer. It’s is such a big decision and I can’t seem to make my mind up. . Epsom is probably bit more academic which matteres to me. St John happy feel and pastoral care will suits my daughter too. Please advise if you have any experience or know about those school and the logistics of it all. Thank you D

yes Epsom college is indeed a bit closer - no doubt you looked into the logistics during the application process?? St Johns has a bus from Wimbledon so your daughter would make local friends that way

www.stjohnsleatherhead.co.uk/transport

OP, as you have said on your other St J's thread your dd has a scholarship & you went back to visit again last week. I do appreciate it's a really difficult decision but your dd will be happy at St J's, the lower school looks wonderful and she will academically thrive if already in the scholarship intake. You could ring both schools and ask how many dc from Wimbledon currently take the bus but as you won't get a reply before next week I would just fill in the paperwork, send back and put your mind at rest.

Loads of kids from Wimbledon go to St Johns

We're also from Wimbledon and making the decision on St John's vs another school (all girls not Epsom). I like that there is a school bus but as they get a bit older/more independant they can catch the train which is 25 mins plus the short walk to the school. Didn't try for Epsom as limited with school buses and put off by Sat school from yr9.

Did your daughter end up at St J? How has it been for a girl? Considering a change in GCSE and looking at St J?

Hi - I can’t recommend St Johns highly enough. My DD has been there for a few years having come from an all girls prep. In prep school she always struggled and felt a failure because she was in the “bottom half” academically and after being rejected by all the girls schools she applied to at 11+ (apart from a waitlist at Surbiton) she really was at rock bottom. Going to St Johns has totally turned things around for here. She was put in all the top sets and has totally regained all her confidence. Her teachers are amazingly supportive and I really feel she will reach her potential - her gcse predictions are mainly 7s with a few 6s and 8s which is fantastic considering she used to see herself as “not clever”. Sometimes it is so much better being a big fish in a small pond and I am so glad she is away from all those competitive alpha girls from her prep school. I also love the fact that the school is co-Ed - she has had great social life and (pre covid) there were always plenty of gathering and parties at weekends so definitely a good balance of fun and work. By comparison all the girls she knew at prep school who went to the “academic” girls schools just seem to work all the time and stress about getting into a Russell group university. Life is for living and your school years should be about building confidence and having fun.