Ursuline, Holy Cross and Ricards Lodge

[Asiatarta]

Hello ladies,
I am looking to send my daughter to high school and am trying to order the schools. The problem is I do not know of anyone with children at any of these schools and due to the Coronavirus I have not been able to look around them. There re virtual open evenings on line but it isn’t the same as going to a school and feeling the atmosphere and seeing the facilities for yourself. So I’m looking for insider info and opinions! Any experience of these schools would be appreciated if you would share. Thank you. PS - we are practising Catholics.

I only know Holy Cross first hand. Lovely school with lovely girls from the brief visit I had. Would have definitely considered for my girls were we Catholic and lived nearer!

Ursuline and Richards Lodge I've never been to, but know of girls who went there and the feedback is quite mixed tbh. Ursuline is apparently super strict. RL is a bit more relaxed, but has more bitchiness amongst the girls from what I've heard.

If we lived around Wimbledon I would have chosen RL as the only non-denominational girls' school. If in New Malden (where we were going to move to actually), I would have chosen Coombe Girls tbh.

Where exactly do you live? It would be easier for your dd if she could just get one bus directly maximum imho.

Thank you, we live in Wimbledon and would have a direct bus to all 3, although tbh Ursuline is within walking distance. I think Coombe is a bit too far from us. Where do/did your DDs go Meredusoleil? Somewhere around Merton/Sutton/kingston?

No. We are in Richmond Borough but I teach in Merton and know the Kingston schools a bit too. That's why we were going to move to New Malden!

In your case, if you are quite devout Catholics I would probably say Ursuline would be a good fit for your dd. Holy Cross is a lovely school though. I would definitely include all 3 on the CAF and find 3 others to complete it with. Do you definitely want single sex?

@Asiatarta

Thank you, we live in Wimbledon and would have a direct bus to all 3, although tbh Ursuline is within walking distance. I think Coombe is a bit too far from us. Where do/did your DDs go Meredusoleil? Somewhere around Merton/Sutton/kingston?

Actually, it's funny you mentioned Sutton as we also considered moving there when we ruled out New Malden. Dd1 got offered a place at Wallington High School for Girls, but ultimately, we decided we preferred to stay in Richmond borough and didn't want to send her all that way to school 🤷‍♀️

Holy Cross is a lovely school, much smaller compared to Ursuline. Both Catholic and good results. We chose Holy Cross for our daughter because it had a close-knit community feeling to it compared to Ursuline, and the commute to Holy Crosd was shorter for us.
Good luck!

We chose HC over Ursuline because it felt like a better fit for our DD. It is smaller but there was something very warm and appealing that drew us in. The teachers are great and the results are excellent. So far so good.

I only know Ursuline from the point of view of several teachers who work there and it's not good! The Head sounds like a nightmare.

I liked the Ursuline teacher I met at the open evening. I’d imagine they are under a lot of pressure to maintain those grades.

thank you ladies, really helpful!

IrishMum, am I correct in guessing you are closer to Ursuline?

Hi @Asiatarta yes, we are nearer to UHS but chose HC for the reasons I mentioned.

@IrishMumSW19

Hi *@Asiatarta* yes, we are nearer to UHS but chose HC for the reasons I mentioned.

How is the journey for your DD? Are you happy with the school, did your DD know anyone there when she started?

I’m still deliberating the same thing!
I love Holy Cross but it’s the furthest for us. Ursuline is the closest. I am also considering St Philomenas.
Has anyone regretted choosing school further away in the long run ?
For me, Holy Cross and St Phil are equal distance and a bit awkward. Ursuline is 7 min by train plus walk and has an alternative it problem with trains. DD can only get to Holy Cross he train

Not long to go!! We are nearest to Ursuline (can walk or get a bus), and equal distance to st phils and holy cross (both one bus ride away).

Pauk, what are you swaying towards?