Secondary schools in Surrey

[Magicmum101]

Hello mums, first time posting so forgive me if I don't know the lingo yet. I'm a single parent whose DS just sat his 11+ entrance exams and hasn't got any resulting interviews (we're distraught). We are in London but I'm now thinking of moving us to Surrey where he might stand a better chance of getting into a good secondary school - independent or state at this stage, I don't mind. Plus, it would be good to get out of the hot house that is SW London and hopefully we'll have a bigger garden for the dog and football mad DS.
We are open to areas but I want to be in a large village/small town and want neighbours so we don't feel isolated. I work from home but would need to be on a train line to get to London for meetings. I'd been looking at Esher/Claygate area but would really welcome some guidance on both areas and schools. My son is bright and should have done really well at 11+ so I'm in shock (along with his teachers and tutor) but his local comprehensive isn't great and as it is now looking like his only option, I need to move to Plan B.
thanks so much for your insight in advance.

Contact Ewell Castle School in Ewell and St James's in Ashford. They both take late entries and can be accessed from SW London or Surrey.

The problem you will have is that by the time you move, all the state places for year 7 starting in september will have been allocated so getting a place at an outstanding or good state school will be difficult and may involve time on the waiting list so you might be better concentrating on non selective independents as you can afford to do down this route
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Thanks. Yep, late to the game, I fear but never expected him not to get one of the four schools we’d applied to. It’s a tough pill. And not the easiest time to be area and school and house hunting! Thanks for the advice as I was feeling a bit lost.

We moved to Surrey (from the north) a couple of years ago and with 3 kids going into yr9, Yr7 and yr3, the priority was schooling. It was all rather last minute in May so I looked online at a few possibilities and emailed them regarding vacancies. Once we’d secured a couple of school options we could then visit them, sit their exams & finally look at finding a home in the area. I think you may need to find a decent school with the vacancy first.

Competition for good state school places is fierce in this area, even for people who apply at the regular time, so I suspect you'll be looking at independent options. Not even all kids at feeder primary schools get a place at Hinchley Wood School, for example.

In terms of indie options, Hampton Court House might be another possibility to those already mentioned - we have friends who were offered a late place for their DS there a couple of years back. It's quite a quirky, small school, so may or may not suit your DS. FWIW, we also have friends whose bright DS got straight A's at A Level from Ewell Castle, so it can clearly work well for smart kids.

You could of course put him in one of the 13+ preps to give yourself an extra 2 years to find the right independent/state. There will be spaces due to some boys moving at 11+.

Sorry to hear you’ve had such a stressful time, OP.

Agree with other posters that the good state secondaries will be oversubscribed in this kind of area. And you might struggle for a y7 place for independent as well as (needless to say) there is fierce competition for indies, too. Although worth contacting admissions teams to ask about in year admissions.

If you considered the prep to 13 option, as a PP has suggested, you’d potentially have a decent number of schools to consider if you based yourself in Esher / Claygate area. Have a look at preps like Feltonfleet, Danes Hill, Parkside- these all go to 13.

Good luck.

Does your prep got to 13? One option is to stay there and hope for some wait list movements if you are on those or at least give yourself breathing space to gather your head and options.
Also echo other poster - st james in Ashford take late entries and caters for all abilities

Good idea to consider Prep schools. I'd not thought of that. He's currently at a very good state primary so will be leaving at the end of Y6.

I'm conscious I'm still in shock at his exam outcomes and I might be having a knee jerk reaction to the school rejections (not helped by all his friends having done well) but it also feels like it might be the push I need to start a new chapter (trying to be positive!).

I'm interested to know about the change from London to Surrey life. As a single mum with a very sociable only child, we really appreciate the local community and the fact we both know lots of people in our little London 'village' both for support and socialising. Does one make parent friends through secondary school? The parent friends I've made through primary have been great but I know I won't be allowed by DS to do drop off and collection so wonder how I'll meet other parents and people in general.

So much to think about - my head is in a spin. But thanks for the school ideas. Super helpful.

If you're in SW London have you considered The Hall school in Wimbledon? It might save you moving.

Hi @Magicmum101,

I know the feeling of uncertainly that you speak of. It’s really very daunting. We moved to north london then Wimbledon to a small village called Thames ditton. It’s the cutest. The state schools are awesome and there’s a plethora of private to choose from and many go to 13+. Shrewsbury house as one example. If you wanted to try state then move to Hinchley Wood and get on a waitlist. It’s hugely over subscribed but all the schools in this area are exemplary. Esher High even Three Rivers which had a poor reputation, has got loads better. The ‘mum network’ is incredible in Thames ditton. The houses are pricy but it depends what you’re after. Best of luck. All will work out in the end. It has to, right x.

Hinchley Wood and Esher High School are both excellent. Also heard great things about Cobham Free School though it’s less established - I don’t live in the area but DB does and has children at the latter.

Hi I wondered if anyone had any feedback on Parkside Prep. Now exploring that route as an option... thanks

Have a look at Shrewsbury House School. An outstanding prep in Surbiton/Long Ditton which has strong relationships with senior schools. Amazing pastoral care too.

And others have mentioned there are loads of other great schools in the area.

My son is younger, so I am not familiar with the detail of the 11+ vs. 13+ process. However my understanding is that the boys starting senior school at 13+ still write their entrance at the same time as the year as the 11+ and their place is then deferred for 2 years. So those who wrote now, will start senior school in 2023. I am not sure when Common Entrance exams are though (for those senior independent schools that don't have an 11+ intake) , so pobably a good idea to call around the prep schools you are instructed in to get more info.

Good luck

SJB School, Comprehensive, in Woking is in the top 100 schools in the UK.

SJB does get excellent results but admissions criteria are very strict and unless you are Catholic and live in catchment/attend specific local Catholic feeder primary schools you will not get in I’m afraid

He can sit for Hampton or RGS at 12+ and I also think Cranleigh school in Surrey do their entrance exams later. I would recommend getting him into a good 13+ prep with good relationships with the senior schools. Shrewsbury House is excellent as is Danes Hill.

Have you considered Gordon’s near Woking? It’s one of the highest performing non selective state schools in the country. You need to live very close to the school to get a day place but boarding is also available although also very oversubscribed and I understand highly sought after by the military/diplomatic community and expats keen to keep kids in the British education system. It’s a bit of a hidden gem

@Yossahughes

If OP’s DS didn’t get a place at 11+ I think he would struggle with RGS in Guildford as it is extremely competitive. Cranleigh could be a good choice but not very convenient for a London commute.

I don’t know how wedded you are OP to the Esher area but if you go a little further down the A3 there is Aldro in Shackleford which is a lovely school (goes up to 13) and I believe Amesbury in Hindhead still does too. That may give your DS some breathing space before starting secondary school. Godalming and Haslemere are both very commutable to London. Yes, most schools that finish at 13 do pre-tests for senior school in year 6/11+ but nothing has to be set in stone then and kids move all the time.

Good luck.