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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Sutton High School

60 replies

mimsical76 · 24/01/2021 20:28

Hi everyone,
My DD has received an offer from Sutton High, for entry in year 7 in September 2021. We are still awaiting results from another school. Can anyone please tell me what it’s like compared to Surbiton High (which I didn’t particularly like)? Though it seems, like parents are more drawn to Surbiton High rather than Sutton High, is there a reason for this? GCSE results seems quite similar.
Many thanks. Smile

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Original poster
mimsical76 · 28/01/2021 13:11

Hi @Corblimbea
We will hear from Emanuel around 12th February, which right now feels like ages away. The numbers also seem huge, and despite my DD having very good grades, her CAT scores are on the high end, she seems to crumble under exam pressure. She didn’t get through to the interview for KGS. So I have no idea how the interview went, as I had to step away from the door. The written exam was unsupervised by the school, I think they are very naive if they don’t think a proportion will cheat. I can trust my own integrity but not those of stressed desparate parents wanting to kids into oversubscribed schools! Surely they could have done better. Other schools have managed.
So I am increasingly drawn to Sutton High.
Though I do think that this whole process has become totally insane and toxic. Some parents really loose their marbles! I grew up in central London, we just did the 11+ without much fanfare, no tutors...it was just a stepping stone.

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Original poster
mimsical76 · 28/01/2021 13:15

Hi @Mammamiammy
it is difficult if you are geographically far from the school, especially if you eventually want your DC to make their own way. Which is I think, an important part of their development.
Sutton High does have a good school bus route, have you checked it? You might also be able to ask if they could include a stop near you? there might be other girls in your DD’s position.

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Losingthewill01 · 28/01/2021 13:19

@Mammamiammy yes it’s the only wobble I have about Sutton high is the fact my DD will be getting the train for the first time! Am hoping there will be others on the train from Sutton. She too is an end of July baby so only just 11 in Sept. I think I’ll be travelling with her for a long while at the beginning until I am confident she is able to find her own way!!!! We are at top end of our financial budget so couldn’t really justify the mini bus school service. It’s only 6 stops on train from us near Hayden’s road so maybe a lot of others will get on at Wimbledon....it’s daunting the thought of independent travel at this age!!!!

Original poster
mimsical76 · 28/01/2021 13:37

Hi @Losingthewill01
sorry if I jump in! Just wanted to say that I am sure there will be lots of Sutton High girls on that train. We live in Wimbledon and eventually my daughter will be catching the train from Wimbledon on her own.
It is totally daunting, I agree.

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Losingthewill01 · 28/01/2021 13:39

@mimsical76 Thanks! I haven’t let her go out alone yet so it will a big step! I’m sure she will be fine.....unlike me!!!

Original poster
mimsical76 · 28/01/2021 13:50

@Losingthewill01 me neither! my DD has never been out on her own.
You could ask the school, if there are any girls in your area taking the same the train? Perhaps you could team up with them, a good way to begin making new friendships too. ☺️

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Corblimbea · 28/01/2021 13:54

DD was toured by two girls on the entrance exam day snd one was from Earlsfield and one from Wimbledon, so I think there will be lots on the train. But I agree - such a daunting thought as they are our babies! But I did it at 11 so we just have to probably push past our fears!

sanam2019 · 28/01/2021 14:17

I thought Sutton High has a school bus covering Wimbledon / Wimbledon Park and surrounding areas?

HighRopes · 28/01/2021 15:04

There’s definitely a bus from Dorset Road (Kingston Road end) as I’ve seen it. Not sure about further into Wimbledon.

But you may be surprised by what your dd can manage in terms of independent travel. My summer born dd has been doing two tubes to school since Y7, all by herself, quite happily. We did a couple of practice runs in the summer before, and she generally comes home with friends, but she actually enjoys the journey in as she gets to read or play on her phone and also there’s the chance to stop and buy Pringles Grin

Corblimbea · 28/01/2021 18:49

Thank you @HighRopes I remember being terrified my first time travelling by bus as 11, but then loved it. The bus goes out to Southfields I think but the website says they can add stops by request. My DD will probably be dropped by us for a while, wherever she goes, then find a friend to travel with.

Losingthewill01 · 28/01/2021 19:09

@Corblimbea yes we will probably drop her for a while too! Although if I ask her now she says she can’t wait to travel to school alone!!!! I still drop her now (well when we were in school!). I guess the offer holder event won’t go ahead now on the 22nd which is a shame as would have been good to have another look around and for her to meet other prospective girls. It’s not the same on zoom!.

Losingthewill01 · 28/01/2021 19:10

@HighRopes is your DD at Sutton high?. My DD would also love the idea of stopping for Pringles on the way!! 😁

HighRopes · 28/01/2021 19:21

@Losingthewill01 She’s not - we applied, though, and it’s a similar journey to where she is now in terms of time and transport changes, which is why I chipped in. She does have friends who are very happy there, and I got a lovely impression when we went to the offer holders day a couple of years ago.

Mammamiammy · 30/01/2021 12:33

Hi all. Just to say we are now in a very enviable position of having 4 offers including Sutton and Surbiton. Feeling very lucky so good luck to all those still waiting. Decisions to be made here but not a pleasant process overall. Well done to our poor children who have had to endure this in a particularly difficult year and to us mums for holding our nerve.

Corblimbea · 30/01/2021 13:05

Gosh @ @Mammamiammy well done!!! What’s your current thinking about a decision? Well done to your DD for four offers! Might make it hard to choose.

Mammamiammy · 30/01/2021 13:43

Thanks @Corblimbea. Well as we live 6 minutes walk from Surbiton so think it’s a no brainer.

Corblimbea · 30/01/2021 15:25

@Mammamiammy 😂 yes!

Original poster
mimsical76 · 02/02/2021 09:32

@Mammamiammy well done to your daughter!! Amazing! You must be very relieved.

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Losingthewill01 · 02/02/2021 09:44

Well done to you all lovely ladies! I hope those still waiting get the offers they want. This year has certainly been a stressful one! Offer holders day at Sutton is now on zoom. It must be a nightmare for schools trying to showcase on a screen!

Original poster
mimsical76 · 02/02/2021 09:58

@Losingthewill01 we have signed up for the Offer Holders afternoon on Zoom at Sutton High on 22nd February. We are looking forward to it! Look forward to meeting you and your daughter.

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Losingthewill01 · 02/02/2021 10:07

@mimsical76 yes us too! My daughter is called Izzy. Hopefully see you there! Dawn x

Original poster
mimsical76 · 02/02/2021 10:15

Hi @Losingthewill01
I have PM’d you!

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Corblimbea · 02/02/2021 13:53

We will be there too! Will be strange that we will all be there in the virtual world!

Corblimbea · 02/02/2021 13:53

I also thought the video was lovely and seemed to back up my feelings about the school. It’s so hard this year!

Original poster
mimsical76 · 02/02/2021 14:23

@Corblimbea I completely echo your feelings! It is so tough this year and yes, the video was lovely. I look forward to meeting you too!

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