Sutton High School

[mimsical76]

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.

@Corblimbea yes I loved the video of the girls in year 7. It must be hard for them as they would have only had a few months in school before lockdown. They all looked very happy and genuine. It just reaffirmed my decision is the right one!. See you at virtual open afternoon!! Good luck with hearing from your other schools. Which others are you waiting on?

KGS and grammar for us, though have already ruled KGS out as firmly in the single-sex camp now.

@Corblimbea good luck! X

Hi everyone,

Currently I have DD at Seaton House prep and we have had a bit of a tops turvy ride with change of heads and even no leadership since the start of the academic year! We are looking at other options for a single sex school and interesting to read everyone’s views on Sutton High. Since Seaton is a small school and DD has been their since nursery she would prefer a smaller setting. I don’t know anyone at the Sutton but have read/ heard conflicting reviews of the school, although I do hear that the head is doing great things to change the reputation of the school. Seems that some of you would echo this too?

@Capriscorp1
Hi there, my DD doesn’t start at Sutton High until September. My feelings so far about the school are very positive. I have a few friends with daughters there, they are all happy and have given me great feed back about the school. There are a few girls from my DD’s class who will be joining her in year 7 in September. My DD is currently at a small independent prep school too.
When would you be moving your daughter? Would she be joining the senior or the prep school?

@mimsical76 thanks that’s helpful to know. My DD would be starting yr 1 in Sep but we don’t want to rush our decision as we also have another DD who will start nursery in 18 months and want to make sure we make the right choice.
I find it all quite stressful as I have recently connected with two mums locally who have girls at SHS and they have told me they are not entirely happy and feel the school doesn’t stretch their bright girls enough and that there have been some staffing issues in the early years. They are looking to move to Wimbledon and Croydon high respectively 😳
We are wanting to stay single-sex and the options are limited in and around Sutton (not including the grammars).

@Capriscorp1 how old are their children? We are joining year 7 in September and really have only heard positive things. Maybe they are looking at moving at y7, which is common in every school that has a primary and secondary. Have you got an offer of a place? I Have a younger DD and was looking to move her into year 6 too in September but it’s now full so no places left! We have a number of friends who have daughters at Sutton and they are in target for good gcse results so it must stretch brighter girls. In the end, a school is such a personal decision and each school will be different things to different kids so it’s about how YOU feel about the school. Have you visited? Did you like it? Have you met some girls? At year 1 I had no idea if my DDs would need stretching or need support, but I get the impression the school would do both if needed - it seems very focused on what each girl has as a strength. We’ve ended up choosing it over a local grammar, for that reason, because the last thing our daughter needs after the past year is lots of pressure. I just want her to be happy and want to do well.

SHS have been intent in driving up their academic standards by offering lots of scholarships to their brightest applicants but in most cases these girls go to the more academically stretching schools or to the grammars. It's a wonderfully nurturing and friendly school - much easier to get into than many indy schools in that area.

@Capriscorp1
Morning!!! I truly believe that if your daughter is bright, she will do well everywhere. Don’t forget that 70% of education happens in the home! What is most important is the environment a child is in and the opportunities to try new activities. This together with sense of drive to want to do well and find something which they love, that they can pursue in their lives. Sutton High seems able to offer and instil this in the girls. Their GCSE speak for themselves.
I went to a very selective, very competitive top London girl’s school. Aside to the amount of ‘balls’ we had to go to with Westminster, St Paul’s and Eaton boys, making the social pressures as important as the academic. Most of the girls burnt out by the age of 15 / 16.
It is of course all very personal. But in the grand schemes of things, all the schools you mention are ‘good’ schools.

Hi wise people! I wondered if anyone on here had experiences of Sutton high arranging travel buddies etc for those girls starting in year 7 travelling independently on trains etc? The thought of my DD getting on the right train is bringing me out in night sweats!!!! She hasn’t been out alone as yet as will only just turn 11 in the late summer. I could drive her for the first few weeks but would love her to become more independent travel wise!. Anyone on here have any experience of whether the school has this discussion with new intakes before September?. The mini bus isn’t an option for us as too far away. Thank you!