Private schools near Epsom

[Blueskiessunshine]

Hi all,
We are starting to think about schools for our 9 year old son. We live in Epsom. We should be in the catchment for Glyn but this isn't guaranteed. There aren't any other local state schools we are keen on. So we are also considering local private schools. Downsend School sounds great. I have read mixed reviews about Freemens. Does anyone have any insight into these, or any other local secondary schools?
Thank you!

My nephew attends glyn and Nieces are at Blenheim - my sister in law would definitely not recommend Blenheim. Why do you think you won't get into Glyn?

Just a thought, but if your child is very academic you could apply for the grammar schools in Sutton. I know two boys who travel from Epsom to Sutton Grammar School. I think Wilson's and Wally boys will be a bit harder travel wise.

Hi, thank you for your honest feedback! We have always been within the catchment, albeit to the outer edge, but the year my son started primary was a bulge year, and so when he starts secondary I'm anticipating for that year the catchment area to shrink, but I may be wrong!

Is your nephew happy at Glyn? I'm concerned about the sheer size of it, hence why I'm thinking about private school options too.

@Maverick197 yes I am considering SGS but I think it will be really tough because of our distance. Almost half of the spaces go to those within the local postcodes, and the rest ranked by scores and distance. So I am assuming our Son would have to get a very high combined pass rate from the 2 tests to get in.

@Blueskiessunshine

Hi, thank you for your honest feedback! We have always been within the catchment, albeit to the outer edge, but the year my son started primary was a bulge year, and so when he starts secondary I'm anticipating for that year the catchment area to shrink, but I may be wrong!

Is your nephew happy at Glyn? I'm concerned about the sheer size of it, hence why I'm thinking about private school options too.

Yes he does, and he's not brilliant either academically or socially but is doing well there, lots of support

Depending on where you are, there is also Ewell Castle (Ewell), as well as Kingswood House (central Epsom) both of which are meant to be good, though not super academic.

Epsom College?

I was about to say Epsom College

Ewell Castle is really considered locally to be for non-achievers.

I think that’s a very outdated view of Ewell Castle. We have only positive things to say about it and the new Head (two/three years) is really great. It’s far more popular than it was a few years ago and would strongly recommend. Also have friends who are incredibly happy at Kingswood - we loved it there too, but just a bit challenging to get to from ours.

@SoosanCarter @Blankscreen we would love Epsom College but it sounds like it's difficult to get in. But I'll investigate further. @PatriciaHolm The location of Kingswood House would be perfect but we need an academic school to stretch our son.

Does anyone have experience of Downsend?

I agree with @Corblimbea that the new team at Ewell Castle are great.

Is St John's too far away?

@Coronateachingagain no it's not too far but we aren't a religious family so won't be for us.

Is St John’s a faith school? The only child I know there is from an observant Muslim family!

I agree St John's is a Christian school but not super religious at all. You may visit and see what you think. What about Whitgift and Trinity, too far?

@Coronateachingagain thank you - I will research those. I'm still quite interested in Downsend - does anyone have any feedback, good or bad, about this school?

I don't think Epsom College is that hard, relatively speaking, to get in to so definitely worth looking at. None of the Dcs I know at St John's are remotely religious so def worth a look too.

I would think Epsom College or St John's Leatherhead. Both will stretch your son and are probably both very similar. We are agnostic and considering both as well as Reeds for our son.

Claremont Fan Court in Esher? Might be too far?

Downsend is a lovely school. Whatever they do, they do well. The music is inspirational. The pastoral care is excellent. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly. Sport is really inclusive. Go and have a look round. The kids and the staff get on really well. Avoid Freemens it is absolutely bloody awful. Bullying rife, pastoral care non existent, the staff are, in my experience, uncaring, bullying, vindictive and mendacious. Sport is poor, and deeply sexist - the boys get a much better deal than the girls.

@Epwell thank you for your feedback. Its just what I wanted to hear about Downsend! Not so great about Freemens. That is on my list to visit!

@SoosanCarter

Ewell Castle is really considered locally to be for non-achievers.

There is mose to life then getting straight 9s in your GCSEs! 'non-achievers' makes it sound like those kids have nothing to offer, what a horrible attitude!

I live locally and have two sets of friends with children at Downsend. They all seem very happy with it. I hear a lot of talk about music and sport and there seems to be plenty going on.

The GCSE provision is fairly new, so I don't know anyone that has stayed on beyond age 13 yet. But one set of friends has younger boys and they are intending to keep them there for GCSEs as they are very happy and see no reason to move.

On a very practical level, they have building work going on at the moment (to enable the expansion up to age 16) and the traffic in the morning is pretty awful as there are three other popular schools, all in very close proximity.

I wnet to blenheim, loved it. I have a masters now from a good uni, so you know...