Plan for a move to Surrey

[JLKL]

Hi all,
We are planning to move to Surrey and would love to hear some recommendations on which town/school we should explore for better chance to enter a good or above secondary state school? Our son is now studying in Year 3 and we would like to start planning ahead especially if we are thinking about buying a house there. It would be perfect if the location could allow a max of 60 mins commute time to London.
Thanks

Many of the top state schools in Surrey are Catholic, so might be worth stating whether Catholic schools are an option for you?

My son loved Ashcombe in Dorking. It's a larger than average school and streams relatively early so if your DS will be slotted in where appropriate. Which might not be the top set, no point putting a child in a set that is too difficult for them.

Thanks! I also noticed this. Unfortunately, my son don’t have any religious. We did take a look at Woking however budget wise is quite limited at around £500k.. and they only have 2 state schools there which is Woking High and Hoe Valley

Thanks @ClaryFairchild! Absolutely! Will do some research on Dorking. I saw some of the previous posts recommended Cobham, Godalming and Haslemere but their houses are quite pricy

Howard of Effingham school is very good. And second Ashcombe.

On your limited budget why not look into grammar in Kent?

And Winston Churchill.

Thanks @SummerSazz

Thanks@IncessantNameChanger . However isn’t Grammar School would be even more expensive (longer term) than using the lites budge to buy a permanent place with a good State School? Just a thought and happy to hear your advise.😆

Kent has state grammar schools although "Grammar" of yen applies to fee paying secondaries. £500k is tight for Surrey but you would get a 3 bed in less desirable areas. Have a look at Dorking, Hurst Green or Redhill for example, or East Grinstead which is just in Sussex. What other factors are relevant?

The Kent Grammar schools are state schools.

You can apply to Kent grammars from East Grinstead as close to the border.

Farnham. Weydon is an excellent secondary school. You must ensure you attend a feeder school for entry.
Or George Abbot in Guildford.

Maybe I misunderstood your OP. I thought you was moved house to get into state secondary?

If so Surrey is expensive to live in. From experience the kids with invested parents do really well but I think they would do well anywhere tbh.

If its independent then I have no idea except for Charterhouse. All the private schools around me are very good. Do you mean 500k for fees or a house? If you mean 500k for a house then I'm in the wrong part of Surrey clearly to ask.

Kids from London go down to kent to use the state grammar schools. They are a safer bet than a Surrey secondary I would have thought?

Anyway sorry to disturb rail with my dyslexic interpretation of your OP.

State - move to Kent and prep for 11+

* Disrail ** I mean.

Thanks @LIZS ! Would be good to be able to commute to London within an hour and we are happy with some smaller towns and not a must to have a busy High Street. 😅

Now i know!! Thanks @BlackLambAndGreyFalcon and all!!!😂

@Firenze12 , do you mean a primary school that is feeder of Weydon?

What about Sutton?

which part of London do you need to get to? One hour door to door or one hour on the train? 60 minutes door to door means you will be limited to the “London” parts of Surrey - Kingston, Richmond, Surbiton etc where £500k will not find you a nice family home. You need to be a bit more specific as Surrey ranges from nearby in London to nearly in Hampshire or nearly in West Sussex or nearly in Berkshire!

@IncessantNameChanger don’t be silly! No sorry at all!! All comments are very useful! £500k is for the house instead of school fee.

@toulet , i did take a look at Sutton. Its quite crowded. I may prefer a smaller and less crowded town.

some parts border Surrey & have good schools

@VanCleefArpels , thanks! I would say Waterloo in London. Don’t mind to take an hour train to Waterloo for commute. And you’re right that Kingston, Richmond, Surbiton are too expensive for us.

can you not get anything for 500k in New Malden?