Farnham and surrounding areas

[bornagineapig]

Hi there, first time user so apologies if i’m posting this wrong! My family are looking to move to Farnham (surrey) or surrounding areas for work. Key consideration for us is moving close to a good secondary for our children. Can anyone local to Farnham offer us some feedback on the area and the schools there? Thank you 😊

Weydon is a fantastic secondary school. So move somewhere that you will be in a feeder school for Weydon. This includes St Peter's, South Farnham school, Highfield South Farnham, Potters Gate, Rowledge school, Waverley abbey - and the infant schools that feed into South Farnham and Waverley Abbey - All Saints Tilford, St John's Churt, St Mary's Frensham.
Fantastic areas and great schools. You can't go wrong!

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond :-) that’s great to hear. I’ve heard lovely things about Weydon, really helpful to know which of the primary schools are feeders. I’m a little concerned that realistically by the time we move my daughter will be end of year 4/going into year 5 so getting a place in a popular feeder might be difficult based on other things i’ve read. Do you happen to have any knowledge of the other secondary options in the area should the worst happen? I see Farnham Heath End is the nearest alternative? Thanks again

Can’t speak from direct experience as ds is not in secondary yet (next academic year he will be moving up) but I’m pretty nearby in Fleet, and both the secondary schools there, Courtmoor and Calthorpe have good reputations, at least as far as I’ve heard. It’s a nice place to live too, great for countryside and green spaces.

Heath End used to have a terrible rep a few years ago but is now part of the same academy trust as Weydon and is rated Good. There’s also All Hallows nearby but it’s a Catholic school.

As for Fleet, yes the schools are both good but Farnham’s town centre has a lot more going on and is so pretty that it would always be my preference unless maybe you were doing a 5 day a week commute to London since Fleet has a more frequent and faster train service (strikes not withstanding).

Thank you so much both of you. Think we will investigate both areas :-)

Might be worth thinking about Alton too? Pretty close to Farnham and seems like a decent place with a fair bit of character when I’ve visited, but don’t know masses about it regarding the secondaries. ££ wise it’s similar to Fleet. Farnham will be dearer than both.

Farnham has a prettier town centre but Fleet is the place that has won the best places to win survey a few times. As a pp said, Court Moor and Calthorpe are both good. You could also look at Hook/Odiham for Robert Mays which is probably the best secondary in the area. But all three are highly ranked in Hampshire.

Alton is also worth looking at, it's more attractive than Fleet as well and has better shops than Fleet does. But it isn't as well connected, being at the end of the railway line. It's a pity the Watercress Line doesn't go all the way to Winchester anymore :)

Looking further ahead, there are good sixth form colleges in Alton, Basingstoke, Farnborough and further afield in Winchester and Woking. Farnham has its own but appears to be a shadow of its former self, with limited options.

Thank you for your replies, they have been so helpful :-)

Hi there just wondering how you got on with this? We are considering an in year move with two children who are already at school , so wondering how you found that experience / whether all good schools were full? It’s so stressful! I rang around. Few and all seem to be full….