Secondary schools for girls in New Forest area

[JacquesHarlow]

Hello! I would hugely appreciate any advice or help here from fellow MNetters. Thank you.

Due to a business decision, we're relocating soon to the New Forest. Between Brockenhurst and Lymington. Two DCs, both girls, one 8, one 5. Both quite

It's going to be a bit of a quick move, we accept we're going to have to research secondary school destinations in months rather than years.

They'll be in catholic for primary, but I can't see where the good secondaries are in this New Forest area (Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Lymington, New Milton, Christchurch, Southampton etc)

We're happy to go private if that is what is required, although I went to state school as did my other half.

Are there outstanding private schools you'd recommend for DDs? Or a great state school that would somehow accept outside of catchment?

Thank you in advance for any thoughts!

Hello, I believe Hounsdown secondary school (state) got outstanding in their last ofsted report. Their catchment goes out into the forest but I don't know exactly how far.

There is an amazing private school near Lymington called Walhampton. Especially great if you are horsey folks as I believe the kids can take their own horses.

Hi. If you were interested in continuing them in a Catholic secondary school there is St Peters in Southbourne, which would be manageable from the new forest and has a good reputation. It has a big catchment as the only Catholic secondary in the area. Mine go to Twynham in Christchurch which is an excellent school and Highcliffe and Ringwood schools also have good reputations. I don't have knowledge of the secondaries in the new forest state or private

There is St Anne's Catholic girls school in Southampton you could investigate

There are lots of secondaries that are accessible especially from Brockenhurst. The standard one is Priestlands in Lymington. Then a lot go to Arnewood in New Milton, and then quite a few to Highcliffe. There are buses to all these.
Walhampton is a Prep school. But Ballards and Durlston have senior schools. I am sure the Catholic school has a feeder senior one, and it seems highly thought of.
And then I know a lot of senior age students commute into both Bournemouth and Southampton.
And then for Sixth Form there is the option of Brockenhurst college.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to share this!

Our lady and st Joseph in Pennington for primary, it's a lovely school with a good reputation. St Peter's in Southbourne afterwards if you wish to continue with RC education, otherwise Priestlands or Highcliffe are the usual options. They're all fine.
Walhampton is lovely but very much a prep school, the alternatives for an all through education up to GCSE are Ballard and Durlston Court, the latter has only just started doing years 9 and 10 though so there won't be much information to go on

I am interested in your decision? I have a DC at Walhampton and have been disappointed in a few areas from communication, academics and results so far. I was swept away by the beauty of the building!