State schools near south London with no catchment

[todayortomorrow]

Hi,

I want to move areas from sw london further out to Surrey etc. Don't want to move during y6 as that sounds very tough. So looking for coed state schools that you can get into from anywhere. Has anyone done this? I know about Graveney as that's close to us, hoping there are others.

Also interested to hear from anyone who managed to do a move without changing primary schools.

Thanks

"I know about Graveney as that's close to us, hoping there are others."

Graveney may use banding, but it also uses distance to manage oversubscription, as most state schools do.

If you are intending to move in the summer between year 6 and year 7 then your options are:

1. Apply for the schools you want but be realistic about the fact that you will be on their waiting list until you move closer.
2. Apply for a school that isn't usually oversubscribed so you can get in from any distance (though accept the fact that it may be undersubscribed because it is unpopular).

Approximately where in Surrey are you planning to move to? It's a big place.

Greenshaw takes 60 places based on 11+ score

@mizunderstanding Graveney does 70 spaces just on results in grammar, not distance - I'm looking for anywhere else that does that. We're flexible on location if we find a school move that works.

@Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky thanks - one to add to the list!

Do you have a boy or girl OP? Either way, I think the Sutton grammar schools have a certain number of places just based on score (ie not distance). So perhaps moving to a part of Surrey within easy reach of them would be good?

The Sutton grammars are super selective so all have out of catchment places but there is fierce competition for them.

Otherwise, in Sutton for example, you'd be looking at undersubscribed schools that took all applicants. That would be Overton Grange or possibly Oaks Park. Or Carshalton Boys if you don't mind single sex. Have a look at the 'distance checker' on the LA website for areas you're considering.

@Meredusoleil our older child is a boy, we're pretty decided on coed for him though which makes this a lot harder. I will do more research on the Sutton grammars

We wouldn't move for an undersubscribed school so I think have to try the selective route. That's good to know they have spaces for the out of catchment.

Oh if you don't want single sex, then that rules out a lot of the grammar schools. Greenshaw is a good shout though. Especially as the grammar stream is easier to get into. Glenthorn also has places awarded due to a talent in the arts. Don't know if that would apply to you?

I think Chestnut Grove has places for art as well. But then that's still in SW London. Where exactly are you OP? You might not even have to move. Look into the Wandsworth banding test.

Chestnut grove is our local school! We're in balham. I know about the local ones that you can apply to from outside catchment but was hoping there were others in the Surrey direction as we have elderly parents there. (And I'm ready for a bigger garden and somewhere less urban)

Commuting from Surrey to Graveney or Chesnut Grove wouldn’t be ideal surely?

Kingsdale has a lottery I believe but again commute.

In Sutton/Kingston the grammars are single sex.

Glenthorne has aptitude tests & Greenshaw takes some based on 11+

is your dc in YR 5, there’s normally movement over the summer as dc move for secondary particularly from London.

Have you looked at Kingston, lots of very good Co-ed schools but will be catchment based. Are you eligible for faith schools?

I know several people who have had the "when to jump ship to Surrey" dilemma from SW London. You are severely limiting your options going about it this way. Perhaps have another look at the most important aspects of this. There are virtually no co--ed selective schools in SW London and no selective state schools at all in Surrey. And that assumes your DC are in the very top % of academic ability anyway. I would reassess the timing of the move. Pick schools in Surrey that you like, move now and apply from your new address. Much better to suck up a year of commute for Y6 than make a bad or inappropriate choice for secondary.

Most of the boy grammars have some priority for certain postcodes I think & Tiffin you need to be within a certain distance.

This response is very helpful, thank you! It does feel like my dream is not going to work. And I do know people doing that commute option, it's tough though. Do you have Surrey schools you'd recommend that don't require feeder schools? Woking or surbiton (so quick to london) would be our preference but I'm also looking for a high quality school. I know, I want a lot!

I also know this is a common situation so am surprised how hard it is

@todayortomorrow , as the poster says there are no selective state schools in Surrey, the schools are allocated on distance from your postcode etc and/or your faith ie Catholic. You need to move house by Oct. Or try for the Sutton Grammars. Single sex education is the norm for the grammar applications and many of the top private schools.

Also check out the website elevenplusexams.co.uk for the Surrey region as it's clearly explains the state selective schools are not in the county of Surrey but are administered by Surrey county council.

Kingsdale is lottery so potentially a child who lives in the Shetland Islands has as much chance as a kid who lives next door.
Although I believe they are changing to some local primaries getting priority.
But I'm confused. You want to move out to Surrey but want your child in a London school. Why?

Glyn (boys) & Rosebery (girls) are very good in Ewell.
I think the best schools in Surrey are Catholic.

Kingston you have the Coombe schools, Kingston Academy is supposed to be very good & there is an excellent girls Catholic but I’m not sure catchments re Surbiton. Maybe Tolworth girls?

I had this dilemma and moved in the year 5 summer holidays. I felt really bad but there were lots of new starters at the start of year 6 and it meant that he could go up to secondary school with people he met in year 6. His secondary school is allocated by catchment.

I don't want him in a london school, ideally I want to find a school - preferably in Surrey but that doesn't sound like it exists- that we can move to without having to move early for the catchment.

I'm really trying to avoid the option of moving and commuting back or moving him for y5/y6. He loves his current school and moving in y5/6 looks tough. This thread has helped me get clear on the tradeoffs we'll have to make so thanks all.

& please keep the coed non-feeder school suggestions coming!

That's great that there were lots of other new starters, good to hear it can work with the big y5 move!

This is very helpful thanks, kingston would be perfect for us

@todayortomorrow basically you need to move by Year 5 as applications for secondary are early in Year 6.
Personally moving and changing schools in Year 5 is better than having to do long commutes.
Just find a place in Surrey you like and move there.

Going for a lottery school means that he will have the problem of starting a new school without primary school friends and he could end up in limbo on waiting lists while others his age crack on with secondary.
I thought that starting a new school in year 6 and knowing people moving up to year 7 at his new school would be less of a shock to him than moving after year 6 and braving the waiting lists. He was a pretty anxious child so wouldn’t have coped well with unknowns like when he could go to school while seeing his siblings go to school everyday.