Gordon's School Surrey - feedback

[KiwiUKMumma]

Hi there, we are considering moving back from NZ for our children to attend secondary school due to the standard of education. We are looking for a great state school option and would be happy with Day Boarding. I just wondered if anyone had kids there and how they were finding it please? My daughter is very academic and sporty whilst my son is a lot more reserved (currently, he's only 7) and needs more nurturing. Do you think the kids manage the longer school day well? Are there other extra curricular activities like dancing available at school too? Is it still hard to get a place for a day boarder? Just so many things to consider! I appreciate any feedback.

Friends' kids have just finished there (as day pupils) - they mostly did music as extra curricular, which was excellent. They loved it.

Do check on the catchment, because it’s usually very small. Are you intending to rent or buy?

Almost impossible to get into! Need to live very very close

@Bluevelvetsofa we would be buying

@doubleshift even if you are a day boarder?

@EBearhug did they find it hard to get in? We were thinking of doing the day boarding so wondering if that makes it any easier?

The options are day boarder or full boarder. Day boarders need to live very close indeed. Full boarders - distance less relevant but Forces children and similar needing boarding have priority.

What age is your older child as the deadline to live in catchment for a child turning 11 after 1st September 2025 (i.e. in year 6 in England) is 31st October 2025.

Day Boarders: 1. LAC & PLAC. 2. Children who live within a 1500m radius of the school main gate who have a sibling on roll as a day boarder who was on roll at the school in the calendar year preceding the date of admission. 3. Children of staff directly employed by the school in either or both of the following circumstances: a) where the member of staff has been employed at the school for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to the school is made, and/or b) the member of staff is permanently employed to fill a vacant post for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage, where the child would require the place at the time of the member of staff taking up the post. 4. Children on the basis of the shortest radial distance from the home address to the main school gate within a radius of 1500m. 5. Children who live outside a 1500m radius of the main school gate who have a sibling on roll as a day boarder who was on roll at the school in the calendar year preceding the date of admission. 6. Children on the basis of the shortest radial distance from the home address to the main school gate outside a radius of 1500m.

Criterion 1 = 10, Criterion 2 = 31, Criterion 3 = 6, Criterion 4 = 33, Criterion 5 = 5, Criterion 6 = 1, Distance = 1.532km, EHCP = 2

from Surrey admissions stats in 2024 - priority is given to children within 1.5km of the gate and only one child (just) outside that radius got a place. In several recent years, the furthest distance has been less than this.

I don't remember when they applied, but they live very close walking distance.

Are you looking at any other schools in the area? Gordons is a real anomaly as a state school - some fees, and boarding in any way is unusual. It’s highly regarded for results etc, and has rather a private school vibe, and as others have said is v v hard to get into as a non boarder (ie “day boarder”) - you pretty much have to be able to see the front gate from your house. Might not be easy to choose to move close enough as there’s v high demand specifically for the school. It might be easier as actual boarders, as you’re competing with a smaller market - though I don’t know that for sure. Definitely day boarding option is the popular option for everyone who lives around the area.

Are you looking at other state schools? Lots of people who can talk about those too.

West End I’d popular because of Gordon’s, but that means house prices generally are high. You’re looking at around 750K minimum for a family house close enough to get a place.

West End was a small village and the infrastructure has not kept pace with house building. Public transport is not efficient and there are few shops. The surgery is so over subscribed that residents apply to go elsewhere. The A322 is a very busy road too.

I used to live there and wouldn’t go back.

The joke used to be that to get in as a day pupil you were best declaring your address as a tent in the grounds... I think it's wider now as I think they changed the sibling priority to be only applicable if they hadn't moved or something, but it's still pretty small.

@SheilaFentiman sorry but what is L.A.C and P.L.A.C please?

@doubleshift shes 10 in August so that’s our issue that we’ll still very likely be in NZ when that application date rolls around.

@Talipesmum we aren’t set on area at all, just looking at Surrey as we have family there and need to be able to get to some good train links in to London. Just wanting a school that’s not too big and has a really good focus on the wellbeing of students. My daughter is very academic and sporty but the wellbeing is far more important to us.

(previously) looked after child is (P)LAC - essentially a child that has been in the care system. To acknowledge this disadvantage, almost all English schools have this as the first category

It’s all military kids, you wouldn’t get a place.

Untrue: the boarders are largely military or other need for boarding eg diplomatic service, the day pupils are local children.

West End has poor train links to London, nearest station is Brookwood, which is a bus or car journey away

@SheilaFentiman we’d ideally be looking at Chobham and then train from Woking….are you saying there’s no chance of living that far away and getting in as a day boarder?

Zero chance, that’s 2 miles/3.2km - the furthest distance admitted will usually be around 1.5km

Also, if you aren’t going to be here on 31st October, the school will fill up with on time applicants.

@Bertielong3 ok thank you, is Weydon a nurturing school? Would like somewhere that isn’t too big and the kids wellbeing is most important.

@KiwiUKMumma , Weydon is large, you can see from the 2023 ofsted repot, but it's well respected and in a good area. Many secondary schools are large, schools are funded per pupil and large secondary schools often have better resources.

Is there any way you can move back before the deadline?