LEH or WHS

[Commutersw18]

Any anyone had a choice of the two schools at 11plus from the Southfields/Wimbledon area and chosen LEH? If so was the commute a nightmare. We’re desperate for our DD to choose WHS but she is adamant she wants LEH. We’re not sure why? She is our eldest and our first time doing this so not sure what is the right thing to do!

First of all big congratulations to your DD. Great dilemma to have. The travel to LEH is long. I’d try to convince her to go with WHS but I know that it’s hard when they have made their mind up and you don’t want to end up with an unhappy DD at a school she wasn’t keen on in the first place. My DD’s best friend was not persuaded by her parents to pick WHS and went to GL which was her own decision. She’s super happy but very tired by the commute. I’m sure all year 7’s are tired and a bit overwhelmed the first couple of terms though. At least LEH has a coach and slightly more relaxing than public transport. Hope the offer events will give more clarity!

First of all, congratulations on the offers!

We live in the Southfields Grid (so assume very close to you). We have a very happy daughter at WHS (Y9) but it was not necessarily her top school when doing the 11+. When she got the offers we said that she will decide but that we wanted her to do the commute in "normal" conditions when attending the offer holders events, so she could see the difference it made. She came to the conclusion, on her own, that being close by was a massive plus, especially when the difference is so marked (like in your case with LEH, we are taking more than half an hour of extra commute each way, so an extra hour per day).

Plus, the fact that the commute to WHS can be done by different means so you are not dependent on the traffic / road blocs, etc.

Our DD came to realise herself and now is the first one to joke about how some of the early starts would be been so much harder if she had chosen another option.

Also worth noting that, beyond the fact that it is an extra hour per day everyday for 7 years, being that much closer also makes a massive difference in terms parents engagements, clubs and activities before and after school and, crucially, meeting friends outside school (who are likely to be both closer by and also more used to travel on their own on public transport).

Good luck and feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

My DD has just left WHS.
It’s hard when you disagree on schools but I would try and encourage her to stay more local! It’s great for them to be in a school surrounded by coffee shops, shops etc especially when they’re in 6th form and allowed to leave during the day. Also, if she goes to LEH her friends could live miles away as their coach network stretches a long way! I’d say about half DDs year lived in Wimbledon and most others lived not too far away.
Also so much easier for parents evenings, concerts, plays etc.
DS nearly went to Hampton and we convinced ourselves the coach would be OK. I am grateful everyday that we’re not running for that 7.15am coach!
Both great schools!

Thank you so much for the replies @mutbee @whswhs @JustAnotherView I think doing the commute on a normal day is a good idea. I think that will plant the seed that it may not be the best option. Desperately want it to be a realisation she makes on her own but honestly may need to force the situation when it comes to it!

Just to echo that the social side is so much easier if a large number of girls live nearby. If the majority live in W London she might find herself feeling a little left out of local meet ups.

And agree that a long commute takes its toll especially on winter mornings! DD has an easy but longish commute (school coach 40 min) and would like us to move nearer school just to reduce it… despite having been adamant it wouldn’t be an issue…

We had to choose between WHS and LEH last year and decided to go for LEH. Yes the journey can be long but she is VERY happy- the girls are lovely and the academic is strong. The lunch is amazing! This is purely an opinion from myself but thought I’d share. Well done and good luck!

There is a train from Wimbledon to Hampton/Fulwell but it is a bit far from the station.

As @BlueMoonIceCreammentions, there is a train to Hampton. We looked into it when we were considering schools for our DD and from SW18 (assume Southfields, given reference in opening post and user name of the poster) it would be some 70-75 minutes door-to-door even if the timings work great (trains are twice per hour) - walk to Southfields station, tube to Wimbledon, 20 minutes train to Hampton and some 15-20 minutes walk). So a bit longer than the school bus.
(By way of comparison Southfields to WHS is some 20-25 minutes door-to-door, with rather frequent tube / buses).

And that Hampton bus is not cheap — not at all. Neither is the school canteen. Just saying.
But the food is great, and a lot of couples 👩‍❤️‍👨 have met on the Hampton school buses.
Because both schools — Hampton Boys and LEH — share the same buses, it’s the only real opportunity for students to meet boys.
To be honest, my neighbour’s daughter was always envious of the girls who used the school bus for that very reason 😄 Those busses play a crucial role in the social life on the kids

@BlueMoonIceCream Good point on the cost - I am not going to comment on the social aspect / match making 😊

Just realised that the bus is now over 2k per year (to add to the fact that LEH fees are also some 2k higher)! So, in addition to the factors mentioned above, LEH would work out some 4k more per year.

Yes, exactly. Many take packed lunch but the bus cost is really high

I long left the area but went to WHA juniors then LEH seniors!
I liked the coach. It was good bonding time. it never felt like an especially long journey. We played cards and I became really, really good at shithead.
most of her friends will end up being Kingston/ Weybridge way, and socialising was largely Kingston.
the sports were way better at LEH.
FWIW, Hampton boys is a lovely school and the boys from there were a great bunch. My brother went to Kings, and the Hampton boys were a much more authentic, genuine lovely bunch. It might not feel like it matters now, but it does!
back in my day, Miss Candy was the headmistress. She smoked cigars in her office and commanded huge respect. The only punishment was being sent to see her. It was all we needed …

the sports were way better at LEH.

They have their own pool.

I think sport at WHS is much stronger than it used to be

As @whswhs mentions, sports at WHS are rather strong (and probably quite different to what they were 20+ years ago). Netball is particularly strong (U16 in the national finals) but so are others (gymnastics, hockey or rowing, to name a few).

Having said that, on the sports front, I think it is useful to consider not only the level, but also range (both have a swimming pool, but LEH does lacrosse and WHS hockey,..) and also scope to be involved for the girls that are not in A teams. As the mum of a not-particularly-gifted-sportswoman DD, WHS does really well on those fronts... whilst also catering for some of her friends that are highly ranked at national level.