Secondary schools in Weybridge and Byfllet . Which one and why ..?

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Please tell me what you think of them and do you know any child that goes to them . Tough decisions being made .

anyone

oh come on someone must know

bump for Sunday evening lol

There are no secondary schools in Byfleet. If you are making decisions, presumably you already have particular schools in mind - which ones are they and perhaps people can help? If you don't have any in mind, give us a hint as to what kind of school you are looking for - private or state, single-sex or mixed, faith-based?

Ok Fullbrook and Heathside . Sorry should have said West Byfleet

I know that Heathside is supposed to be v good. I know of one boy from there who has just been accepted by Imperial to do medicine (at a reduced offer because they were so impressed by him). Think the catchment is pretty restricted though, although they do run 'challenges' to allow children from beyond the catchment to gain entry.

sorry should have said we will have an offer for both and am pretty sure but wanted to see if anyone had any gossip about either .

Based more on gut feel than anything else, I would go with Heathside. Fulbrook is a large school, I think 300 intake, so it is easy to get a bit "lost". Academic standards are OK (possible very good by some standards but not in comparison to many of the other schools around that area). The general standard of behaviour does not seem to be great if the displays around the bus stop in West Byfleet are anything to go by. As I said, this is all gut feel rather than any scientific comparison of OTSTED reports etc. We do however have several neighbours who went to Fulbrook themselves but who are not planning on sending their own children there. Btw, Fulbrook is considered to be in New Haw, not West Byfleet - West Byfleet being far too genteel to claim ownership of this huge school!

Am intrigued as to how you will get an offer for both schools, I though you applied for both on the Surrey LA form?

we are in catchment for both and on waiting list for heathside and will get offered a place . My gut feeling is Fullbrook because it is maths and ICT and is friendly . LOL

Just wondering what you decided, OP?

We are looking to move soon and finding the right secondary school is an important factor. I went round both schools and I really liked Fullbrook. I know Heathside gets better results, but the building and equipment looked tired and even very scrufy in places, and some classrooms looked crowded.

Hi there we chose Fullbrook in the end because its a maths and IT school , My Ds who is shy and who was one of only seven going from his junior school has made lots of new friends . He enjoys all the subjects plus if you want to they have excellent after school clubs of every sort . Pastrol care wqs a big thing for me as he went to a local church school where the pastrol care was excellent . In Fullbroook I have not been dissapointed at all . I feel it was the best decision for us and I am truly gratefull we chose Fullbrook . The results thing is a myth Fullbrook are matching Heathside on Alevels and they are on the up and up . The head teacher is bloody Fab and she has done so much for the school already , Fullbrook is a very rounded school with a mix of every kind of child just like society . They send cards home to the kids when they do well and general things like that . Hope this helps and I hope you make the right decision for you child .

Thank you for that - very, very helpful info. DH went with me to see Fullbrook and we were both seriously impressed by everything about it. We particularly liked the headmistress, who took the time to come and talk to us (we were the only parents viewing that day) and we did feel that they put a great deal into pastoral care.

The results are great, when you consider they are not using selection at all, unlike Heathside.

As we really like the Woodham area, your comments have just about sealed it for me .

Hi really pleased to hear that . Sad parent that I am I visited Fullbrook 4 times in all and each time I came out it just got better and better . I even drove pasr at break times ,lunch times and after school . There were no marourding teenagers hanging around Im pleased to say . The school get back to you strait away if you have any concerns . Private message me if you want to know any more . HTH

Hahaha - your hard work means I don't have to do it!! May PM you later if the whole flippin house move actually happens -deep sigh.....

good luck with the house move.

Just want to say thank you seriously and arty for posting about this. We are a few years away from this decision but would be in a similar position to you - DS has gone to small and pastoral pre-school and primary. We are in the Fullbrook catchment and I wonder how he would get on in a big school but Ofsted are certainly very positive about it and to move the family up the road into Weybridge for Heathside would cost megabucks. Great to know Fullbrook is on the up and to hear these good things about it. Thanks!

just to say check out this years exam results . yay Fullbrook

Just come to the end of another year at Fullbrook and still just as happy and pleased.The exam results this year should outdo last years .So all in all Fullbrook was the best decision we ever made.