Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

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CharlotteAbbb
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Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby CharlotteAbbb » Fri Oct 09, 2020 11:16 am

Hi there, we are looking to move from Clapham to outside London - specifically Surrey or Hampshire - but have no family connections or friends who have made the move already and are feeling a bit daunted about where to narrow down the search to.

Husband will need to commute to London still 3 days a week and happy with a train ride up to 1hr/1hr15 ish and a drive to the station. We also need a good mixed prep school for children age 7, 5 and 3.

I'd be so grateful for any tips of good areas which people had either moved to themselves, or had friends make the move and been happy!

Thanks so much
Charlotte
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abcdefg
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby abcdefg » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:10 pm

We moved out from Wandsworth two years ago (still check this site as it reminds me of my old life plus it is very useful!) and having looked all over Surrey and Hampshire we have ended up in West Berkshire.  It's a more rural life where we are but we are but we should eventually get Crossrail so has a super fast commute (it's 42 mins into Paddington at the moment anyway).  

LOADS of co-ed prep schools in the counties you are looking in though.  Lots of Wandsworth people at Highfield in Liphook so commuting from Haslemere or Petersfield depending on where you live.  Winchester way you have Twyford also great, but we ruled it out as the commute is quite long and the trains are very busy.  Lovely area though.  You've also got schools like Cheam - further north towards Newbury - but Basingstoke is the better commute from there.  Lots of others though.

If I can help just drop me a PM, honestly we looked at everything.  Good luck searching xx


 
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CharlotteAbbb
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby CharlotteAbbb » Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:34 pm

Thank you so much for your response - really helpful! I will PM you if that's ok 
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LadyLucy
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby LadyLucy » Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:29 am

We moved just outside Petersfield 4 years ago. I would definitely look at where the fast trains stop as the slow ones that stop at the interim stations will drive your husband mad after a while. Haslemere is amazing voted best place to live in Surrey but it will come with a price tag to match. A great deal of the parents that have children in the schools around this area have lived in the SW postcodes previously. For schools look at Highfield & Bookham Liphook (good sports facilities) , St Edmund’ s Hindhead (most friendly and fun and has Senior school), Amesbury, and finally Churchs (best results in the area that also goes till 6th form)
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dudette
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby dudette » Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:41 am

The current head of Thomas’s used to be head of Feltonfleet which is a co-ed prep school near Cobham. Anywhere in that area would be good as it’s a quick trip back up the A3 to see all your mates!
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SouthLondonDaddy
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby SouthLondonDaddy » Mon Oct 12, 2020 6:15 pm

Probably not what you want to hear, but please bear in mind also all the downsides of moving to Surrey / Hampshire.

First of all, this is the only country I have seen where everyone will try to convince you that wherever they live is best. You will not find anyone who ever says "this place isn't great but it's all I could afford", let alone anyone saying "actually, I hate it here, moving here was a mistake". No, they are all incredibly happy, they have never looked back, best decision ever, all of them. So do not expect honest feedback from people living there (this applies to the whole of England, not just Surrey).

It is also the only country I have ever seen where people blatantly lie about their commute time. I have plenty of colleagues acquaintances etc who live 20 miles farther away than me but mysteriously take the same time as me, if not less, to get to the office. This never stops cracking me up.

A train journey may be 30 minutes, but what is the door to door time and what if there is a delay? If your train gets cancelled, and the next train, which was supposed to be 25 minutes later, is 20 minutes late, you have added an hour to your commute. If this happens a couple of times a week, you'll lose the will to live.

Most such towns have a train station far from the city centre; commuters need to keep a car just for the 2 to 4 mile journey to the station, and pay for the exorbitant train station parking fee (easily a grand or more a year).

It is all very car centric; in London you can (or you could pre covid...) walk cycle take the train etc to many more areas; in those towns you need the car for pretty much anything. Teenage kids often resent the move to those places for this very reason.

Proximity to the A3 the M25 etc means air quality isn't that much better than in London.

Not all, but many families choosing this lifestyle are white upper middle class families where the husband does the hunter gatherer thing and the wife is a stay at home mum. There tends to be very little diversity in these communities. Dads living in Surrey are more likely to only see their kids at weekends than dads living in Putney.

Is your husband sure he can go to the office just 2-3 days a week? What if next year he is required to go almost always? What if he changes job and his new employer wants him in the office more? 

You get a bigger house but also fewer opportunities for social interaction. You won't bump into other families while taking the kids to the park etc.

Have you factored in the cost of the commute and of probably requiring a second car? Over the years it adds up.


Of course everyone is different - I don't like those areas but plenty of people do. I have no interest in convincing you of anything - just pointing out that all these factors need to be considered, too, even if you reach a different conclusion.
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Janet14
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby Janet14 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 6:53 am

OMG South London Daddy that is not the question she asked!! We moved out three months ago and I hate to say it but it really has been the best thing we’ve done EVER! In fact went out to dinner with five other Mums, all of whom had just moved from London all of whom we’re saying best thing they’ve ever done and nothing we miss about London at all. We also all work as well as our husbands in this group! Literally the only drawback I can think is taxis are expensive so less drinking but hey I should probably be looking after my liver at this point in my life 😜
Anyway, back to schools. Churcher’s in Liphook is apparently a very good school and very good value compared to other fee paying schools. We know a lot at Highfield but personally for me it seemed a bit too traditional and I wasn’t keen on school on Saturdays. Amesbury is meant to be a lovely school but I preferred Edgeborough which has a fantastic head and what appeared a modern outlook but while still retaining some traditional values. There’s apparently quite a waiting list now though so you’d have to get in early. St Edmunds was also appealing going up to 18 but Edgeborough still had the edge (excuse the pun!) for me.
Good luck with the move, we honestly feel like we’ve died and gone to heaven 😍
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curiousgeorge
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby curiousgeorge » Mon Oct 19, 2020 6:56 am

Not sure how far you are looking to move out. We moved to Thames Ditton just over a year ago for a bigger house. Love still being by the river, being able to walk to pubs and good restaurants. It has the villagey feel of Wandsworth Town, where we moved from. I personally didn’t want to be too far out (for the, slightly pessimistic, reasons given above) but here you feel a out of the hectic buzz (walking over Hampton Court bridge in the mist is a sight) but can be back in Clapham Junction in 15 mins from Surbiton - which you can walk to and has lots of trains an hour. Many good schools. It just depends how rural your heart is taking you. X
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Janet14
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby Janet14 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 7:06 am

Forgot to say feel free to PM as we’re literally on Hampshire/Surrey Border.
My London commute was easily an hour by the time I’d battled my way on to the sixth train to go past!! Will never miss that!!!
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NVHusband
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby NVHusband » Mon Oct 19, 2020 10:01 am

I agree with SouthLondonDaddy.

Pls wait for things to get back to normal before making such an important decision. People have extrapolated a small window of time and think this is the new normal.

You also hit the nail on the head regarding door to door time. Also, colleagues rushing to the station after work drinks because of the ‘last fast train’. Love that.

One important thing to remember. If you are no longer required in London 5 days a week, your employer is no longer required to pay a London salary. Look at Facebook and a number of other organisations reviewing their WFH practise and cost base.

Trust me, this cost review is happening. If your job can be done whilst you live in Wales, Cheshire, Winchester... it can be done a lot cheaper as well. If you think you have a special skill set, I would happily come back to this post in 5 years and be proved wrong.

But since I am privy to a lot of senior management discussions, I can assure you “out of sight is out of mind”.
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lwilliams2312
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby lwilliams2312 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:51 pm

Chinthurst in Tadworth is a good prep school! 
 Lucinda WilliamsPrivate language tutor M: + 44 7949 245 335E: lucinda@privatelanguagetutor.comW:www.privatelanguagetutor.com
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Ex Clapham resident
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby Ex Clapham resident » Wed Oct 21, 2020 3:58 pm

Hi

Sorry to jump on this post but does anyone also have good information about secondary schools in those areas, both state and private? Thanks
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2009Kat
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby 2009Kat » Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:08 pm

SouthLondonDaddy has just made me laugh out loud! He is so right that everyone goes on about how amazing it is where they live.... People always look pityingly at us living in town and we look pityingly at those that have moved! My husband and I grew up in the countryside - we are never ever going to live there and I couldn't bear being the wifey at home with a husband who is basically away all week.  We have friends who are extraordinarily happy on the Surrey/Hampshire border though and it is a lovely part of the world!
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upsidedownmummy
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby upsidedownmummy » Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:55 am

Question also about The Royal in Hindhead (Senior school not Junior).  Does anyone who has moved out have any knowledge/opinion of this school please?    

And also curious where do your kids typically go on to from the prep schools mentioned above?

thank you!

 
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Clphm
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Re: Experience of good areas to move to in Surrey/Hampshire and prep schools nearby?

Postby Clphm » Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:40 pm

Agree with the recommendations above from Lady Lucy. I both taught in Surrey and sent my children to school there so am quite in the loop... I hope this helps:

There are absolutely tonnes of good preps. A few are quite old fashioned and friends moving out from London used to the generally very innovative preps with high quality enthusiastic teachers found some of the preps down in Surrey/Hampshire a bit behind the times or more sleepy.

Avoid The Royal - it has been really struggling and re-branded/re-configured itself so many times to keep going. Not heard good reviews and would go for a more stable and well-regarded place.

In terms of your question about where do pupils go after these schools, obviously look at the leavers' destination pages of the website. There is huge choice in Surrey but it will mean more travelling than you are used to in London. Lots of senior day pupils get the train to their school and it is a fun social time.
Senior schools are either 11+ or 13+:
11+ schools: Churcher's, Guildford High (girls), St Cats (girls), Tormead (girls), Prior's Field (girls, less academic), King Edward's Witley, Royal Grammar School (boys), Farnborough Hill (girls), Salesian (boys)
13+ schools: Charterhouse, Cranleigh (or send away to other public boarding schools)
Either 11+ or 13+: Seaford College (good for SEN), Frensham Heights/Beadales (alternative, liberal schools), St John's Leatherhead, Epsom College, Reeds (boys)


Prep schools
Cobham/Esher area: Danes Hill (known as quite flashy but v strong academics, fun school), Feltonfleet (great easy location, traditional prep, good size and successful), Downsend, Parkside boys, Ripley Court
Guildford area: Guildford High girls (academic, similar style to Putney High etc in London), Tormead girls (Latymer Upper head has just taken over), Lanesborough boys (super reputation), Rydes Hill 
Godalming area: St Hilary's (but watch out for their narrow leaver's destinations), St Catherine's Bramley girls (v v traditional but right for the right families), Aldro (7+ traditional but going co-ed)
Haslemere/Liphook: Highfield & Brookham (really popular suddenly, amazing grounds, hot destination for Clapham parents it seems at the moment!), St Edmund's (goes to 16 now, known as being less academic), Amesbury (traditional fun prep), Churchers (all through, reasonably academic), St Ive's (used to be good but struggling with numbers, good leaver's destinations)
 
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