Postby happydad » Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:30 am
Our daughter is in the Junior Dept, joined from a local state primary at 7+ ... it's outstanding in most areas - academic, sport, music etc and very balanced, we could not praise it highly enough. As mentioned, although the entrance process is quite low-key, it is pretty selective with maybe 1 out of 3 getting in at 7+ with a small 8+ intake. That includes a core of kids "groomed" by Jack and Jill and other local feeders - so you want to know more about your DDs level at 5-6 - as there is some competition to get in!
Buses run from all over and I'd say at least 50% of kids use them, more in the Senior school.
Most of the junior intake is pretty local i.e. Kingston, Coombe, Teddington, Richmond areas etc. In my daughter's class I would say 18+ of 24 are pretty local so do think about practicalities of visiting friends after school, parties in weekends. Maybe there are a few kids more centrally, some further out in Surrey but most are probably within ten miles of the school.
Travel aside, if your daughter is a bright type and you wish to avoid the mega-stress at 11+, LEH Juniors with most of them getting into the Senior school cannot be recommended too highly -- and I don't think you'll find too many comments to the contrary from either mums or daughters, which is quite amazing. Quite a few of the mums are ex-LEH and have chosen to send the next generation there ... the school inspires real affection beyond the pure results treadmill.
Hope that helps ...