Current opinions of SWPS, Prior's Field & St George's Weybridge - or elsewhere...?

[rebby]

I know two are all girls and one is mixed & Catholic and I know I need to visit all three (have done so for 2 out of the 3 so far) but I'd really value opinions from people who have children at the schools now or recently.

Important to me is that my children fulfil their academic potential (they're both very bright) via a well rounded, caring educational experience rather than a cliquey hothouse.

I want them to have opportunities, experiences and friends as well as excellent A levels. Having read a lot of threads and reviews about many schools it seems one needs to choose one thing or the other - a hot house or an academically inferior but caring school. Surely one can have both?!

I've visited Tormead, St Cats, Guildford High, Marist, LVS and they have been ruled out for one reason or another. I feel I'm going round in circles...

Virginia Water area - willing to drive up to an hour. Fees need to be around the £5,000 mark (many children...) so no suggestions for Wellington please! ;) I have girls but am considering both single sex and mixed schools.

[mummytime]

Priorsfield is less academic. Have you looked at Sir William Perkins? Or ACS?

[groundhogmummy]

City of London Freemen's Ashtead?

maybe if you could venture (without necessarily naming) why you've ruled out the schools you've mentioned as SWPS/Prior's Field and St George's all very different ...

[AliceInSandwichLand]

Priors Field is much less academic in reputation than SWPS, and very many, I think most, girls leave after GSCEs there to do their A levels elsewhere. It's very cosy and sheltering but I have heard many parents say they find it disorganised. You may have dismissed some schools as 'cliquey hothouses' unfairly. , IMO, but of those you are considering, I would have thought SWPS was more what you are looking for - much stronger for A levels; I know lots and lots of girls who go/have gone there and most have found it very positive. Also, if you are thinking about secondary, bear in mind public transport - both you and they may want them to make their own way to school in due course, certainly by A level time. I don't know anything much about St George's, even though it's nearer to me than Priors Field.