Girls schools Guildford (Rydes hill/tormead/GHS)

[Workingmum21]

Hi there, hope you are well. We are considering schools for reception year entry for our little girl. We are interested in rydes hill, tormead and GHS. The former two have relatively new heads- anyone have any experience of the new management? Concerned about pressure/ elitism of GHS at such a young age ( having gone there myself, granted a while ago now, I remember less bright girls being humiliated and pushed out). Any recent experience of these schools would be much appreciated. Pros/cons? How did they cope with lockdown? Did they stay open for key workers? Many thanks! Look forward to hearing from you!

@Baaaahhhhh

OK - So the thread is in the wrong subsection, but really some of the comments on here are disgraceful.

OP - If you want to ask any detailed questions, my DD's went to Rydes Hill first, and then one to GHS and one to Tormead. They have both done really well, and are lovely girls (although I would say that of course).

Rydes Hill is very inclusive, has a range of girls academically and nurtures all talents. Leavers go on to GHS, Tormead, St Cats, Farnborough High, as well as all local state schools.

GHS is excellent academically, to counter a previous OP, is constantly in the top 5 nationally, so well in line with London, but because of that can be a bit high pressure. Academically excellent DD1 did really well, also good at drama and music, but was overlooked quite a lot because she wasn't sporty, which pissed her off a lot! Also despite stellar results and university journey hasn't been contacted once since, as she is just one of many.

Tormead, I love. In fact they asked DD1 to come in and talk to their students about exams, university and job selection. She was pleased to do so, and thrilled to be asked as a sister of a student. DD2 has done really well there, and I am forever thankful that she was not successful in her GHS application. Tormead is right for her.

As I said, feel free to PM me.

Thank you, that’s very helpful, and good idea re Twitter feeds

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

I know a few ex GHS & tormead as DH from guildford. From that obviously small sample of about a dozen women:

• the Tormead girls seem nicer, a bit less competitive/exclusive. Friendlier.
• GHS seemed v intense. I don't think it did SIL any good at all (bright, hard working, but not super bright and not robust/thick skinned confident type).
• other friends from GHS seemed to do fabulously academically but not actually aspire to much earnings wise long term - lots went into surprisingly poorly paid careers in the arts etc, while their RGS brothers are well paid in law/finance etc. So sort of a poor return on investment in a sense.

Thank you, that's interesting

@HyperHippo

I have good experience of these schools...

My DDs were at GHS and are now in their 20s so perhaps slightly outdated. It is an inspiring school, buzzy, lots going on, lots of pressure to not just float along (but I'm not sure I'd want a school which didn't encourage participation and let teenagers be their naturally lazy, scared to give it a go selves) and obviously is does everything extremely well. If you have a straight-forward, keen, confident girl then it is perfect.
My DDs are very proud to have gone there. One was quieter, and one more the real GHS type. Both are ambitious, have a sense of quiet confidence in their ability which comes from GHS. They have great memories, remember lots of fun and GHS is strangely relaxed despite its reputation. They are still great friends with their group from GHS. Their friends are all in fairly ambitious jobs. Sadly, quite a few really struggle with mental health. I don't want to pin that on GHS as we all know nowadays everyone struggles but the school back then had quite a factory like approach. A lot of their MH struggles are around insecurities impacting relationships, anxiety etc. I think that GHS has changed now as I see so much more focus on mental health, wellbeing and building strategies to cope.
While it has lots on offer, it is a bit intimidating to girls who aren't naturally brilliant. It also is so focused on results and the 'shining stars' that is neglects life skills for all. It assumes all GHS girls are so strong and so doesn't nurture and teach things like soft skills which other schools get from house systems, more informal relationships which reach out to every girl etc.
In short, it is an amazing school for the right girl. It is fun, inspiring and creates girls who are ambitious. It is not for girls who need that gentle push or who are more in the shadows and need noticing and given a little praise. I feel a bit reluctant to post this as I am a huge fan of GHS and there are so so many positives, but deep down this is my honest view in hindsight.
They are getting a new junior school Head next September which will be interesting.
(Things may have changed, it is nearly 10 years on now. But their website makes it look even shinier!)

Tormead historically was the more rebellious, not as academic school. The comments above suggest it has really improved and will do well with the ex-LU deputy leading it. I know Laytmer Upper and it is super so if Tormead goes a similar direction it will be one to watch.

I'd also recommend St Cats. It is a bit marmite so see if it is for you. Lead by an old-fashioned but (IMO) brilliantly down to earth head. Super house system which nurtures the girls, every girl is involved and kept busy. The girls always seem less cliquey due to the systems in place. It is a bit more old school but amazing facilities and does the whole person, good manners and communication alongside inspiring girls and being ambitious for them.

Thanks that's really useful. Went to a st cat's open day and was really impressed, but I have a friend whose daughter is there and she finds many of the parents/girls snobbish and unfriendly. Also she feels there is a bit of a divide between boarders and day ( also sadly that foreign students are not particularly accepted/welcomed despite high intake no doubt to line the school's pockets)

@CakeyCakeyCakeCake

Hi OP, my daughter went to Rydes and we were very involved as a family in the life of the school. I could not have asked for a better start for my DD. It is the most wonderful school. The new Head is phenomenal, she is outside every morning come rain or shine to greet the children and parents, and so can be always grabbed for a quick chat. She also has half-termly Parents’ Forums where current issues and new ideas are discussed and the parents’ view points taken into consideration.

The Staff is very supportive, kind and caring, and go out of their way for the girls and parents. The only reason we left was because we emigrated, and my DD still dearly misses Rydes Hill. She said to me the other day that none of her new teachers are as lovely as the ones at Rydes.
The children are supported, allowed to grow and encouraged to find their own “place”. Being a smaller school, the girls know each other across the year groups and the older girls are encouraged to look after the younger children.

They School has such a warm atmosphere, a real “family” approach. We could not have asked for a better, more nurturing environment for our daughter. It was the best start to her education.

Thank you. That is so good to hear and really echoes the impression that we got of the school when we visited and also the head who seemed so accommodating and very considerate of family life, aware that a happy family/ parents goes along way to creating a happy child. Very much felt like we would be partners in our daughters growth (not just education) (contrast GHS which, as reflected In the numerous posts by others, has a 'this is how we do things. You fit in or you leave' attitude) thanks again. I've not come across any (well informed) negative reviews of RH. Thanks again. Hope your daughter settles into her new school soon!

A friend works at GHS as a teacher and told my husband recently (he'd asked why their daughter doesn't go there - she goes to the same state school as my kids) that there was no way that they'd send their daughter there due to the high pressure the kids were under.

Hi @Workingmum21
This thread is so interesting, and thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies. My family is relocating to Guildford from Switzerland and looking at the same schools. We've had some wonderful meetings with enthusiastic staff from Tormead, while GHS have been a bit less available. As we're overseas at present, we've not been able to go visit either of the schools, though perhaps with COVID neither have you!
What have your impressions of GHS and Tormead been?

Hi there, just to echo the positive comments about Rydes Hill, I am a current parent, our girls having joined the school in 2015 under the previous head. The school was great then, but even better now. Mrs Norville is exceptional in all aspects and truly nurtures a welcoming family environment where the children thrive. Our girls are very different from each other but the school caters to each individual child and allows them to flourish, with resilience and confidence. The lockdown provision was fabulous- our girls were fully engaged throughout the school day from the very beginning and Mrs Norville and the rest of the staff worked tirelessly to keep both online learning and in person learning for key worker children going throughout the lockdown period. She also worked miracles and managed to have the entire school back in person for the last 3 weeks of the summer term. I appreciate that for some not having a senior school offering might be a concern but the school does a phenomenal job of preparing the girls for whatever type of senior school they want to go to, whether state or private. I think the guildford and woking area has a great choice of schools, both private and state, but we are so happy we chose Rydes Hill and would highly recommend it to others.

Rydes Hill have just had brilliant SATS results. Tormead doesn't do the SATS exams in Year 6 so they will not be on the table. A friend who has younger children at Tormead recently texted me to say how fabulous the new head is; very open and available, introducing lots of new things (eg girls' football) and wants everyone to have a chance to participate. I don't think you will go wrong with either RH or Tormead. Just need to look at the logistics of getting your child to and from school I think and decide if you want a specifically religious education.

I'm just going to chuck in the slightly further out St Hilary's in Godalming if you're looking for mixed.

It's nurturing and when I went round I was genuinely taken by how happy and well rounded the children were. And honestly the politest and loveliest children. They even tried to cheer up ds2 when he got all teary.

My friend has a girl there who is quite frankly smarter than me already. She says the teachers give her extra adds on to lessons so she doesn't get bored and to stretch her understanding. They really tailor their teaching to the individual child.

Traffic between Guildford and Godalming is a mare. But they have several school busses. Don't know where they pickup from.

Good luck with it all!
(I went to Ghs many many moons ago. Academically can't fault it. Straight As. Felt they sidelined creative stuff to get the results though. I'm academic so I did well. I think less academic girls would hate it)