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Original poster

Best prep schools in Surrey for boys

24 replies

arizonagirl · 07/08/2010 22:03

Hi all,

Looking into options for our son (aged five) around the Guildford area. Want to be the other side of Guildford to Epsom/Ashtead etc.

The choice seems to be a lot more limited that way other than Lanesborough and Cranmore. Ideally I would prefer co-ed at this stage but am becoming resigned to the fact that this isn't an option this way. Have looked at Longacre but it's too remote for us. Similar situation with Haslemere and Godalming.

Any thoughts or advice would be really appreciated. Getting a big bogged down with it all : (

OP posts:
CarGirl · 07/08/2010 22:08

Have you looked at Hoebridge and FeltonFleet. Personally I don't like st Georges.

mummytime · 08/08/2010 07:39

I'd second Hoe Bridge and Felton Fleet. Isn't Greenfields in Woking also co-ed? I like St George's, but that was the senior bit.

CarGirl · 08/08/2010 12:59

What I don't like about St Georges is that they now ask dc to leave at 7 if they don't do well enough at the end of stage 2!!!! I just agree with a summer born boy being written off at that age, it's just the ethos of it.

nancydrewrocked · 08/08/2010 13:13

Lanesborough and Cranmore are both very good. DS was at Rydes Hill which is a girls school that takes boys until 7. Most then go on to Lanesborough or Cranmore.

I agree with Cargirl re St. Georges although know many parents who are very happy with it. Re FeltonFleet I believe they are a lot less academic and take many of those that don't make the cut at St. Georges - whether you consider that to be a good or bad thing depends on your personal ethos.

DancingHippoOnAcid · 08/08/2010 13:34

I know two people who have DCs at Feltonfleet and they are both very happy with it. It is a very caring school.

There is quite an emphasis on boarding, though, and quite a few end up boarding there at least part time before they leave.

MeganMog · 08/08/2010 13:39

Aldro in Shackleford - has good reputation and is close to the A3, but is Godalming direction so maybe too remote for you?

DemonChild · 08/08/2010 15:24

My brother went to Ripley Court - I know my parents thought it was fantastic and would have sent me there as well if they'd know about it earlier. Was a while ago though..

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 08/08/2010 15:41

I don't think that is true, Cargirl. They do not ask anyone to leave the junior school.

What they do is make early offers of places to Junior School children, I believe by Year 4, so that they do not have to go through the 11+ process for College or any other school.

Those children who do not receive early offers take their chances at 11+ time.

In the contract with parents, there is small print that gives the school the opportunity to decline a place for those children who will not meet the academic rigours of KS2, or for whom the school does not offer the right pastoral setting. However, it would be very unusual to decline a place, and something that would definitely be mutually beneficial to the family.

There are not many independent schools that actively turn away their own pupils, unless it is in the best interests of the pupils.

Tanith · 08/08/2010 16:10

I second Aldro. It's a fantastic school that doesn't put pressure on the children, yet seems to achieve excellent results. They only take 7-13 year old boys, though.

I don't like what I know of Cranmore. They seem to have become very competitive in quite an unpleasant way. I even heard they'd banned losing teams from match tea! Horrible thing to do to small boys!

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 08/08/2010 16:29

You hear all sorts of things, not all of which is true.

CarGirl · 08/08/2010 18:14

I guess all the publicity when they introduced the rule and the friends I know it happened to are all untrue then?

Not able to meet the rigours of KS2, exactly unless your child is shown to be academically able at 7 they do not wish to educate them through KS2!

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 08/08/2010 20:00

If a child is in the wrong school, it is in their best interests to move them to the right school. The school is actually being rather charitable to let these children go.

omnishambles · 08/08/2010 20:04

I dont agree with that at all MMe - they do that at a prep school near me as well and I find it awful to write off a boy at 7...they do it to keep up their scholarship numbers at CE anyway not out of pastoral care...

omnishambles · 08/08/2010 20:05

and so that they can say the dont have an entrance test etc that its a lottery when in fact they just weed out the nonacademic ones later on.

Original poster
arizonagirl · 08/08/2010 20:06

Thanks for all your great feedback - really useful. Will look at Hoe Bridge and look at the location of Aldro. Not so sure about Felton Fleet - keep hearing stories of bullying and the comment about being less academic is interesting. Ds is doing really well and likes to be stretched. We did seriously consider Cranmore but the more we found out, the more we didn't like. I guess we should also look at Lanesborough - we did look at Braganza pre-prep but found it so small and cramped. I also have found some of the boys I have met from there to be perhaps a bit too confident. Not a bad thing but my ds does tend to be a bit on the quiet side when he is at school.

Any thoughts regarding Cranmore versus Lanesborough?

Thanks so much for all this help : )))

OP posts:
MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 08/08/2010 20:13

Clearly, SGC doesn't care about scholarship numbers given that they have their own senior school.

All prep schools worth their salt will put the needs of the pupils first. If a child is not suited to the school, they will suggest better alternatives. Trading goes on all the time.

I don't know what publicity Cargirl has seen. I am a SGC parent and haven't seen any publicity other than waiving the 11+. I've even taken the trouble to read through newsletters from the past year and there is nothing major that seems harsh or unfair.

CarGirl · 08/08/2010 20:48

They need to give scholarships to keep their charitable status, this is something the government have cracked down on - think of the fee increases if they lose that Shock

The publicity was mainly when they introduced the right to ask to leave based on key stage 1 sats results.

If someone has an academically able child and they are happy with hot housing then in fairness SGC as a primary school is fine, of course at senior level this sort of academic selection and hot housing is seen as the norm.

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 08/08/2010 21:05

They don't need to give scholarships to pupils from their own junior school, any more than any other scholarships they give out.

SGC actually gives out very few scholarships, only a couple at 11+ and 13+ in each category. Their scholarships are typically 10% off fees, so not really contributing to charitable status.

As a Catholic school, the ethos of the school has always been aligned with the hoop jumping of the Charities commission.

mummytime · 09/08/2010 12:23

"They seem to have become very competitive in quite an unpleasant way." of Cranmore? It has been very competitive for at least the last 14 years. I thought it had become a little less so recently but perhaps not?

Belmont is another option but perhaps too far? (It does bus from Guildford.)

From a Cranmore / Lanesborough choice I would choose Lanesborough, despite its cramped site. (But then I choose State school in the end.)

willali · 10/08/2010 12:38

HAve you looked at Downsend - it is co-ed. Also City of LOndon Freemens

Original poster
arizonagirl · 10/08/2010 17:35

Yes, did look at Downsend - looked at the lodges. They just seemed a bit twee. Also, we are really wanting to move to the other side of Guildford to Epsom - not as far as Woking but that side as it seems a bit cheaper on the mortgage front. Thinking we are going to be restricted to Lanesborough or one of the Woking way schools. Or perhaps Farnham. Got a dd who starts next September so that is something to think about too. Keep hearing good things about Tormead and Guildford High. Thanks for all the input.

OP posts:
LIZS · 10/08/2010 17:39

Is Barfields too far ?

Original poster
arizonagirl · 10/08/2010 22:38

No, Barfields would be fine - we are looking at moving anyway. Is it a nice school? Thanks for that thought : )

OP posts:
Fiddledee · 11/08/2010 11:04

Barrow Hills - Witley. Curious at which school you are not currently happy with...

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