Tormead, Guildford High, St Catherine's

[CanadianInGuildford123]

Sorry to post as I know this has been done to death, but does anyone have any recent experience with the Guildford area private schools? My two girls will be entering Year 3 and Reception next year and we are extremely torn as to our preference of school!
Having visited them all, I know that they are all amazing schools and we would be lucky to be offered a place in any... However, trying to decide which would be the best fit for our girls and family is going to be a challenge.
My first impression of GHS was that it is potentially not as warm/nurturing as the others, however I know that 2 hours spent on a school tour isn't enough to truly know a school.
Our eldest daughter is a bright and caring child who would flourish woth positive reinforcement and guidance. I'm not sure how well she would cope with extreme pressure. She is quite well rounded and would love to be involved in lots of different sports/music/clubs I'm sure - but I'm not sure that she would be the absolute best at anything at the end moment and so I worry that she may not have the opportunity to participate at the most competitive of these schools.

Any thoughts at all / experiences with these schools would be hugely appreciated!

CanadianinGuildford123, best wishes for you and DD at St Cats. I'm sure she will have a brilliant time.

inguildford - following on from my previous message, here's a link to Tormead's most recent newsletter which will give you information about what went on in school last term (and features the Twitter account details for the various subjects (to which I referred)). If the link doesn't work, it can be accessed via the drop down menu under the News section on the home page.

www.tormeadschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Tormead_Autumn_Newsletter_Interactive-17.pdf.

I hope you have sorted yourself out by now, but as a mum who had two DD's six years apart, we did Rydes Hill to GHS for one, then Rydes Hill to Tormead for the other. We live down the Aldershot Road. Happy at all. Comments on other commentators, Music at Rydes Hill is prime, both girls did piano and clarinet to high grades also lots of drama. Tormead Sixth form is oversubscribed, and ipads are used at both GHS and Tormead, but not Rydes Hill. Yes, Rydes Hill is a bit old fashioned, but that is kind of nice for younger girls. Believe me, they catch up real quick at secondary school !!

We're looking at this school for DD, 12, currently in Year 8, too. What's the senior school like because I'm aware that the prep is rather different to the senior school from what I've been reading? It seems a lovely school with lots of activities on offer and great pastoral care and academic results too. DD will be joining Year 9 as a full boarder - we have been away from the country for a few years. Does anyone know about the boarding at the school? DD likes running and hockey, drama and singing especially and enjoys playing the flute she's very bright especially in Maths but can sometimes lack motivation. DD has never boarded before but is looking forward to starting. Is it hard to fit in at this point considering girls have known each other a long time? What's the atmosphere like and what are the girls like? It's really hard to make a decision as parents so I thought I'd ask on here just for some views on the senior school. All views and experiences of the senior school recently would be appreciated very much. :)

My daughter got offered a place at Guildford High School, St Cats and Tormead. All are good schools.

Tormead will always suffer from not being Guildford High School. It’s polyester vs silk. Sorry to say.

St Cats has a reputation for monied absent parents. The online postings about the girls worried me.

Guildford High School has unbeatable results. It’s workwomanlike, down to earth. Couldn’t be happier. Agreeably this is post decision making rationalisation!

That silk/polyester comparison is hilarious!
A group of Tormead sixth formers recently made the county final with their young enterprise product the other two Guildford girls schools didn't make the final this year. A team of Tormead girls also recently made it in to the final of the ICAEW BASE competition.... (Finance competition where 550 teams took part) and came in the top 7 of the final 50 teams.... Not sure which other Surrey schools made it to the final 50 but none of the other Guildford girls schools featured in the top 7!
As has been said before it would be very unwise to use this site to select your child's school. Go with your gut feeling. Year groups vary from year to year. Certain schools suit certain children. Ask your child for their opinion...they will have a feel from attending an open day or activity day.
I don't know why parents come out with such ridiculous/generalised foolish statements about schools but I can see these bizarre/uneducated individuals set a terrible example to their children who then think it's acceptable to fuel resentment between schools.
All these schools are great, we are so lucky to have such a great choice!

'silk vs polyester'? It seems someone has no idea! Tormead has achieved better A-Level results in maths for a few years. And any school with 20% Oxbridge places a year is hardly 'polyester'. Does GHS get better overall results? Yes. Is it because they are a better school? No. Absolutely not. The girls do not do well BECAUSE they went to GHS. GHS does well because they select high achieving girls. These girls would have gained the same results had they gone to SHS or SWPS or Tormead. The myopic view that other schools in the area are somehow 'polyester' just because there is a higher performing school in the regions is just myopic and very suburban in thinking. The top performers in any of these schools are just as able as the top performers at GHS, there are just more of them at GHS. This is OBVIOUSLY true as girls from all these schools get into top universities and not all GHS get into top universities. Sheesh, some people are so deluded. It's like people thinking that EVERYONE at Oxford is smarter than EVERYONE at UCL. it's just not the case.

Agree with the last two posters - all these schools have extremely bright girls, there’s just more of them at GHS. Arguably the value add at Tormead is higher with a broader intake. Finding the right ‘fit’ is more important - the brightest will do equally well at all of these schools.

CanadianInGuildford123, What was your decision in the end? Do you think you made the right choice?

Does anyone have any recent experience of reception - year 2 at Tormead ? Loved the school but a bit concerned year groups are so small. Thanks

I am posting this on behalf of a parent of a Tormead child ( she is not on mumsnet but I showed her your post MollyandMax.)
Her reply is ‘ small year groups mean they have excellent teaching, the KS1 girls grow to know and play with each other so build strong friendships across the year groups ; that the teachers know the children know the children inside out ; that the whole Jumior School look out for each other through House events and to look at the school as a whole.
She said numbers increase as it goes up the school .
I know her girls are very happy there , but cannot comment personally as I had DSs .

@CanadianInGuildford123 I am a Canadian mum and my DD is right in the middle of all three 4+ assessments (GHS, Tormead and St. Cats). I realize this thread is a bit dated but conferred if you have some wisdom to impart now that you’re a few years on from the initial post? I share many of your initial challenges add to this that this year many of the tours were cancelled due to covid and the GHS assessment was done over zoom (!) so we have VERY little to go off of in terms of ‘gut’ feel! Please help!