Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Cranleigh School

41 replies

JammieMummy · 29/12/2019 23:08

Hi.
Currently looking at 13+ schools for my daughter. She is a bright girl who will give anything a go and get involved with it all. At her current prep school she is A team for netball and Cricket but B for other sports. She is in a competitive swim squad and trains 4 times a week. She sings (recently having a solo in a choir performance) and does some drama but more for her lack of confidence. She isn’t top of the class more of a very solid middle who has had a number of difficulties in life and therefore is a quiet and sensitive child.
She has mild ADHD and dyslexia which have only just been diagnosed.

We live just outside of Guildford and while the prep school think she could be capable of the selective girls School’s there I know the pressure would be too much for her. I really like the look (on paper) of Cranleigh but I don’t know anyone who currently has a child there and there are no uptodate threads on this board. Does anyone have any experience? We have an open day booked but I would like some insider info if possible.
Thank you in advance

OP posts:

Musmerian · 12/03/2020 09:28

The Head used to be Head of the school that DH teaches in and that all three DCs went to. He’s great. Approachable, flexible and warm.

Lara53 · 14/03/2020 22:50

I have two dc at Churchers currently - happy to answer any questions. Plenty of kids travel by train from Godalming/ Guildford area

charts3573 · 08/04/2020 20:58

Hi Lara53,

I was wondering if you could give me some insight into Churchers. We have one DD and two DS’s.

We are probably going to be making a move to Farnham but worried we may be out of the ‘action’ for Churchers. When we visited the school we got the impression from the tour that a lot of children attending lived locally, or around Haslemere. Is this the case?

Also, when it comes to sports matches, are a lot of the matches towards the coast and thus travel times from Farnham could be even further?

My husband works in London and is worried he could feel even further away if the children are at school in Petersfield/Liphook in terms of sports days/parent teacher consultations etc

We did consider the guildford schools however being an ex pupil of one, I know the long journey from Farnham to guildford on a morning. Equally I don’t want the pressure of results put too heavily on the boys at a school like RGS.

All my three are sporty and love being outdoors. Academically they are strong but this isn’t our main priority when looking at a school.

Our DD has passed the entrance exams for Tormead and Farnborough Hill, we have at present accepted the latter place. However during this ‘downtime’ we have had time to reflect and look at the big picture in terms of where the boys will go to school and the impact of having two different schools in the picture. We also haven’t found a boys school locally which we would be happy with and the distance between farnborough hill and churchers (should they be in these schools) is quite far!

Your thoughts and advice would be very welcome 😊.

Thank you

Claire

MollyButton · 09/04/2020 23:56

Claire have you looked at Salesian? The obvious match for Farnborough Hill

charts3573 · 10/04/2020 07:16

Hi,

Yes we have considered it however there seems to be a very strong catholic ethos there. I know farnborough hill is also catholic but apparently only 30-40% of students follow the religion whereas Salesian is 60%.

MollyButton · 10/04/2020 16:23

Well from Farnham I would have thought the journey to Churchers was prohibitive. The Haslemere schools might be better, several are through to 16/18 now. There is Frensham Heights but that is a bit marmite.
And for a boy there is only RGS in Guildford, I think there is now a direct train (or parents I've known have driven their sons to Guildford then caught a train into London - but it is also farmoreselective than it used to be. Of course there is Weydon the state school in Farnham, which seems to be pretty highly thought of.

Rkidlets · 22/04/2020 00:40

Highly recommend Cranleigh. Excellent opportunities and character education with a focus on each individual chid. A school where each child is known and nurtured. Fairly strict and any sense of entitlement is left at the school gates. One of the leading sports schools in the country also with superb music and drama facilities. Certainly not a win at all costs school. Not a school to sweep things under the carpet.

Edith1970s · 14/10/2020 22:35

My DS just moved to Salesian and am really happy so far. Lots of academic focus + tonnes of sport. He is not Catholic.

Babs1972 · 15/11/2020 16:49

Cranleigh School is a rip off. They won't address the drugs issue which is still a big problem. They have some really intelligent pupils but only one got into Oxbridge this year - compare with Wellington and St. Cats who have over 20. There was some seriously disappointed parents and pupils who had invested a lot money only to be badly let down

Babs1972 · 30/11/2020 22:49

Would not consider Cranleigh - two suspended already in November for racism. Not an inclusive school and the parents are clearly behind the pupils views. Not academic and many disappointed by lack of Oxbridge success - only 1 into Oxbridge v 20 in from Wellington. A total waste of value for money

Boymum12 · 17/06/2021 09:49

Can I ask where this comment comes from? Experience? If yes and you are happy to share what type of bullying, and schools reaction I’d be grateful. We are considering Cranleigh for our 2 boys.

Slovenia1 · 26/01/2022 13:39

I have a friend whose sending her only son to this school.The son has ADHD and could not get into any other private school.However Cranleigh took him on , as his parents have no problems with funding.Unfortunately their son is quiet difficult.He often has fits of jealousy hits friends , and cones across as very entitled in his behaviour. They have also chosen this school as it has a biarding facility .I personally wouldnt rate tgis school as particularly wonderful .Its basicall a provate school, that is there for parents who have SEN issues and can afford to part with money.

GMH74 · 26/01/2022 13:42

You could look at Worth. The school bus goes from Horsham for day pupils

Slovenia1 · 26/01/2022 13:45

Please ignore the spell pedict errors in last post .

I would rate Cranleigh private school as not particularly a good school .However for parents who have children with other SEN difficulties or ADHD /ADD is probably perhaps a limited private school choice. A third of pupils at Cranleigh need SEN support.At £33, 750, ( non boarding ) per year it isn't really a cheap choice. Drugs , bullying have been issues at this school .

MumsMetHer · 26/01/2022 13:50

St Catherine's is as high pressure as Guildford High, and more pressured than Tormead.

Cranleigh is well suited to those who don't thrive under significant academic pressure. As is Tormead, but Tormead is more academic than Cranleigh.

Cranleigh is excellent for sport and for music performance (they've cut down on academic music). The choirs and drama at Cranleigh are generally better than at any of the other schools I've mentioned.

They're all good schools. St Cat's is great in many ways, but I really wouldn't recommend it for someone who's middle of the road academically and doesn't thrive under pressure.

Slovenia1 · 26/01/2022 14:06

St Cats and Wellington definately better choices . Cranleigh basically takes on pupils that have various behavioural problems, due to conditions such as ADHD and ADD .It's a private school and caters for parents that basically can not get into other private schools with their children and yet have the funds to pay for a local private school that is boarding as well.

Flip

1 2