Non-Selective or All-through Independent Schools in Surrey

[wordlymama]

Hello, we are relocating from California to Surrey and am looking for good Independent schools for my DD and DS. They will both be starting in nursery and reception grades. Since it is too early to know their academic strengths when the time comes to sit their 11+ or 13+ exams, I am trying to find schools in the area that are either non-selective or more preferably all-through Nursery to Grade 12 schools for Boys/Girls/Co-ed.

For selective type schools, we have narrowed down to Reigate St Mary's or Chinthurst, for potential feeder school Reigate Grammer. But are also open to others.

We will be finding homes around the schools - so the school choices will determine our home areas.

Thank you so much for your help in advance.

Bullying issues

Highly recommend Belmont. It's a magical school in the Surrey hills with 75 acres of land. It's just started going up to 16. But some children still leaving at 11+ or 13+ and going on to Reigate, Epsom College, Wellington, Cranleigh, Dunottar, Hurst, Ardingley etc.

It's non selective. The bright children do really well and as their is a very individual learning plan set up, those who need support do really well too.

Definitely worth a tour.

@LatinSisters

Bullying issues

That’s a shame to hear, I have never heard of any issues myself, and most parents send their girls to Tormead as the preferred choice for a DD who needs a more supportive and less ‘pressured’ environment. It’s also worth noting that Tormead has a brand new Head, theres always +/-‘s with a change in leadership anywhere, but he’s come from an amazing school in West London and I’m sure will be good for the school. Good luck in your hunt, like it’s been said many times, you really are spoilt for choice in Surrey! :-)

@unchienandalusia - Oh that's very helpful to hear! I will reach out to this school and definitely try and schedule a virtual tour. Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback!

@LatinSisters thank you for clarifying.

@Strandguildford Thank you for the update regarding the new head of school. I've scheduled virtual tour with Tormead, and excited to see what the school is like virtually.

A shout out for GHS junior and senior school.
I’m a GHS old girl and have only great things to say about it!

@LatinSisters

Stay well clear of Tormead. They do not deal with bulky issues. I’d highly recommend GHS.

Hey there, just got a sense of Déjà vu! You seem to posting all over the place about various schools, including Tormead, GHS, and even others!, with regards to bullying. Do your daughters actually attend all these schools?

Seem strange to also say that you recommend GHS here in your quote, but in another thread, which you set up, actually tell everyone they’re a rubbish school.

Maybe I’m being cynical, but you trolling the local competitor schools smacks as suspicious!

I looked up Caterham because I noticed they had a prep-school that feed into the senior school, but it seems their entrance criteria is quite rigorous too
I know a couple of families whose children have joined the pre-school (nursery) at Caterham. Although their children were assessed, this was in small groups, alongside the then current nursery class. The entrance criteria is not that rigorous - it's there to spot children who might be particularly needy. Moreover, it's not particularly academic. There has been a lot of talk by the new head about making it more academic, but so far we have not seen anything that makes it so. It's certainly not a 7+ school.
However, you might want to check out the waiting lists, as most parents join their child to the list at birth. Also, there is a sibling priority rule.

@PrimeraVez @MariaParker @Strandguildford @Movement05

Thank you all so much for your feedback and advice. I have managed to get some virtual tours with the schools you all recommended over the next 2 weeks, so I'm very much looking forward to see what each one has to offer and if they're a good fit for my children.

Thank You so much!

Hi. Would definitely be interested in people’s experiences of The Hawthorns as relocating soon. Have heard mixed reports about its teaching and high staff turnover but also that it’s a ‘nice’ school. Not sure what nice means but would be interested in your views as it will be the most convenient prep for us.

New head a few years ago after a long standing one with inevitable churn of staff and restructuring which suited some and not others.

Look at Farnborough Hill, just over the Hampshire border

Ok. Thanks. Would only be looking to Y6 and then RGS or Caterham. What’s the Hawthorns 11+ success rate with these 2 schools, including scholarships? Are English/Maths departments at Hawthorns strong? Possibly Tonbridge which will be the online ISEB test. Presume Hawthorns has lessons preparing them for the ISEB tests?

@Sar47

Ok. Thanks. Would only be looking to Y6 and then RGS or Caterham. What’s the Hawthorns 11+ success rate with these 2 schools, including scholarships? Are English/Maths departments at Hawthorns strong? Possibly Tonbridge which will be the online ISEB test. Presume Hawthorns has lessons preparing them for the ISEB tests?

I think you'd have to ask them as my info is out of date. It used to be higher success rate on scholarships at 13+ but that may well have changed in recent years. Yes they do study for pretests, also now a popular route with RGS and Caterham, but not CE now.

hi all, I actually came across another question (which I did not know about at RGS): Is it true that even if your child gets into RGS after the 11+ exams, they need to perform at a very high level and meet certain criteria to be able to continue on at RGS from GCSE to A Levels?

Take a look at Downsend in Ashtead too. Now goes up to 16. I think it's a fabulous school.

Yes

@Epwell and @J33nco - Thank you so much for the recommendation. I'll look into that school as well.

I think you'll find that most selective Indies do this. Many of the all-through schools weed out the less able children at earlier stages too.

Is it true that even if your child gets into RGS after the 11+ exams, they need to perform at a very high level and meet certain criteria to be able to continue on at RGS from GCSE to A Levels?

Agree - many schools impose a minimum GCSE standard to proceed to sixth form. You should also be aware that some schools highest in the league tables may block your child from selecting or subsequently sitting specific GCSE or A Level subjects through the school if they are insufficiently confident of them achieving the highest grades in order to maintain their national league table ranking.

You may think that your interests as a parent and the school's will be aligned in this respect (ie you'll both want the highest grades achievable). However, this can have longer term ramifications for subsequent A level choices or degree subject applications. At what level should a school dictate what is a high enough predicted grade and steer a pupil's GCSE choices? Is only a predicted 9 acceptable, an 8 or a 7 (all of which are, after all, still an old style A grade) or lower?

There is definitely an element of some schools gaming the system to achieve their higher league table rankings. Another tactic is requiring some pupils to sit the lower level GCSE maths papers. See historic thread here - no idea if this is still the case at St Cat's Bramley.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3173645-St-Cats-Bramley-and-foundation-maths

@WombatChocolate just following up on your comment about Dunottar School earlier on in the thread. We have an 11+ offer and were keen to gather any info from parents directly as we do not have much time in which to accept it. I don’t suppose you know any parents that would be able to give us some honest feedback via DM? It’s been such an unusual year and any comments would be useful :)

Have you though of the American school in cobham?

RGS is very selective and Claremont Fan Court is going that way.

Downsend is a "sister" school of my DC and recommended by the school to the children who are not in the scholarship stream as it is less demanding that most selective ones.

The American school is very expensive, and does not offer A levels. The IB is an excellent qualification, but not all students are offered that option. AP classes only may prove difficult for British university entrance..

@afewtoomanychoices

Hawleyhurst shut down by the way!

Reopened as Hurst Lodge School