Chinthurst or Reigate St Mary's Prep School?

[wordlymama]

Hello fellow parents, we are relocating from California to Surrey, and have narrowed down to 2 schools for our children (who will be entering at Nursery and Reception levels next year). We have spoken to both schools and toured both as well.

Would love some opinions on any pros and cons of either schools, and if anyone has preference on which one is a better option? (i know that is a very subjective question, but any feedback would be awesome as we are so far away and cannot travel to the UK right now due to COVID travel restrictions).

Thank you so much in advance!

I think that is probably less of an issue than a few years ago, as many schools including RGS and C now pretest in year 6/7 for deferred 13+ entry. Year 7 and 8 classes tend to be small.

@LIZS got it - thank you so much! That information really helps!

Hi can anyone give me insight to Chinthurst in Tadworth. On paper looks lovely for my shy, bright but non sporty child. Do children go onto other academic schools if they don’t go to Reigate Grammar? Is the teaching really strong - do the stretch and support in relative string/weak areas. Is the pastoral care as great as it says? What is the commute like to Ashtead or Dorking?

Can anyone let me know what the pastoral care is like at City of London Freemens when they go in at 7. I have a quiet, socially v shy but bright child who is v organised but due any like playground much. Thanks

Hawthorns and Micklefireld send roughly equal numbers at 11+ to Reigate Grammar and to Dunnottar in Reigate. Dunnottar has given a very genuine option for those who can't or don't get a place at Reigate Grammar.

So Micklefield being Reigate based send the vast majority of their kids to Reigate Grammar or Dunnottar and then a small handful elsewhere. Hawthorns attracts families from a wider geographical area and also those indterested in boarding at senior level. Therefore they feed far more different senior schools and although send decent numbers to Reigtae Grammar and Dunnottar each year, are also sending to Caterham, Woldingham, Ardingly, Worth, Bedes, Whitgift, Trinity, Croydon High, Lingfield, Cranleigh, Hurst.

Choice of Prep depends on if you are dead set on one senior destination and pretty sure it can be achieved from that Prep. If you're not so dead set, the ones which feed a variety of senior schools might be better.

The senior schools will show their current coach routes on their websites....so people living in Oxted or Caterham or Crawley or Guildford or Epsom (north, south, east and west) can get to Reigate Grammar and Caterham will have similar north, south, east , west reach with the coaches too.

I do have to say, there is a big benefit to being able to walk to school whether it's at Prep level or more importantly at senior level when you just get lots of benefits of being close to lots of other local students and the flexibility to get home easily at any time which cannot be matched by even the best late coach routes.

With schools that are affiliated to specific senior schools, like Chinthurst or Reigate St Mary's you can feel the odd one out if not following the standard path....through choice or because you do t make the grade. It is something to consider.

But ask for exact figures from each school of their destinations for pupils moving on. Push for detail if they are vague.

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?

I think, although they may officially say noone is sifted out, a number of students move to Reigate College (state sixth form) et al as being "better suited". RC offers both A levels and vocational qualifications such as Performing Arts. They also apparently use more than one centre number to present best results for league tables (although they may well not be alone in doing so) .

@myrtilles @JoJoSM2 @LIZS - thank you so so much for providing such helpful and valuable information to me. It really is helpful in our home and school searching. How is Tadworth for an area to live in? It seems centrally located, but not as busy at Epsom perhaps.

Thank You so much.

Did you end up deciding on either Chinthurst or REigate st Mary’s? Keen to hear thoughts!

Bumping this :) would love to know which school you chose and if you are happy. We have been offered a place there for my daughter at Chinthurst for Year 3 in September but want to do final checks before we sign on the dotted line. Thanks!

I’m considering Chinthurst/Longacre/Duke of K for my v bright boy who is sensitive and struggles socially with other children. I want a v proactive school pastorally who can also cater for his academic strengths. Also heard Ripley Court good. I was “sold” a pastoral ethos in an academic school but he’s really being left to it so I’m looking to move if it doesn’t improve. Any advice welcome. Once concern are Chjnthurstvis but knowing anyone there and his strong the teaching really is if fir eg you don’t want to go to Reigate - although we might.

I would definitely go to see Chinthurst. We were totally sold on the pastoral care. It was a runner up for independent school of the year for pastoral care, only primary to be nominated. In terms of academics 60% go to Reigate Grammar School, via automatic place, but the remainder are very well coached in 11+ and all get first choice state grammars or selective independent. So therefore feels like it should be good? Not started there yet so only judging by what we've seen and read on the website. Before you are offered a place your child does a whole school day there as a trial day, hopefully your son's reaction from that will give an indication of how much he enjoyed it so give you a clue whether he'll thrive there. My daughter has just done this. Almost certainly going to take up the offer in the next week or so. She's in state school at the moment so no idea of the private sector at all. But we were very impressed with what we saw. We also got positive feedback from some parents with kids there after an anonymous post on Facebook. This gave us even more reassurance we are doing the right thing.

Thanks. I wish I knew some people there - it’s best to get personal recommendation. I did ask if I Could speak to some parents when I looked last year but didn’t happen. We are private sector and there are much better glossier facilities for me it’s about good teaching and pastoral care.

I posted anonymously on the 'we love Reigate ' board and got quite a few responses. Another option (depending when your school gets out) is to speak to parents coming out of school? I've visited twice, both times when it wasn't an open day so I could get a feel of what it would be like on a normal school day. The taster day, and my daughter's reaction meeting her after school, is what swung it for us. It was a totally normal school day and she loved it.

Thanks all good thoughts.

I cannot speak for RSM but we joined Chinthurst in Sept 2021 (unfortunately without the taster days). We did look around RSM and decided to go with Chint as it felt more like a school and less polished. I rather liked the well worn nature of the grounds as it suggests that the children enjoy playing there.

Before we joined I had good reports of pastoral care which sold me on the school. if you are not joining in nursery then you are joining an established peer group which is a little daunting. There are also a lot of staff who have kids in the school. The small class sizes seem to be increasing (15+ per class) but the teaching staff seem nice.

Draw backs - parking! The school has two entrances and both are awful for parking at drop off and pick up. The neighbours do get upset about parent parking, and do make it known. There are also times when the school changes plans on parents with only a bit of notice (e.g. choosing to close the school early before Xmas) which interferes with plans.
Positive - staff, community, Saturday sports for reception upwards, prep for the next school (the school has a good idea whether the child is Reigate Grammar material in Y3/4 and will work from then onwards to find the right school). Those that do not go onto Reigate Grammar report that they have a lot of support to find the right school for the child.

Obviously we haven't been there very long but I hope that helps!

@gato2022 thanks for this! We've just submitted the application so will be starting my daughter there in Year 3. In terms of parking what we have at the school we are currently in is awful and RSM would be even worse for us so thankfully not too daunted by this! It's going to be so hard my daughter leaving her current school and friends but feels the right thing to do (we love the school but it's a really big state school - 90 kids per year) and feel smaller classes plus hopefully easier transition to RGS is the right decision. All going well my son will start there in September 2023 in Reception.

Gato2022. How did they help your child establish themselves in the peer group? My child finds it hard to make friends so lots of intervention to support that is a key to me moving him. He is very bright but was a late talker and this set him back so I want an open door policy with the staff and to be able to help him build his confidence and self esteem. He got in an academically selective school already where they are happy with his academics etc so I suspect if he’s robust enough - he’d get into Reigate and avoiding the 11 plus is a big thing. They say they can give a steer on this if they meet him etc. I’d really only be moving because of that feeling I want him to have lots more individual care and attention rather than being left to get on with it as he seems to be now. However I do want solid teaching too to stretch and also support. Is the SENCO good as I’d want to work with her and the speech therapist? Anyone know about that. Do the quiet shy ones get looked after at playtime etc?

[quote muminneed85]@gato2022 thanks for this! We've just submitted the application so will be starting my daughter there in Year 3. In terms of parking what we have at the school we are currently in is awful and RSM would be even worse for us so thankfully not too daunted by this! It's going to be so hard my daughter leaving her current school and friends but feels the right thing to do (we love the school but it's a really big state school - 90 kids per year) and feel smaller classes plus hopefully easier transition to RGS is the right decision. All going well my son will start there in September 2023 in Reception.[/quote]
Welcome to the Chint family! I would suggest getting involved with things like Saturday Sports. That way you get to meet a lot of parents, and some of the teachers. There are lots of parents who have multiple kids at the school, which will make it easier for your son.

@Arisaig1

Gato2022. How did they help your child establish themselves in the peer group? My child finds it hard to make friends so lots of intervention to support that is a key to me moving him. He is very bright but was a late talker and this set him back so I want an open door policy with the staff and to be able to help him build his confidence and self esteem. He got in an academically selective school already where they are happy with his academics etc so I suspect if he’s robust enough - he’d get into Reigate and avoiding the 11 plus is a big thing. They say they can give a steer on this if they meet him etc. I’d really only be moving because of that feeling I want him to have lots more individual care and attention rather than being left to get on with it as he seems to be now. However I do want solid teaching too to stretch and also support. Is the SENCO good as I’d want to work with her and the speech therapist? Anyone know about that. Do the quiet shy ones get looked after at playtime etc?

Breaking this down into separate questions!

1. establish in peer group?

The children were really interested in the new starters, and the school ran a "getting to meet" with teachers and other children (young age group) where they all stopped and read a book with their new class. That was useful to start to identify who is who and how they link. There were lots of "name your classmates" games at the beginning. The fact that they separate into houses means that they are already with a "set group" so they have more of an identity in the school. I have found that the school really works with the kids and helps them to settle in at their own rate. There is good communication between staff and teachers know the kids very quickly.

1. Teaching stretch and support

I've been impressed with this - the teachers are able to tailor the material so that all children feel like they can achieve what they are set but are also stretched. Sometimes they are challenged directly by the staff and other times it is the other kids.

1. Senco support

There are two in the school, one for lower and one for upper. They seem to be good at identifying potential problems and devising strategies to support the children. I don't know about speech therapist but the drama teacher is fantastic at improving diction.

1. shy ones at playtime

I worried most about this on joining, I'm pleased to say that the teachers have this under control. If there is a concern then they do raise it with the parents. The teachers will step in initially and then withdraw as time goes by, but it is individually led.

What age group would your son be joining?

How do I PM you? Very helpful stuff thank U. When u say individually lead do you mean the my look after the Individual and monitor? Not the child leads.

Also does communication flow easily? We are happy to be hands off with one of my children but when I’m concerned I think a flow of conversation is important. We don’t see the teachers at pick up so u don’t get a chance ti use that five mins when u need it.

That you so much @gato2022. Your reply to @Arisaig1 was also super useful as it just reinforces why we chose it. We starting to suspect our daughter has ADHD, presents in lots of highs and lows of emotions, lack of concentration or hyper focus and lots and lots and lots of talking. So great to hear the SENCO is fantastic as that's a worry I have in Private Education (not having done it before). Will definitely look into the Saturday sports too. Hopefully it will be something she wants to do as sounds a great way to observe her in her peer group and meet the other parents. Am I right in thinking they did monthly parent/teacher coffee mornings one Thursday a month? They stopped with COVID I understand but have they now restarted? Thanks again for the feedback :) hugely unnerving to change schools, particularly a whole sector from state to independent having neither parent ever even set foot in a private school before!

@Arisaig1

How do I PM you? Very helpful stuff thank U. When u say individually lead do you mean the my look after the Individual and monitor? Not the child leads.

The staff keep an eye on things and will monitor situations but after a while they will let the child dictate what happens (so if a child is happy in one part of the playground they won't force them to go to a busier area but will encourage and help build confidence).

@Arisaig1

Also does communication flow easily? We are happy to be hands off with one of my children but when I’m concerned I think a flow of conversation is important. We don’t see the teachers at pick up so u don’t get a chance ti use that five mins when u need it.

In the lower school there are staff at drop off and you can catch them there, but honestly I have not had a problem with emailing and getting a response (obvs not during teaching hours). They have made it clear that we can always arrange for a chat before/after school or on the phone. There is a free flow of information, and then there are active whatsapp groups for parents as well.