Boxgrove Primary School Guildford

[Goodtomeetyou]

Hi everyone

Does any one have any experience or views about Boxgrove Primary School in Guildford? I recently moved to Guildford from London with my husband and nearly 2 year old son. We are currently in the catchment area for Boxgrove school and I am wondering if it would suit an academically inclined child (although well aware that at 2 years old hard to tell right now)? I have looked at the latest ofsted report and it is rated as 'good'. Any thoughts would be welcome!

Thanks!

I would say one of the better primaries in Guildford and definitely the best non catholic primary in that location. Holy Trinity in Petey seen as the most academic. Quite a few kids each year get into the academically selective private schools for year 7 from there. Although I presume all with some tutoring. Most will go onto George Abbot for secondary. It is a very large primary though so may not suit all.

I am wondering if it would suit an academically inclined child (although well aware that at 2 years old hard to tell right now)? I have looked at the latest ofsted report and it is rated as 'good'. Any thoughts would be welcome!

a). As you say, your child is 2, you do not know whether they will suit an academic or more nurturing environment. Ime, very academic schools are high pressure, lots of homework, lots or work with your child at home. Few kids actually enjoy this, and the vast majority do just as well in a happier, lower pressure environment, learning through play.

b) your child is not 2 yet. So 3 years before they go to school? A lot changes in that time, poor schools turn around, good schools drop. The school I absolutely wanted for my child at 2 was a shitshow by the time they turned 4, they’d got their outstanding score and done nothing since. The failing school had been torn down, rebuilt, had lots of investment and top headteacher brought in, and was utterly fantastic.

in summary, chill a bit. Keep an eye, sound out parents at baby groups etc, but keep an open mind.

@redpandaalert Thank you for thoughts on the Boxgrove. The size of school is one of the reasons for asking the question. We moved to Guildford for schools and lifestyle, when other locations would have been possible. Do many children from Boxgrove also go on to selective private schools, as with Holy Trinity? As is the case for many parents, I'm looking for a nurturing school, and later down the line provide a good academic foundation. My family background is Catholic, so I suppose I could also consider St Thomas as it seems smaller (I didn't go to a faith school, so wasn't a first consideration). DS will go to school in Sep 2024.

I would look at St Thomas as it’s the feeder school to St Peters which has a good reputation. I have found that in Guildford more send their kids to the prep schools than in London where state primary to private secondary is more common. You can definitely get into the private primaries from the state schools with tutoring. I would not describe Boxgrove as nurturing though. Prep schools offer smaller classes, more music and sport which you can replicate to some extent but would involve a lot of driving round to after school activities as only very limited provision at most of the state primaries.