GHS, Tormead, St Catherine's, Rydes Hill 4+ assessment

[drmummyof2]

My DD will be doing the 4+ assessment for GHS & Tormead in November this year and I wanted to ask if anyone had any advice on what I can do to prep my DD & if anyone knew what sort of things each school tests for or is looking for?

If my DD does not get through, we're also looking at Rydes Hill as I read that most of the girls move on to GHS/Tormead/St Catherine's for senior school - does anyone know what it's like?

As we live in Camberley, we're not going for St Catherine's as I think it would be too far to travel but does anybody know if the journey by car from Camberley to GHS/Tormead is doable? I read on the GHS website that girls come from Camberley so thought it would be ok.

@SnapeAlways and @Candystriped - it appears you are the same person. There is a large amount of incorrect information in your posts. Rydes is a wonderful, nurturing school. It is also one of the best in the country academically, with a huge proportion of children leaving each year with scholarships elsewhere in the local area and beyond. I would highly recommend seeing the school. Both my children are incredibly happy there, and excelling academically and pastorally. Having viewed all the schools in the area when choosing for my first child, I thought Rydes gave me what I wanted over others (which will always be different from person to person). But ultimately I chose Rydes because of its familial and nurturing atmosphere alongside its excellent academic record, and it has delivered both those things in spades. I feel really lucky to have been able to send my children there, and could not recommend it highly enough. Ultimately though, we are lucky to have a few really wonderful schools in the area and I think you know when you visit which one is “the one”, and any of the ones you are considering will be great.

It’s very clear that the school has enlisted people to make personal attacks and reputation management.

Once again I have reported to Mumsnet HQ as this violates TOS.

The school can be defended without having to make personal attacks.

I’ve had 3 children go through Rydes Hill and can’t speak highly enough of it. They have instilled a sense of values and confidence in my children and as my daughter is now gearing up for her 11+, I can already see how incredibly well prepared she and all her peers are already.
 My sons moved on to RGS this September having been beautifully prepared for entrance tests last year.

We received our deposits back with no problem.

It’s true the much-loved bursar passed away suddenly over the summer, but parents were communicated with clearly and timeously about what was ultimately a very minor delay.
There are parents using this thread to help inform them to make important decisions about their child’s future which means there is a moral obligation to be honest and stick to the facts.
Very happy to answer any queries prospective parents may have about this amazing school.

There is indeed a moral obligation to stick to the facts, although the OP invited opinions.

When parents are deciding whether or not to consider Rydes Hill, they need to be aware that the school cannot cater for children with ASD.

The school was aware my DH was in the middle of a cancer scare when they suddenly decided to exclude my DD, citing her disability. A week previously they were saying they were confident she was in the right place.

I’m very happy to answer questions and give an honest appraisal, the good and the bad via DM.

My agenda is one of heartbreak for my DD who has been failed by Rydes Hill. It’s easy to wax lyrical when it is not your child who has been traumatised, demoralised, feels rejected, worthless, angry and cannot bring herself to think of her friends or the school without crying and neither can her siblings.

Had she been in a different setting, one whose approach had not been to make her less autistic, that didn’t penalise her for stimming, sew up her coat pockets (pesky fact) and one that didn’t deny her the opportunity to participate in school trips and activities as punishment for meltdowns they had caused, (more facts) we might be in a different place.

Had the school put the SEN measures (extra hours) they said she needed on her EHCP (that they told us to apply for) and let her complete Year 6, things might be different. Had they taken a brief look at the National Autistic Society website which outlines the effects of exclusion on a child with ASD and cites almost word for word, one of the incidents she was punished for as being a reason not to punish a child for; things might be different.

Right now we are picking up the pieces (my DD has no school place and has not been in education for 6 months and is bored, desperately lonely, extremely anxious & clingy) and attempting to repair the damage so forgive me for refusing to go along with the “wonderful, caring, compassionate” schtick.

Its very interesting to see 3 new posters spring up out of nowhere with angry personal attacks towards an ex-parent who is clearly suffering and upset.

Small but mighty? Or small and cliquey?

Cue all the “very complex situation, the school takes a very different view, two sides to every story” comments…

I don’t want to get into a fight. I’m just devastated and as I said before, would hate this to happen to any other child with SEN.

It takes courage to post in one’s own name.

The personal attacks from other parents after expressing my sadness, rather prove my point.

In case it is not deleted, the above comment is not true.

The LA have a statutory duty to provide DD with a full time education and anything specified and quantified in section F of the EHCP. If they aren’t doing this you need to email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of their statutory duties, requesting provision and informing them if they fail to provide provision you will be forced 5o begin judicial review proceedings. Then if that doesn’t work contact SOSSEN for help with a pre-action letter.

Have you also requested an early review of the EHCP?

@SnapeAlways I think we can all sympathise with your DD's experience, and the stress and hurt that was caused. Who doesn't want the best for their child? However, I don't think you can dismiss others positive experiences of the school as inaccurate. We are not, as you suggest, recruited by the school, but current and ex members of the school community who have had a very different experience to yours, and are willing to try to put the record straight from our perspective.

I hope you soon find somewhere suitable for your DD which is able to meet her needs.

Of course we all have different experiences of the school. Ours is one of feeling ostracised and excluded with our DD penalised in order to appease other parents. Private schools are, when all is said and done, a business.

There is a difference between “putting the record straight” and engaging in personal attacks. It doesn’t reflect well on the community at all.

I would like to think that if Rydes Hill knew that my DD was going to be without education that they wouldn’t have done what they did.

It’s especially difficult for a child with ASD to adapt to a new and different school environment but in any event, we have been abandoned by Surrey SEN, phone calls and emails are not returned (for a different board) and while other children participate in Harvest assemblies and get ready for Christmas and Rydes Hill market themselves as caring, nurturing and compassionate, my child languishes isolated and depressed at home, while other parents make nasty personal attacks.

However I will heed the advice of DH, which is to wipe the dust from our sandals.

Yes Rydes hill is a good school. Yes the building is a traditional building but there is way more space than being stuck in the middle of Guildford . It’s not stuck in the past at all so I’m unsure where this judgement has come from

It depends on the child as well of course but I think that local primary state schools are worlds apart from Rydes hill.