St Catherine’s Bramley and St Teresa’s Effingham

[Surreyschools]

Does anyone have any feedback on either of these schools? I liked elements of both but also have worries about both.

Felt confident that my daughter would do well academically at St Cats but worried about her pastorally. Doing tests and ranking her as a number in her year sounds a bit soul destroying and I’m concerned the competitiveness between the girls will make for an unhappy atmosphere. Also worried about their no blame bullying policy which seems to have failed them over the years but they haven’t changed it.

Felt confident my daughter would be happy at St Teresa’s and they have more of a focus on the pastoral side. However, some of the staff didn’t seem enthusiastic about the place (one said the benefit of going there against a state school is no annoying boys and less rubbish) and I sensed some tension from staff around changes the Head may have introduced that they aren’t on board with. The girls who showed me around said there are a lot of staff who have left and are new. Also worried it won’t be academically challenging enough for my daughter who is bright but not cut throat competitive.

Any feedback from parents with girls there would be much appreciated!

@Swan1234 , I have heard in the past that if you aren't local to GHS and certain to accept the place it may be harder to achieve the offer, it's no reflection on your dd. (This is KS2 offers only).
Maybe look at Feltonfleet as they run buses from SW London and try again at 11 for GHS. There are so many prep and secondary options between SW London and Guildford it can seem overwhelming but they are all good schools.

Bumping as I suspect some of you may have made your choices now. Where did you choose?

Anyone else have any insights into St Cats, Tormead or St Teresa’s?

I have a friend with a bright child who pulled them out of Tormead as she didn’t feel challenged. They were disappointed as they wanted to love the school

Seems a bit pointless to chat about it now, all choices have been made and deposits paid... Why not wait until the end of the autumn term and then ask people how they're daughters are getting on at their choices?

Shame about your friends daughter @Bellseybub , it's courses for horses though, so perhaps not a match for her. Tormead (like the other two schools in this post) does very well by its other pupils, outcomes speak for themseves on all three schools, so not really a reflection on the school, but on personal choice and style.

Every school will always have very low level changes taking place, as DCs and parents review choices and go elsewhere, I'm sure a tiny number even swap between these three schools, plus others in the area, during their schoing years, as they decide whether the school is for them or not, or as a result of other things (house moves, friendships, issues, learning style, etc.). In essence I'm sure the move was right for her, which is important.

It appears to have been another good year for applications, I hear Tormead didn't have to open it's waitlist for year 7 this year. I'm sure the other schools are the same. The draw towards a girls only education seems to be really strong at the moment still, which is good to see. All these school have good reps for different things, we have great choice in Guildford.

Hi, will it be ok to connect with you directly as this is one of the school we are also considering? Thanks