What's going on at Halstead?

[Notonyours]

Does anyone know what's going on at Halstead, everyone seems to be leaving?

Halstead in Woking? They are forming a partnership with St Andrews (and therefore going co-ed).

Yes so everyone who specifically looked for a girls school is probably moving.

Still a buyers market maybe - lots jumping ..... new classes Tormead, GHS had spaces - St cats.

We had 2 weeks to decide - but now extended to 4 as that was unfair on the parents.

I think they wont get the number of girls they want at St A. It will be a problem. The site is not big enough - it will become boy heavy up to age 16 - merges are rubbish for up to 2-3 years.

2 senior schools in Woking now - hoebridge and St A

It was really bad timing - bad for staff - bad for the girls - and Maher decided to move on (she is so lovely) I personally think she was forced out as she wasn't going to get the head and she loves the girls single sex education.

Badly managed all round but due to legal issues nothing more could be done .... (apparently)

God I hope I've changed my name on mumsnet 😂

Oh that's mad, it always seemed such a busy and successful girls prep school...!

That said, I did have a look on companies House just now and the finances were not good, which would've thought. I guess it was the only way forward.

Who* (not which)

@arrrhhhh Guild High has vacancies? I thought it was always over subscribed. Is this new?

When will year 9 be operational does anyone know?

2026 yr 9
My friend has got both her girls in ghs - so there were a few spaces in different year groups.

At St A it's going to be a 3 form entry. The head reckons 60% girls but there is absolutely no way they are going to get those kind of numbers as quite a lot are moving to girls schools especially with Tormead opening new classes and St T too. Some people who have younger girls haven't seen other schools so there are giving it a term and maybe move on ..... the only issue people have is that the next girls schools are Guildford so it's quite a trek if you have small girls. However for the older girls they can travel on the buses.

It's a Win for St A - as there girl numbers at St A will increase for the boys and girls at St A.

Eventually the merge will be good - but it will take years .....

Suppose St A has the better factualities.

I agree, the choice of parents to go single sex girls for prep will be just that, because the parents want a girls only environment. A forced co-ed will just encourage parents to make the move to another girls only prep (not many around) or just join a through school like the Guildford ones.
I'm sure it will work out in the end for them and will ensure the 'schools' can continue as going concerns, but Halstead I would guess will be nothing more than just a name now.
I know a few parents moving to our through school into the Prep, it's been very competitive as the school is very popular as it is, being pretty much full. I hope all the girls who want to move get the places they are hoping for.

I've been looking at prep age in this area and I visited Coworth Flexlands who are part of the same group as GHS. Although smaller than GHS its a really impressive school and recent ISI report was excellent. Currently only girls in prep so another local option.

Children currently in year 5 will be the first year to be able to stay on past year 8