Choosing a school in Guildford - Pewley Down or Boxgrove?

[GuildfordGirl]

I need to choose a primary school for my daughter who is starting Reception. I have narrowed it down to the two schools in the thread subject.

What does anybody know about these schools? Any feedback is most welcome because I am torn apart!

Hi GuildfordGirl - firstly relax they are both really good schools with a good reputation.

I have had two boys through Pewley down - for the first one it didn't go to well but I think mostly because of him, also that was when it was unfederated things have changed a lot. My second boy had a great time, again maybe that is just him.

Things they do well:

• loads of outside activities (wild place, each year has its own outdoor space)
• mostly great teachers (not so keen on year 2 teachers but will no doubt change teachers)
• excellent after school / breakfast club - Alison who runs it is VERY GOOD
• good creativity (drama, choir etc...)

It is hard because to respond because things have changed since they became part of Holy Trinity. Things which have changed are:

• now mix kids up between the two classes every year, my youngest went through with the same kids for three years and made great friends. Not sure about that, they do this at HT when they are older and it can be problematic.
• less homework (used to be a little extreme - so I am positive about that)
• used to be very well organised but if it is anything like HT then no doubt has changed. Probably has more of that HT spontantity.
• teachers now mixed between PD and HT, there has been a teacher moved from senior HT to reception
• HT has a huge commitment from its teachers - free school clubs, all teachers providing clubs. That ethos has been transported to PD which was a little staid.

Hope that helps, good luck with your choice. You think this hard just wait till you get to Year 7.

Hi moid,

Thank you very much for your response.

I guess the crucial question is what matters when it comes to school for a 4-year old. But my daughter loved both - so no help from her. :)

Anyone knows anything about Boxgrove Primary School please?

It is quite large so there must be parents here who have had any contact with it. I would really appreciate any feedback.

Bump, bump, bump!

A couple of friend's children have just been through reception at Boxgrove and seem very happy. Last year Boxgrove added an additional class intake, so there will be 3 classes, 90 kids, per year, which is large for a primary school IMO. However, I haven't heard anything untoward from those I know. It might be worth asking them how they are managing this - facilities, etc. - before you make a decision. They have their own swimming pool and children start in reception and swim throughout their primary career (unlike other schools who only do swimming in Yrs 2 and 3). Of course, most go on to George Abbot, which is an excellent state secondary.

Thank you Effjay!

Swimming is a big winning point and I like the appearance of the school. Still fazed by the fact that Pewley Down has an outstanding report and much better KS1 results so should I be making my decision based on that?

Some schools fast-track and focus on the things they will be tested on at KS1 to get the results. Others are a bit more laid back in the early years (on the basis that they are only 7 when they take them) and go for better results in KS2 (so I've heard). Our school is like that (not Pewley Down or Boxgrove, but another in Guildford) and I'm very grateful that the early years are 'no pressure' for them.

It's down to the school. Once again, it's another thing you could ask them about, if you need further info

Thanks again Effjay!

My older child attended another infant school in Guildford and although they were a more traditional type than Pewley (or so I thought) they didn't try to put pressure on kids in terms of KS1. At the same time I felt they taught my son to be organised and diligent when it came to studies - something I don't see in his current school.

My daughter favours Boxgrove and I like that it has more space and is on a flat ground (not on hills like Pewley). Yet I understand that they will be taking 90 kids in Reception every year from now on and they are only just going through the design stage for the erection of a new school building. So eventually they are going to have the capacity of 630 kids!

I am sure all classes will get a class each but what about the playgroud? Are they going to be stuck indoors because they will have to rotate the kids for outside activities? What about the use of the hall, the music room, the computer room, the library? Are they going to be like sardines in a tin?

They seem quite comfortable now but what is coming next as the number of children on the roll grows by 30 a year?

I've had two go through Pewley Down. I would try Boxgrove if I did it again. I think a child needs to be confident and able to go to Pewley Down otherwise they get pushed around and left out. In my experience the school is too quick blame the child. Also it's a small playground - lots of gossip, cliques, politics and some of the teachers behave like overgrown school kids.