Do you have a DD in Reception at Surbiton High Junior Girls?

[notpickyreally]

Hello

I asked this as part of another thread but was hoping for some more responses.

If you have or have had a DD at reception, what do/did you think of it?

i recently discovered that there will be 2 forms of 24 girls in each and reading posts on MN that seems quite a high number per form for a private school. So how do you find this? Does the 2 form entry mean fewer opportunities for the girls to take part in activities?

What does SHS offer over and above the national curriculum at reception and years 1 and 2. Do class sizes go down after reception?

We are undecided between Maple Infants and Surbiton High, so if there is anyone who has experience of both then any information would be really helpful. Is there anyone who started at one in reception then moved to the other during that year? what were your reasons? please message me if you'd rather not state your reasons publicly.

We might not get into Maple, so wondering if we should consider any other Independant schools as well as SHS, although the location of both of these is important as they're close to where we live.

DD is bery bright but very sensitive and wd feel she would be better in an all girls school. We also believe that she would do better in a smaller class. Maple have 30 kids and a 2 form entry but are expecting to be asked to take on a 'bulge' class this year.

Also both Maple and SHS are close enough that we could walk which would be good.

Any advice/help/info would be very much appreciated. I really dont want this to serm like i'm asking about private vs state. I just wznt some info from people in the know.

thank you so much.

the rhubarb

your initial response of 'yeah' wasn't helpful and the way you worded the netmums one wasn't either. Had you said, ' have you tried netmums? that might also be a good place to ask as they have local sites', I would have found that helpful.

I know mumsnet is ALSO a place for light hearted topics and banter, but don't accuse me if taking myself too seriously when you were dismissive, rude and unhelpful. Some peeople like to pick fights and then immediately back track and say they were having a laugh! are you on a mission to try and discredit mumsnet as a place that offers help and support in favour of netmums? if not, why say anything if you can't be helpful in a positive way?

AnneLongDitton - do you not think the 'horrifying' levels of tutoring are down to the mad competitiveness of parents tutoring for the nearby Super Selectives? (Tiffin etc).
My dds are at a state primary, doing extermely well, but surrounded by children being tutored from an early age with no reference to a bad education at school, but every eye set on the 11+ and being competitive. The more and earlier everyone tutors the more it seems necessary.

footprints, as i already explained, i did try and word my question clearly. I am not trying to cherry pick the answers i like. I asked for help or advice from anyone who already has a child at maple or surbiton in reception? what is so wrong with that?

Are you having a laugh? Seriously?

Backtrack? I WAS editor of Netmums (Preston) and I DID think you would get a better answer there as I originally put in my completely unoffensive post to you earlier on. Would you like to point out where I was rude and unhelpful to you? Examples from that post please?

But you are right, some people just like to pick fights don't they?
Shame that.

TBH, I thought the Netmums post was rather rude too. It was the "A word of advice..." starter that did it. That and the one word answer earlier.

Well since I know the way threads tend to go when debating state over private I was offering advice so that the OP didn't find herself in the middle of a debate.

I don't know why the 'yeah' appeared actually. I don't normally post on school threads and suspect that was a mistake. But of course I'm aware that I will be accused of backtracking and lying to cover my tracks.

I certainly don't think I have been rude, I offered my thoughts when I realised I had posted on this thread (rather than just leave it as 'yeah') and because I have no experience with those schools or indeed private schools, I told the OP she'd be better off in Netmums.

Rather rushed maybe, rather blunt because of that, but rude? No.

Then the 'don't be so sensitive' was actually meant to be funny and I thought the OP would laugh along with it and all would be diffused and we'd all be sharing glasses of wine and having a laugh. But I guess I misjudged that didn't I?

Story of my life.

In my defence, I don't think my response was rude. It wasn't specific to that particular school, but it was based on the fact that when you're 3 children down the line you do see things differently. And you might too when you realise that your child is probably more robust than you give her credit for. I have also seen very delicate (often only) children really flourish in a broader environment as in some ways it's less pressurised. I think it's so difficult choosing schools for a 3 year old because they seem such tiny babies, but by the time they go they've grown in so many ways.

You want to know what Mumsnet is all about? Here now for the last time, accept a glass of wine and just chill out. We might not all be able to post in exactly the way we mean to or want to but it doesn't mean that we are all wicked and trying to be sarcastic or nobbish. We're not.

awww nostalgia, I went to Maple infant school.......loooooooong time ago then St Andrews and ST Marks...does it still exist?

the rhubarbi am so confused and really was asking for help and info about the 2 schools. i really haven't found this whole process of choosing schools easy. i have always been one to get all the facts and then decide and that's all i'm trying to do. Sorry for losing it with you. i was also trying to avoid the private vs state hot potato. Sorry I misunderstood you.

I'm always misunderstood notpicky, it's nothing new. I post when in a rush and didn't want to leave you with just a 'yeah'.

Netmums is brilliant for local school info so your question probably WOULD be better there because as you have noticed, here you tend to start a debate on state versus private (and as I'm a socialist I tend to avoid those debates like the plaque as they turn nasty).

Sometimes it's good to discover what other people think of single sex schools and you might find those opinions helpful too.

But do accept the glass of wine and admit it, that sensitive bit WAS funny, right? A bit?

yes it was. a bit. like when my kids drive me mad and i still find myself giggling. Cheers.

Now get thee to that perfectly good mixed state school!

Maybe - but the OP was full of spelling mistakes and unfocussed. That gave me the impression that you're at a very early stage of forming your thoughts, and haven't really taken enough time yet to do RL research.

Seriously - go and talk to RL people. You will get not only much fuller answers, but be able to put them in the context of the person you're talking to (their priorities, circumstances, DC temperaments, family dynamics). As a side benefit - you'll make local connections.

I sent this from my phone and half the time i can't see what I've typed.

The reason I asked on here is because i was hoping to get the opinions of local people.

Apologies for the spelling. I feel like i just got an E- for homework that i was really worried about.

Have some more it does wonders for your spelling!

ha ha.

The OP is being given a really hard time here uneccessarily.

She asked for information about a particular school and has had one helpful post with information, and several giving her grief about considering private / single sex education, suggesting (in a passive aggressive way) that she should "chill out", is "chippy" etc because she's responded - quite reasonably - to the rude posts.

If you don't have information that's requested, why judge / patronise people and derail their thread just because they are considering a choice you disapprove of?

And so what about spelling mistakes etc. Her posts are easy to read, that's all that matters.

She probably would talk to people in RL if she knew people!

OP, hope you get a few private messages that are more helpful.

I know this is a really old post, but just wondering if anyone with recent experience of both Maple infants and Surbiton girl's prep has any insights they can share. We are also trying to decide between the two, and whilst we know children at Maple, we don't know anyone with recent experience of early years at Surbiton.
Thanks in advance

Hi cath112, I can't help with your question but I hope you don't get the bloody rude replies that the OP got in 2012. I've never seen anything like it!

I clicked on because I have friends who have DDs at SHS senior school and they all say what a very nurturing school it is. I gather the results now are pretty good too.

Good luck with the replies!

Thanks cleo1303. Particularly interested in anyone's recent experience of Surbiton girls junior school. Or anyone who started at maple and decided to switch to Surbiton either during juniors or at 11? Would be really grateful for any insights.

Hi I'm sorry you haven't had many responses, you may find people are reluctant to share information about a child's specific schooling on a public forum. I know it's something I would feel uncomfortable with. Trust your instincts I'm sure you will find a setting that works well for your little one.

Thanks for your reply ohlittlepea. Fair point. If anyone has any useful insights and is happy to send me a personal message, I'd be grateful. Aside from the glossy brochure and open day, I don't have much to go on.