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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

what are the best primary schools in guildford?

34 replies

reem2 · 30/04/2012 14:13

Can anyone help me. I am moving to Guildford in the summer holidays and need to write 3 schools down that i like for the Guildford council so they can place my 2 children. The problem is i have no knowledge about the primary schools in guildford. I know guildford is quite small so happy to travell to any off them. I really do not want my children in a bad school as i am taking them out of a really good one.

OP posts:

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mummytime · 30/04/2012 14:30

Can you visit? Because schools which I love you might hate. Where will you live? There are quite a lot of schools in Guildford, most people live pretty local to theirs, and traffic can be pretty horrible in the morning/if it rains. What age are your DC?
If possible you need to visit.
All schools are likely to be full, although some are almost certain to have some movement in them.

Original poster

reem2 · 30/04/2012 17:55

We are moving to the north of guildford just as you come out of woking and into guildford the postcode is gu1. My daughter will be moving up to year 2 in september and my son into reception. I have been told by the estate agent that Sandhurst is the closest to me then stoughton and then guildford grove.
Do you know anything about these? I do not even know if the north id nice? thanks for your help. I am a very confused mum. I am hoping to get up there but i am coming from essex and have to get back for the schhol run. Can you recommend any to visit. What school are people fighting to get in?

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mummytime · 30/04/2012 18:20

There is no Sandhurst school.
Are you sure it is GU1? Do you mean Slyfield area? Worplesdon? Or Stoughton?
There is Sandfield, but that is the most town centre of the schools, it recently got a new Head, and I know someone who teaches there. It does tend to have a lot of children of people at the Uni so often has places (high mobility).
Schools in the North on Slyfield side, then Weyfield or Northmead might be your closest. You could try for Burpham but would have to be lucky to get a place there.
Stoughton is in Stoughton.
Guildford Drove is close to the hospital and Tescos.
It really sounds although your Estate Agent doesn't know about schools or at least State ones.
This should help you find schools .

cece · 30/04/2012 18:23

I think you might find that it is a case of which schools have got places, rather than which one you like. Some of them are full up!

cece · 30/04/2012 18:23

Burpham catchment is often 900m or less!

cece · 30/04/2012 18:25

Here is a map with schools

Original poster

reem2 · 30/04/2012 18:39

I know i am not going to get the pick of schools but if i new what the best ones are to look around it is a start. I meant sandfields sorry the other two are correct spelling. I think you might be right about the estate agent.
It is definatley gu1. The north of guildford. I know im am not much help. I am really thankful for your help

OP posts:

mummytime · 30/04/2012 19:21

As an in year applicant you might get luck and get a place at any school, even Burpham if you apply just as someone leaves.
Have you visited Guildford? Are you just renting on Estate Agent recommendation?
Are you Catholic?

Original poster

reem2 · 30/04/2012 19:48

no i am not catholic. My husband has drove from essex to surrey for 12 years and wants to be closer to work as it is so far. We found a lovely house on a lovely street. I did not think there was any bad parts to guildford? R there any? The estate agent when i asked him about schools, said i do not have children but will email me the closet ones in distance. I am just off woking road in oak tree drive. There are newish town houses there. Thanks for the map i think weyfields is the closest do you know anything about this one? What is queen eleanors? You are really helpful.

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cece · 01/05/2012 21:20

Have you driven through Nellfields???

cece · 01/05/2012 21:20

sorry Bellfields???

HandbagAddiction · 01/05/2012 21:43

I know of people at Queen Eleanors who speak quite highly of it. Not in Guildford myself - slightly furher down the A3, but know of some of the schools because of local swimming club which I do some marketing activity for.

theselegswermad · 02/05/2012 00:36

We used to live in Guildford GU1 and one of the reasons we moved out of the area was because of the schools we were allocated !!
Sandfields is a very good school, but again not sure you would get a place as you might be the wrong side of the A3 fly over.
Avoid Bellfields, Stoughton, University area, just not nice areas... Jacobs well and Fairview are nice areas.
Queen Elizabeth is a nice estate but reminds me of Lego land and not sure what schools you would be allocated.
For the excellent schools you need the other side, Burpham, Boxgrove, Bushy Hill, but very expensive, not a lot for your money and need to literally live on the door step of those schools.

I think Weyfield Primary is going to be your local school, It had a good reputation but sadly the parents used to let it down, It has had a lot of money put into it the past few years..

Original poster

reem2 · 02/05/2012 07:26

I have driven through bellfields with the great big green in it. There are some lovely big houses one side of it oak tree drive which i have brought. I havent driven through the other side of the green. Is it really bad? Why did the parent let it down where they chavs? My house is lovely and big and i on a lovelt street with other big houses. I asumed it was a nice area. i would hate to give it up because the the rest of bellfieds is bad. When you say avoid it, what are your reasons. I am coming from epping in essex which is lovely and my children go to lovely schools. I would hate to make a big mistake.

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mypersonalfavourite · 02/05/2012 08:16

Onslow infants is close to the centre(ish) and excellent. Took a bulge year this year so you might well still get a place. Most children then go on to queen eleanor's.

amayzon · 02/05/2012 09:40

Put the postcode of your new house into OFSTED
www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/for-schools/find-school-inspection-report and it will list all the schools local to you in order of distance.
Then take the top 15 (say), pick the ones who have good or outstanding OFSTED ratings and then call them up one by one. Ask the person who deals with admissions if they have any places in current years , and . Surrey LEA is in charge of admissions, but you won't be able to speak to anyone there and even if you get through they won't tell you where there are places - you have to guess by submitting an application form!

If you get 15 "no availabilities" , then go back to the OFSTED list and look harder at the satisfactory schools or the good primaries that are a little further away.
I think you may have an uphill battle with this one as the chances of finding three places in a decent school are not good.

cece · 02/05/2012 12:53

I agree the Burpham, Boxgrove, Merrrow area is much nicer.. I don't live in Guildford itself but I thought Belfield was a council estate.... But willing to be proven wrong. And of course you would then be in the catchment area for George Abbot for secondary school.

amayzon · 02/05/2012 16:23

Have you already exchanged on the Belfield house?

Chestnutx3 · 02/05/2012 17:33

Would not live that part of town - agree Burpham, Boxgrove, Merrow, better primary and catchment for George Abbott for secondary. North Guildford is not the desirable part to live I'm afraid. Other part is up the Pewley Way end nearish the station and town where there is a good primary school. The good schools are all in these areas - the desirable areas.

Guildford is not that small, driving around at school times can be a nightmare especially in the morning. I used to live in West London so I am used to traffic.

theselegswermad · 02/05/2012 21:14

Sorry but yes i don't care what people think but those area's are full of Chav's there i have said it There are a lot of kids that hang about in that area, around the Esso station on the mini roundabout, and generally ride about on their bikes ages 10+. I really didn't feel safe walking out when it got dark, Sorry but i would never choose to live near that area again :(
We lived on Old Farm road and didn't know the area when we moved there.
If you haven't exchanged I would seriously pull out if you can.

cece · 02/05/2012 21:17

Nicer area

or this one

Original poster

reem2 · 02/05/2012 21:44

Thank you for all your views it has really helped. We have not exchanged yet but we are going to come down for the weekend and check it out. Thanks again

OP posts:

mummytime · 03/05/2012 09:26

If you haven't exchanged I would really look again at Burpham/ Merrow, or the town centre or even Onslow direction.
Which Estate Agent are you using BTW?
I have found Haart really good for cheaper properties. We we're pressurised into making an offer on the first house we nearly bought in Guildford, and when we pulled out after a worrying survey we found something much better in a nicer part of town.

amayzon · 03/05/2012 10:02

If you don't need to live near a train station for commuting, why not look at a place that is not a commuting town? You will get more for your money and there will be less demand for school places?

Chestnutx3 · 03/05/2012 17:53

Do not believe a word the estate agent says about schools, he/she won't tell you the truth and obviously has no personal experience. There is less pressure on state schools in the nearby villages surrounding Guildford again if you don't need to commute.

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