Waiting for Guildford high 4+ results

[Waiting16]

Anyone else waiting to hear if their dd has been accepted for reception entry in September 17? Guessing we should be hearing soon. She's received an offer from st cats but they seem to be sending theirs out in batches after each assessment group. Was surprised that they were offering girls places even before all the assessment days were over which worried me a bit. Assume ghs will send all in one go?

Good luck! My daughter is in the pre-prep and I remember my blood pressure steadily rising til the envelope arrived. From memory we got a letter the Friday after they'd done the group assessments. We got our letter the same day as one of our friends but both are a similar age so I don't know whether all the letters went out at the same time.

I phoned them and they said they would send all out in one go on Friday 25th. Why does it worry you about them sending them out in batches at St Cats?

Hi GU24Mum. What are your thoughts on GHS? I really liked it as a school but have heard a few reports about parents taking their children out of the school due to too much pressure/bullying. As I don't know anyone in the area I have no idea whether to believe that or not.

We really like it and its reputation is far harsher than the reality (honestly!). There is no automatic sibling entry so some of the ones who leave will be because the younger sibing doesn't get in. You will get one or two who leave because it doesn't suit them but that happens at all schools for one reason or the other so I wouldn't decide on that basis. I think the pastoral care is very good too. Hope you get the right size envelope when it come s through and good luck making the choice.

Me too!! Thank you

Ok thought would be end of this week or early next but sounds like a bit longer to wait then!
We are local and you here pros and cons for both schools. Although never really heard any st cats parents ever say anything negative about the school just positive. Some parents have moved schools from ghs as wasn't the school for them but think it's very dependent on what your daughter is like and I feel is more of the best school for an individual child rather than one school being better than the other as a blanket approach/one size fits all.

Our daughter is in St Cats in PP1 / reception this year and we are very pleased with it. She is quite shy, and has had intensive speech therapy but has made friends quickly and really enjoys school. The teachers are excellent; we had a parent teacher evening before half term and I was surprised to see how well they knew her already. Their comments on how she had settled in and her progress were very astute.
The PTA are v good and there are lots of events to help parents get to know each other; Autumn picnic, curry night for the dads, coffee mornings, etc.
Academically, we have been amazed. DD will just sit down with a book and start reading - she brings two books home most nights and needs barely any help with the words.
Best of luck with your choice; we are lucky to have so many good schools in the area.

That's great to hear. We do know of parents who have moved from ghs to st cats and yet to hear anything negative about the school. Ghs you hear more of a mixed bag.

That's very reassuring. I definitely think St Cats has more of a family/community feel. What's the demographic like at St Cats? Both of us work and haven't been brought up in a country environment with ponies etc.

It's a real mix but like all schools in the area you'll have the typical surrey stereotype. Seems like lots of normal families and working parents too. We both work too and would fit into the working hard to pay for our kids private education at the sacrifice of other material things.

I think we sound like we are in the same boat!! That's reassuring.

The demographic at St Cats is quite broad. A few single-child families and a few where both parents work. The parents all seem pretty sensible and straight-forward.

Hoping someone can answer on Guildford 4+:

1. Have they sent the offers out to anyone yet or will they only send out to all on Friday 25th Nov? I.e. have their first choice candidates already received an offer and only those to be rejected / on the reserve list not heard? If "all on Fri 25th", I don't understand why they have waited 2 weeks from the assessments - any insight?
2. For those who are waiting on GHS but already have an offer from St Catz, how are you handling this? We had understood St Catz acceptance was due by last Fri 18th, but that you then incur not only the registration fee of £500 but also become liable for first term fees. That's clearly an incredible cost just to keep the option of a place open in case your first choice (GHS) doesn't come through.

Re. the rest of the thread, totally agree that St Catz is a lovely school, but with other kids in city centre schools, GHS would work logistically much better for us if they offer.

No heard of anyone that's heard from ghs yet. St cats you have until this Friday to respond.

Results are out. Dd got a place so now just the tricky but incredibly fortunate decision of st cats or ghs. Any advice those have already gone through it?