Recommendations for independent schools Guildford

[GCB1974]

Hello - we are moving to the U.K. and settling in Guildford - I would really appreciate recommendations for schools for both boys and girls (will consider co-ed) - they will be entering y4 and y2.
Thanks

Where are you moving from? The main central ones are single sex - Lanesborough boys, Tormead and Guildford High girls. All quite academically focussed.

We are moving from South Africa. What is Longacres like? I know it is a bit outside of Guildford

Not local so not one I've come across. Friends were happy with Barfields , a bit further away near Farnham. Will you be living and working in Guildford itself, traffic can be congested.

Longacre is supposed to be quite nice but I believe it only goes to 11 which can be an issue when choosing senior schools for boys. It is fine for RGS but a lot of the others start at 13.

Longacre going through a change of Head at the moment, uncertain times at the moment

I have DC at both GHS and Lanesborough. I have been really impressed with Lanesborough, DS is very happy and settled there and the teachers have been great so far. PM me if you want further information on either of the schools.

I have 2 happy girls at Tormead and a happy son at Lanesborough. Both are academic and nurturing schools, giving pupils the time and space to develop their interests and confidence in their abilities.

I think that some local private schools concentrate on excellence in everything to such an extent that, instead of fostering a "give it a go and see what happens" attitude in their pupils, makes some of them incredibly risk-averse at trying anything that they do not feel they can comfortably "ace".

This is hardly a helpful philosophy to take forward into life beyond school and can produce overly-anxious young adults, who lack the resilience to persist at things they find initially difficult. Search for Tormead, GHS and St Catherine's in Bramley (girls only schools) and Lanesborough to find the most recent Mumsnet threads on them all.

Other preps to consider, depending upon your location, are Ripley Court (mixed), Aldro (boys only from Year 3), Cranmore (mixed), St Hilary's and Rydes Hill (mixed but boys leave after Year 2), Hoebridge (mixed) and Halstead (girls only). Good luck and PM me if you have any specific questions about either Tormead or Lanesborough.