Guildford high junior school

[starmummy77]

Hello mums!

Please can anyone advise re Guildford high Junior school

• pros and cons
• class size
• whether girls are happy
• what the headteacher is like (I understand the previous headmaster has moved to Banstead prep school)
• advice re the 4+

Many thanks!

Private school is a waste of money in Guildford, all our schools are excellent and it is already difficult making sure the kids don't grow up entitled due to the level of wealth in the town.

My experience is slightly more outdated now as DDs are both older but I teach locally and know of friends with DC there.
It has an excellent reputation. It is the most academic girls' school in the area but if your daughter gets a place, see that as a pro and that it is probably the right place for her. The lack of 11+ is a huge pro. We always found GHS remarkably relaxed in terms of academic pressure. Any pressure comes from parents.
The head moving to Banstead is likely to be because it is part of a group called United Learning and staff often move within the group for promotion. I imagine the move to Banstead was to be completely in charge of a whole prep (rather than under the whole school Head) and possibly to boost Banstead as a new establishing school.
For 4+ work on motor skill tasks like drawing, stacking bricks, throwing a ball etc. know which is longer/shorter, have conversations, recognise her name. Nothing intense and all done in a fun way.

My only gripe with GHS is that it focuses on academics, sport, music, ambition etc so much (and does them well) but it doesn't focus so much on the social side and leaves the girls to be in that aspect. The pastoral care is good and meant to have improved but it focuses on those in need and general wellbeing. Compared to places like St Cats and Charterhouse (admittedly more boarding environments) it misses out the inclusive group check ins, more formal side on manners/conversation/confidence and feelings of belonging and all girls being valued which other schools manage through stronger house systems or similar. They have quite large pockets of girls who aren't sporty and a senior prefect etc who get forgotten.
This may have changed... Just an observation from my DDs' times.

Thank you for your comments - really kind of you to share with me

Have you considered Tormead as an option? Great, newly refurbished Junior School and an incoming Head for September who's from one of the best schools in the country. We are at the senior school, but the kids went to the Juniors too. Positive experience all round and happy to chat further if it helps. Good luck!

Just to correct something - the head isn't going to Banstead - he's there short-term but is not leaving GHS.

Thanks GU24Mum!

@HyperHippo I saw you mentioned there is a lack of 11+ at GHS - can I just check if this means the girls automatically progress into the senior school without being tested like some of the other girls schools?

@HyperHippo also, does GHS have a house system? If so, how does it work there?

The girls don't sit any exams to get into the Senior School - it's expected that they'll move up so although a very small number don't, there really isn't (in our experience) any material amount of shoulder tapping and asking girls to leave.

Re the house system, it's fairly low key especially in the Senior School. Forms and year groups are the main thing - it's not like a boarding school with a house system which is a key part of the pastoral system.

@GU24Mum thanks. Useful to know!

Hi all
Has anyone else applied to GHS for non standard year entry and told because of covid that the assessment date of 8th Jan I think it was hasn't happened and now they don't know when it will be? This could potentially be months depending on when schools reopen! Does anyone have anymore info. I can't get hold of anyone and we are supposed to be relocating from abroad. V worried. Thank you