Lanesborough School Guildford

[GoldieStar]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody is in/knows any parents of Prep 1 boys in Lanesborough?
It would be nice to meet some of the mums prior to DS starting in Prep 2 in September even if its remotely at this stage/via a WhatsApp group etc.
If anybody could message me if they do (unlikely request I know) that would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi- by Prep 2 do you mean going into year 2? If so I can try to put you in touch with some people. The class reps are usually around on the new boy day in June (assuming that is happening this year!) and they will normally organise some play dates or a picnic for the class ahead of September.

Hello there
Thank you for replying! Yes it's for going into Prep 2. It seems the school would be able to put us in touch with the class rep.
Out of interest, as I've read about this on lots of threads but not much upto date do you know which is better for our daughter- tormead or cats? Obviously Tormead is much closer but she is very academic and I hear Tormead is not! I'm really struggling so much. She's year 3.

Tormead is still pretty academic but perhaps less of a hothouse than GHS or St Cats.

@GoldieStar Lanesborough / Tormead / GHS drop off makes absolute sense from a practicality point of view, less stress for both you and the kids. I mention GHS because you spoke about an 'academic' requirement and obviously they are the most academic school in the area. Lanesborough to St.Cats could pose traffic problems, and even if you do the run to suit the traffic flow, you'll still find yourself leaving much earlier than you need, to build in a buffer for the days when the one way system simple descends into chaos. Don't get me wrong, if St.Cats it your choice, it's 100% totally doable.

You mentioned academics too. I agree with PP, and wanted to ask who you've heard that Tormead is not academic from. It literally a couple of percentage points behind St.Cats on the charts for both GCSE and A-Level, literally nothing in the grand scheme of things. If we compare all three schools nationally, its clear we are blessed between a choice of three of the best academically performing girls' school in the country, in just our small little Guildford area!

I'm must confess that i'm also a personal advocate of Tormead, with my daughters are there in the Juniors. So, although very academic, but (you're right) not quite as high on the league tables as the other two, we made the choice to go with Tormead because of everything else it offers. We have found it to be a warm and nurturing place for our DDs, with loads of pastoral support that goes hand in hand with pushing the girls to do their best, they also let them make mistakes and learn from them in an environment where mistakes are ok. They've both come on incredibly well, not only academically, but as kind young ladies. All i'm saying is definitely don't discount it based on academic rumours, for a year 3 kid, she'll do well there. Best of luck!

Thank you. That is so useful. I just want what is best for her. GHS I know would suit her well. I was told that GHS and Cats are more academic (not just in results but in the way they are in school) and my daughter is SO into work. But the things I have heard about Cats pastorally and bullying compared to Tormead made us look at Tormead as that is as important to us. I just didn't know if Tormead wouldn't be academic enough to engage her. I don't really mind about a couple of points here and there on a league table- I just wanted some idea that it is actually an academic school as well in its own right which I think it sounds like it is. Ultimately I just want her to be happy, not bullied and love her education. It's such a tough choice!

@GoldieStar my daughter is at St.cats and we have her much younger (step) brother at Lanesborough (ps. Not sure about the new head....)
.....but anyway, practically wise the journey is a total bore/chore, however, it is, like someone else rightly said totally 100% doable. So you'll be fine commuting across. Although, as soon as DD hits 17, the driving lessons are starting, let's put it that way! Haha

School wise, we've never regretted St.Cats, as when we joined (year 10 now) it was a really great choice. It's done my daughter very well, however despite this i would have reservations about making the same choice again now. The school just hasn't changed since she started, the routines rules and 'traditions' are the same, it's all become a bit boring and most of the time rules seem ineffective. We've not been on the end of the bullying you speak off, but I know the school's dealings with it can be hit and miss from my daughters, friend's, parents. A lot of the time things are white washed over, 'nothing to see here and let's all be jolly good mates again girls'.... it's very old school. needless to say the issue usually persists.
The academics are good, your daughter will have plenty of constructive stuff to get on with and wl do well, but there's an underlying air of competitiveness that feels slightly unhealthy in today's age of mental health, and although sport is well provisioned, in lovely settings, we've found that once you pick something extracurricular you cant change it even if you're either (A) bored or even (B) feel its clashing with your studies. It's all quite odd!

On the slightly less academic flip side, DD has a good friend at Tormead who's in her scout group, she seems very content and tormead has definitely got a more modern style/feel to it than the 'tradition' you'll get at st cats. It's all personal preference.

I think in summary, unlike when we chose for our DD all those years ago, if we were to repeat the same exercise now, Tormead would definitely be in the running as a v strong contender.

Just wondering how you all rate the state school primaries and secondaries?

Maybe best to start your own thread, @crosstalk, and ask advice about specific primaries you are interested in. Guildford is a big area!

Or is this a rather pointed, anti-private question?