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St Hilary's Godalming - merger

5 replies

Dodofly · 09/01/2025 13:34

I am looking at Surrey preps but worried about closures due to VAT making small preps less viable.

I liked st Hilary's but saw its recently merging with st Edmund's. Does anyone know if this will change things? Surely the two sites and current format isn't sustainable or the merger never would've happened?

I see the St Hilary's head is leaving and they are recruiting a new one. Anyone know anything about this? It all makes me worry the school may close or change? We didn't love St Edmund's.

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AndreaKnowsBest · 14/01/2025 11:45

Are you choosing St Hilarys based on the location?

There are loads of good surrey preps, lots now attached to senior schools, which are becoming more popular. Mainly due to no 11+, better facilities and financial security.

Knowing your travelling limits would help as traffic can be bad in certain places and we don't know the catchment you're looking at.

Dodofly · 16/01/2025 09:59

Yes also looking at GHS and St Cats but unsure if we will get places at those. Not sure about Tormead.

We are in Godalming so liked how local St Hilary's is.

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AndreaKnowsBest · 16/01/2025 12:38

Gotcha, seems a strange combo though, St Hilarys is in no way academic really, but smaller and thus more nurturing. Its always been a cosy safe space for kids that do well in smaller environments. Head also good, but leaving I guess now? And who knows with the merger.

GHS is very academic, and doesn't have a reputation (although I'm sure it's fine in reality) for being in any way nurturing, small and adaptable to ones shortfalls, and pastoral care was never the first thing that popped into one's mind locally when GHS is mentioned. If you want good results though and your DD can keep up it's a great choice for that.

StCats is relatively academic too, nice campus in the country, however no more academic than Tormead now, who is pretty much consistently level with it on the results front. New head cooling so could be a breath of fresh air. Never heard amazing things about their pastoral care from family friends there, and some threads on MN, but again I'm sure it's fine in reality for most.

I guess it really looks like you need to think about what you want, each of the schools you're interested in is either academic, or more pastoral, or more nurturing, etc. With inner city or country to choose from too.... Ironically the only school with a good reputation locally for both pretry decent results and its pastoral care/nurturing, out of those you listed, is in fact Tormead.

Good luck and happy hunting.

MintSnail · 11/02/2025 13:45

You can get to some great strong Surrey prep schools in 15 mins from Godalming down the A3, have a look at Amesbury, St Ives, Highfield & Brookham etc.

FormerLondoner · 12/02/2025 09:14

I live in Godalming and had a child at St Hilary’s. Moved them to Amesbury and it’s the best decision for him and for us.

It’s very quick to get to. Usually 10 minutes. A lot quicker than sitting in Godalming traffic getting to a very restricted road/car park at St Hilary’s.

Most importantly Amesbury is a very good prep school are the children have lots to do in both sports and arts.

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