Guildford girls schools

[Catco912]

evening, DD has offers for a selection of guildford girls schools (tormead GHS Priorsfield), currently favouring tormead and Priorsfield. Wondering if any thoughts or advice on these schools? Thank you

Hey!

It's been done quite a bit, so I don't know if you'll get much in the way of responses, there's loads of great threads on here Re. These schools.

Effectively, Priors Field is less academic, as in it achieves lower results at GCSE and ALevel, they claim great value add, which is great, but you'd have to ask them what that actually looks like. The site is a little remote and there's a mix of boarding and day girls. Site is a little tired and could do with a spruce up, not sure what their plans are for this. Has a reputation for having less academic, but none the less, kind and aspiring girls. It has a tiny sixth form and small year groups, comparably, so maybe good for those who want somehwere smaller. However finances wise, they do give away a lot of scholarships and run a tight surplus, not sure how they are planning to cope with VAT numbers falling and/or the rise in NI. Best to ask these questions directly. Overall a decent option locally.

Tormead is much more academic than priors field, in the respect of its GCSE and Alevel grades. Has a well know reputation locally for its pastoral care and stress free atmosphere. Smaller main site than priors field and although they do have loads of sports facilities on site, their new sports field and hockey pitches are a 3-5 min drive away, but they are brand new i guess. City centre school, and much busier with larger year groups and of course a few hundred prep schol girls about - which Priors don't have. So may not suit those who thrive in quieter environments. Finances look solid on the Internet, so will likely weather the economic shocks of this year better- but again, do ask. Might suite girls who want to pop into guilldford as rhey get much older into sixth form and use the train to commute.

Both good at what they do. Any particular questions, please ask.

What is putting you off GHS? That would typically be the first choice for many. I think if you can articulate what isn’t attracting you to that one, it might help to make a choice between the other two.

The pastoral care seemed more prominent and visible in action at the other two.

The other two certainly are a better option for a lot of DDs and I have to slightly disagree that GHS is "first choice for many", it's very much not.

GHS suits a very particular type of girl who will flourish in that type of environment. And for them, that's great. BUT not all DDs and parents aspire to GHS.

As an example I know of plenty of parents that would actively not choose GHS and choose one of the other locals, simply because they are a better fit for their daughters.

Rest assured we have good choices locally who all get good results for different girls.

GHS shouldn't be seen as the defacto first choice for all, with everywhere else seen as just not as good. That simply isn't the case.

OP - visit them all and go for the one you feel will do right by your DD and the one that will fit her personality, her way of learning, and the one you get a great vibe for.

Good luck!

I have had DD and step DD at GHS and Tormead respectively. GHS pastoral care is excellent. They know how much support teenage girls need and how academic/sometimes perfectionist girls need careful handling and balance. There is so much emphasis on wellbeing and a tight support network if needed. The pressure is actually off the girls at GHS as they know academic teenage girls need carrot not stick and make it fun. The head was deputy head pastoral before. I think it is less of a small family feel than PF if that's what you're after, from what I've heard.
Tormead can feel in the shadows of GHS and my step DD wasn't as happy there. It did everything similarly but with less pride and buzz. She actively asked to move for sixth form whereas GHS DD very happy to stay. Step DD went to a co ed boarding sixth form in the end and described the lessons and opportunities as much more inspiring than Tormead. But that's a larger boarding vs smaller town school. All brilliant schools at end of the day.

That's very interesting, as I know a number of girls at GHS who experience the reverse. Lots of pressure, not imposed by the school directly, but imposed under a constant mist of competition amongst the girls.

In fact my best friend has a daughter at GHS and the other is at StCats. The Stcats girl is very happy and the GHS girl isn't, at all. They would love to move her, and there are friends of hers there who feel the same - but to leave GHS is to admit both academic and surrey social suicide, so stick it out.

I already mentioned StCats, but can also confirm that Tormead is very much 'a-buzz' too, and GHS is right to be worried about both it and StCats and their growing popularity.

The current Head at GHS might also be the ex deputy head pastoral, but she will be firmly bound by the reputational aims of United Learning and her new boss, who incidentally is the old head of GHS.

I think you just have to agree that all these schools, PF, StCats, TM, GHS, are different and appeal to different girls and their respective personalities, but I agree with the PP, the whole 'GHS is best' mentality needs to die a death, because its simply not how one should choose a school.

It is a great dilemma to have OP but at the end of the day, if you’re daughter is bright enough to have got an offer from all 3, she’ll likely do well in all of them. If you’ve discounted GSA on the pastoral side, you’re really looking at town v county, transport and sixth form (if you’d like your daughter to stay).

Certainly there will be girls that suit each of these.

GHS also attracts south west London families who put it on par with St Paul Girls and Wycombe - not so much in my DD's year group but certainly in friends' younger siblings cohorts.

We loved St Cats and would now pick it that the headship is changing.

Tormead has a very good Head. There used to be rumours he might take it co ed having come from a London co ed school. Guildford is dying for a strong coed school for the kids who aren't keen on GHS/RGS or parents looking to avoid single sex. Think this is a very old rumour though!

Indeed, it's very 'brand focused', lots of parents love to be able to mention their school name at the dinner parties and functions! I've experienced it myself, it's incredibly cringe worthy.

Be under no illusion though that GHS is a good school, as in it produces good results, thus the product you are buying delivers. Whether they do that by actually teaching the kids well, or by simply starting with a very clever cohort, creamed off, as a result of a self-fulfilling brand, well, the jury is out!

The other schools though, fish from a different pond, arguably a less creamed-off pond, so they have to work really hard to recruit, educate, keep happy and deliver excellent results for these little fishies.

If I was school hunting, I would be looking for the school working hard to not only attract my DD, but look after her, keep her happy, educate her and get her some good results, even if it is only to compete with the other local schools! Value add.

and.....not the one that delivers on high entry requirements and trades on a brand.

My opinion only!

That said, you asked about PF and TM? IMHO both great options.

Ps. PP I agree on the guildford co-ed void, but Tormead is a successful girls school that always fills its year groups and has been over subscribed in year groups before, so, why rock the boat? Remember of course unlike 'boys only' education (which is on its death bed), girls only is thriving and actively sought out! I actually wonder if one day RGS will go Co Ed....... but god help the first girls co-hort, who would want to be part of that! Lol

Slightly biased as my daughters are there, but we love Tormead and would highly recommend it. It's absolutely worth mentioning that our girls' only options in Guildford Borough are second to none and you'll be able to find a fit for your DD easily. Don't be pressured or feel obliged to go to a school for any other reason than your DD getting a great feel for it and wanting to go there! We applied to GHS and didn't get in, but eldest DD1 is getting really great results, has become quite the thespian and has made some super friends, we are really proud.

Also, I echo the poster above, and feel that girls' only education is still as relevant as ever and I wouldn't move my DD to co-ed for love nor money. It is very much the consensus amongst the parent body where we are too - the girls are happy, have so many opportunities, are leaders in everything feel no social pressure and learn so well in their own space. I never considered single sex education until moving to Guildford for my wife's work, but I'm so, so glad we went with it!

Your choices seem strong, if you can get into GHS and like it, then why not?! But PF is great too, and TM is as well; we've also had our fair share of bumps in the road with friendships etc, but the school has always been effective, so can attest to a PPs assessment of good pastoral care.

Like I said - we are biased - so go see them all for yourself, twice if needs be, and always take DD, after all, she has to go there every day!

It’s a minefield of information and apologies as certain areas have been previously covered on this thread, however future planning, I'm considering Guilford High School for my daughter as a potential school when the time comes.

My concerns would be that although my daughter does well, not only academically but in sports as well as performing arts/Lambda etc she may not thrive as we all know that in the teen years other girls sadly can be quite mean and competitive; whilst my daughter is very driven she is very kind, trusting and sweet, I’m well aware that sadly all of these things can make teenage girls the target of others no matter how 'posh', expensive or sought after the school.

We've also not long moved to Oxshott either and I wondered how the journey/travel was for everyone but more importantly how your young ladies are doing?

As with any school, I’m aware that social dynamics among teenagers can vary, the competitive nature of academic girls' schools, including GHS, can sometimes create pressure or challenges for students. Given my daughter's talents and kind nature, I’m hoping GHS could provide her with a platform for her interests but also offering a supportive community. Though she excels in many things, she can be quite sensitive and is way too hard on herself if she is not liked or does not get top results in anything she does despite my trying to teach her that winning isn’t everything and not everyone is going to be her best friend!

I went to a selective girl’s school myself, fortunately made it to Oxbridge but I was no beauty queen and even achieving good grades and applying for Head Girl etc seemed to annoy many fellow students!

Any experiences of anyone that sends their girls to GHS that might give a clearer picture of whether it aligns with my daughter's needs and personality would be most welcome.

Have you considered coed? From
Oxshott you are quite well served with St John’s, Epsom, CLFS and St George’s.

I have a DD at GHS and provided you don't expect it to be anything other than an exam factory then its a good choice - although if you can get your DD into Tiffin girls you will get this for free!

I have a DD at GHS who loves it there and was extremely keen to stay for sixth form. I think they are very strong on pastoral care and wellbeing, and I have felt that they are keen to support whenever I have contacted them. Regarding any academic pressure, I think that comes from the girls themselves rather than from the school.