King Edward’s Witley

[lavieenwhisperingangel]

Does anyone have recent knowledge of this school please? In particular, how religious is it (lots of photos with church oriented activities online) and is the Sunday chapel something a day student must attend? We are not religious, so prefer if it is optional than mandatory. What time can the day students leave?

How is the school with mild Sen? I see some older reviews that it seems quite good in this regard, but useful to know more recent reviews too.

Do many stay for 6th form? If not, where often so the students then go to?

I've name changed for this. We are in the process of removing our son and finding a place at another school, year 8. It's not a very good school, much emphasis on sport, especially football, and if you're not in the right group you are not really looked after sports wise.

Teachers didn't know who my son was at parents evening, one had a sheet of photographs that he had to look at before he knew who he was speaking about.
Son says lessons are boring, not stimulating, and old fashioned. The newish head has not really made her mark on anything, other than new uniform and new walls and gates.

In my opinion, its not terrible, but when you are paying you can get better value - or maybe just a better fit for my son.

Oh and chapel is not mandatory on Sundays, but is during the week.

Thank you for your feedback. It doesn’t sound so enticing. Good luck finding a new place. May I ask which other schools could be worth looking at? Thank you

I have a child in yr 7 (QMH is he year 7/8 structure) and my experience (coming from state primary) couldnt be more different than namechangeforthistimexx. (Im sorry your son is having that experience but as you say every kid is different so there is no one size fits all school). My child is absolutely flying and teachers very supportive (know his name and ours - lots of opportunities to engage in school life for parents too). Super supportive of our childs outside endeavours (plays high level non-core sport) - I would say cricket, hockey and football are strong (makes a change from rugby) for a smaller school and it encourages a culture of activity but if you are not sporty that isnt an issue for the school or socially. Objectively there is a recent goodschools guide report out (Feb 2025) which I think is an accurate reflection of where the school is at. Again objectively I would not underestimate fact that loads of kids from Royal School Haslemere have ended up at KESW given they were being courted by a number of local independents given general drive for numbers in Surrey competitor independents. Think new head has made a big impact (there are new facilities as referenced which are definitely imprint of head - DT block,reconfiguration of communal spaces and refurb of boarding houses - these are a big deal). Also like the fact of a female head (still rare in the HMC) which I think is good role modelling for female students. Academic standards clearly being pushed up by new head but without being overbearing/my kid is not SEN but there appears to be good support but tbf best to ask someone whose kid needs additional support. We are not religious at all and that would have been a turn off tbf and based on my experience it is not more religious than other older independent schools which all have church links (so assemblies in chapel but that is not unusual for alot of schools), that said the Rev at KESW is brilliant in his own right. Big reason why we chose it was it is not at all pretentious (unlike some other schools in Surrey) but understand of course that different folks buy schools for different reasons. As namechangedforthistimessxx rightly says - you need to find fit for your child and this seems to fit mine well thusfar. On sixth form there are a fair few boarding international students (i like this but different dynamics) - Spain/Asia/Germany well represented based on what I can see but you can ask of course. I think alot of Surrey independents lose kids to Godalming college if they are academic. Godalming is obviously non-fee paying (big consideration) and high quality but huge. Hope this helps.

Many thanks for your detailed feedback, it’s great to hear.

You are welcome - also leaving time they can stay for dinner (which my kid often does if I am returning from London on the train - v easy to/from Witley station) so my one gets prep/homework done between end of school - approx 5.15pm if there are after school activities - and dinner (often with mates/boarders) at approx 6.45pm. I think you can basically pick up anytime before 8.45pm-ish? Pre-booked flexi boarding is available if you are in a real bind. No extra charges for dinner (or breakfast) or late finish is a bonus.

Unfortunately, the school is fine and quite good but any child that is the slightest bit quiet, anxious, shy or just not mean, is completely bullied, outcasted, shunned and treated as if they have a disease. The bullying policy is 100% performative and no action has been taken on these issues, some of the new staff members especially could not care less.

Owned by the outrageous Bridewell Group who currently asset stripping them after only one year of their merger with Longacre. Broken promises, lies to staff, promised places at barrow hills then pulled. Dreadful lot. Wouldn't trust them at all.