Guildford Parents of RGS Prep/GHS/Tormead

[Mumof3cc]

Hello,

This is a random one but I have a couple of questions and I wonder if anybody can help?

I have 2 boys and a girl. The boys are sitting assessments for RGS prep (Year 5 and nursery) and my girl is sitting assessments for GHS and Tormead this January.

1. what days do the schools have fixtures on and how often do the children play? (This is random but I’m shifting around work days currently and would want to try and be able to make them if I can).
2. any advice on the assessment process and competition ratios for these schools? My children are bright and we’ve done a little prep at home but I’m not really sure how much I should be doing!

any help much appreciated :)

Hi there,

Both great schools for your DD!

1. On fixtures, it will depend what sports your DD gets into and the schedule for next year, that will be the same for both schools. To get a sense of what they do now and if it will stay the same, I'd simply email the two admissions departments, as im aure they'd be super happy to help you!

1. They are both heavily subscribed schools. Their results, facilities, culture and general offering - alongside a great location in Guildford, with plenty of public transport options and freedom for the girls as they grow up, is brilliant. You also get the benefit of girls only, but with rgs in town, they do loads of stuff with the boys there, and as they get to sixth form, tend to hang out a lot and share lessons too.

GHS has higher academic results, is a top 10 league table school, and as a result attracts a lot of interest. That said Tormead isnt far behind, and is more academic than pretty much all other local schools, even recently mores than StCats, which it has beated a few years in a row now on various metrics. Tormead also has a reputation for being less stressful and great pastoral care, so again, a big pull factor for applications from those who want that instead. They also have amazing facilities, just like GHS do, with an incredible new sports facility just 5 mins from the main campus.

Both schools are usually full, GHS has always had a full year 7 and Tormead is pretty much full all the way through too, with a full year 7 this year and last year - not sure about other year's, but expect the same.

Preparation wise, getting into GHS is more competitive, as they tend to have higher entry requirements, in order to maintain their top 10 results. Tormead has high standards too, and I know girls who have been sadly turned down a place, but they seem to focus more on value-add across a girl's time with them. So with this in mind, it won't be as academically competitive. I think Tormead still does the ISEB, which is what my DD did, plenty of online practice sites and resources if you Google it!

Anyway, two super choices! Good luck. And full disclose we are at Tormead, but happy to help with further questions.

Happy to help - do PM me!

For ghs it depends on the sport playing eg netball (yr 7 that used to be on a Monday last year against different schools). Lacrosse is on nearly every Saturday morning for 2 terms. No idea of swimming. I think cricket was Thursday but I could be wrong.

However it could change. Equally they do early morning sports before school starts plus lunch time sessions and after school practice too.

It also depends which team your daughter gets put into there are some fab players (playing for Surrey etc) so even if your daughter is used to playing in the A team they might not be up to that standard within ghs. The lower the level the less frequent. Depends what position she plays and the competition.

I wouldn’t stress over it - they could easily flip the timetable.