Nurturing school for DD. Surrey,Woking

[holiday22]

My DD is going into year 5. She’s struggling in her average state school. I can move her to private, and would do, but can’t find a non academic school! For now, year 6 or year 7 entry.

please help. Commutable from woking area. She can catch a school bus, but not keen on a massive commute for her (she’s only just 9!).

shes just not academic (average attainment that requires a massive effort from her) ,likely dyslexic. She has masses of potential, but her crowded state school isn’t doing her any favours.

does anyone have any bright ideas?! Thank you p

Notre Dame?

Our children are at Aldro. One academic, one not. Both thriving. One more so in art and drama. If they’re not academic they don’t force it on you, but happy to challenge those who want pushing.
Strong SEND department.
Also heard lots of good things about Rydes Hill. Got a few friends with children there, one with complex SEND.

Can’t recommend Priorsfield for year seven upwards enough. Amazing school especially for someone like your daughter, everyone seems to find their strengths in a very safe and supportive environment. Lots come from Woking on a little bus.

I’m pretty sure Notre Dame is going to be too academic for her. Although location is good for us.

is Woking to Priors Field too far? The school bus leaves just after 7am! It’s seems so early

is Tormead academic?

i will look at the bus routes for Aldro too.

maybe St Theresas, if anyone has any thoughts

It’s a few years ago now, but a friend used to speak very highly of Horsell school.

If you are Catholic you could try St Hugh Of Lincoln (or even if you’re not, given that rolls are falling).

Both are state schools, so apologies if your daughter is already at one of them!

I don’t think Woking to PF too far, my daughter has quite a few friends from Woking and byfleet direction, distance makes little difference if you find the right school, they do all their homework there before the buses leave too.

Feltonfleet?

Brookwood is a small village primary school. Only one class per year.

Feltonfleet has very little Sends support. Fine if she‘s just not academic, a massive problem if she has any sorts of SEnds.

St Theresa’s in Effingham? I don’t have personal experience of the school but friends do - who say it’s very nurturing…. And it is not academic in that the intake is a very broad spectrum of abilities.

Hi there! I also recommend looking at Prior’s Field. We had a similar situation with our daughter. I think this could be a potential good fit. We leave just after 7am too. Maybe try an Open Day / Taster Day.

I’d also look at St T’s - it’s too far for us so haven’t been there myself but I have heard good things and I that could work well for you.

Aldro is a good school but bear in mind they generally send children to the big public schools. You may want that but if not you may want to consider a prep which finishes at age 11. It’s a shame Longacre has gone but maybe try Ripley Court? If possible I’d move in Year 5 as they will prep them for the entrance exams in November.

Good luck and I hope you find the right school. Feel free to message me any questions!

@holiday22 - St Theresas and Notre Dame very similar in terms of academics, both good, Priors Field is the least academic of all of those listed, and Tormead is the most academic out of of all of them - it's usually at the top of the GCSE and Alevel pack every year in the area, on par with StCats (not mentioned) and usually only behind GHS - if you exclude RGS.

That said youre not really looking for academics? But I guess support and value add?

With that in mind:

• Priors Field will be a decent, non-pressured, gentle fit. Small school, rumours of financial pressures. Otherwise seems a good option so would ask about those bus times.

• Tormead is known for being a happy place, non pressured, good value add, and clearly good results. Popular.

• StTs we looked at before moving, friends there, shrinking rolls, recent heard they can no longer Field a 1st Hockey team, we didnt like it, bit confused since the merger.

• Note Dame, again, similar academics to StTs, do hear decent things about it though, might be a good commute?

• Aldo - nice school, small, and youll need to change as she grows up as it doesnt go to secondary.

• What about SWPs? Aren't they that way? I think its academic, recently taking boys as well now, if thats your thing.

Before we moved to oxford, we looked about, top of our list was Tormead, but might not be the right fit though depending on needs. If I was you Id go see them all! I bet their admissions are open over the holidays.

Second the PP, Tormead is a strong option, their prep school is also well regarded as being excellent. A Level results out today do reinforce the 'academic' side of things though, but as far as im aware, from parents there, its not a hot house at all.

Lots of talk of RGS going coed in town causing problems for GHS (i dont think a fit for your dd from what youve said) and Tormead, but I know first hand from existing parents, and from my own common sense, that no one is going to want to join a hundreds of years old boys school.... as a girl.. Look at Abingdon schools co-ed launch... its not gone well at all....

That said - if I was to choose another option, I might investigate Notre Dame, but sadly I think Priors Field is on a downward financial trajectory, St Theresas has become a basket case and I wouldn't go near an un-associated (linked/owned) prep school these days - too much risk.

Agree maybe SWPs if its close enough too, but its going co-ed, so include that in your decision making. Personally I think girls schools do far far better for girls and having had one at each, the safe spaces they created couldn't be matched.

Good luck!

Lots of people are saying Tormead and it’s a great school - I liked it but do check it is the right fit for your daughter. My understanding is that academics wise it is more selective than some of the others.

There’s a few reasons we didn’t apply to Tormead - the site feels very cramped and the bus routes aren’t as good in some directions.

I do think it’s unfair to talk about financial pressures on these sites so fatalistically as it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. It’s not only children at risk but also the staff’s livelihood. Private schools are under an enormous amount of pressure and it doesn’t help their reputation. All the ones mentioned got fantastic A level results which should be celebrated!!

Aldro is a very popular local school - we saw what happened when Longacre merged. I’m obviously a parent at PF so a conflict for me, but the new Head is very good and we love the school. There will be continued change in the next few years - so go with what feels right to you!

Farnborough Hill if it’s not too far for you. Super pastoral support, lovely school!

Im pretty certain only 2 people have mentioned Tormead so far, not 'lots' 😆, but ill go nuts and make it 3.

The site is slightly compact, its in the centre of Guildford, but it isnt crampt, theres tonnes of room, especially by most city centre school standards. They also have the Urnfield, which is 2 minutes drive by minibus or 15 min walk from the main campus, a stunning sports facility with sports England approved flood lit hockey pitch, running track, cricket pitches, cricket nets, athletics facilities, like long jumps and shot puts, alongside an amazing pavilion. They also have rydes hill, on top of their onsite 4 netball, tennis and football courts, adding another 2 netball and 1 football pitches, plus athletics on site,and the prep school itself has its own netball courts too... oh and yes they have grass, outdoor lunch areas, a generous 'quad', relaxation gardens and other facilities.

So, for an inner town school, thats pretty impressive. It just winds me up when people say its 'very crampt', as it really isnt.

Go visit, we came from another local independent in year 9, and my now (soon to be) year 13 daughter loves it. The academics are up there, but it also a lovely community, good mates, and my DD loves being in guildford, so much freedom to 'pop out' explore and hang out with other school pupils too. Also the buses and trains are super easy, its guilford, the buses and trains go everywhere!

PM me if you want a chat, im in Shalford and happy to meet for a coffee if you'd like, just watch out for covert ops on here.

I have to agree with PP, Tormead isnt crampt, and the facilities are always at an incredibly high standard - i work across the borough and see a lot! Its not the school for everyone, but its a solid choice if you want to blend: academics/happy/girls-safe-space.

Also ahree with another PP, Farnborough Hill is also v good and depending on your location might be a great choice.

Im also sorry to @Jollykangaroo , but finances are key. Go to companies house and check. If it looks rough around the edges and has a pants set of accounts, id be wary.

thanks for all the helpful comments. I’ll definitely go and see these schools in the new term.

DD was ‘working towards’ expected level for a years, but with hard work and the help of a tutor she is now at the expected level for her year. Do you think Tormead is a good fit at that level, or is it more academic than that?

I’ll obviously go and have a look.

also, note dame Cobham, are they very academic?

DD is a lovely girl with a friendly nature. She’ll give anything a go.

I like what I know of Tormead but would have thought it might be too academic.

Don’t wait until she breaks.
Get an EP appointment to check.

Are you wanting a gentle co ed or girls school? If you moved to a through school potentially if you joined the prep school at yr 5 etc you would get a place for senior without the 11 plus stress.

Also some prep school whip the kids into shape over the 11 plus which the state schools won’t even touch eg VR / NVR so it would be a benefit to move to a prep if you are serious over a private secondary. Or start doing your 11 plus practice in Sept.

This is doing the rounds on some whatsapp groups, might help with the academic side of things.

You can see where the local schools are this year for GCSE which is a pretty decent benchmark as schools are pretty standardised with respects to them.

A-levels are good to check too, but some schools combine headline %s with BTECs, or do incomparable subjects. For example, with the greatest of respect and no offence intended, a softer a-level subject school would be hard to compare to one that did more 'complex' subjects.

If you suspect dyslexia then I would strongly recommend a dyslexia assessment and then you know where you are. It will then have recommendations about what interventions she needs to be supported and you can have conversations with the schools to find out if they can support her. If she’s working towards going into year 5 then she may struggle with 11+ and an all through school could be worth a look at but it would depend on their support. You have Greenfield/Hoebridge in Woking who are all through but not sure what support they have SEN wise. Ripley and Feltonfleet are now part of the Reeds group (which has just announced it is taking girls soon and I believe have some quite good learning support). Notre Dame as others have stated may be worth a look but I think it would be helpful to understand exactly what her needs are before going to look at what schools can provide. Small classes may be nurturing but aren’t necessarily able to provide the specialist support and interventions she may need. Kingswood House in Epsom is more set for learning needs especially dyslexia so worth looking at and starts from year 3 so would recommend looking there although further away.

Highly recommend Notre Dame. Phenomenal support throughout and pastoral team are wonderful. New SENCO in prep and seems very on it. In terms of academics, they do well but it never feels pushy and the girls that struggle are helped in a really kind and inclusive way.
The girls all seem to really look out for one another and there’s a real sisterhood. I’d definitely book in for a tour with the headmistress who is brilliant!