King Edwards Witley

[Dededum]

Like it, good feel to it.

DS2 sporty, quite collegiate and gets on with everyone. Bright enough but not getting pushed at state primary and lacks confidence.

The boys that showed us round were very normal and DS2 found it easy to talk to them.

School feels like it is transition from boarding to day, interestingly enough saw it 2 years ago when looking for DS1 and they have really smartened it up.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Have you looked at other options in the local area? I would be wary of making a decision before looking at others yourself, if only to rule them out. You will be committing a large amount of money, so spend it wisely!

Guildford is a rubbish area for boys schools.

Have done lots of research for boys schools for DS1, who decided that he wanted to go to our local very good state school. DS1 very happy there. Ds2 keen to go a different school and wants to do sport! GA too big he thinks and probably wouldn't get in.

Looked at Reeds, Frensham Heights, Duke of Kent, St George's.

I suspected he'd like KEW and I was right. Although academics are obviously important not my only criteria, looking for school where he can gain confidence and be inspired.

Well there is now Royal, St Edmund's as well in Halsemere. I know boys who go to Salesian in Farnborough and Churchers in Petersfield too (as well as St John's, Epsom etc.)

They seem to have a good proportion of foreign boarders. Seemed not too pushy.

I don't think it's terribly academic, but I guess if your DS was looking for that you would have looked at RGS.

Seems quite 'nice' to me.

It was very multicultural. Interestingly enough the admissions tutor said that the admissions criteria were slightly more flexible for the boarding students. Very much business led.

DS2 more enthusiastic about learning already, suggesting himself that he gets a tutor to help with his handwriting and maths. His state schools have never managed to get that enthusasism out of him.

My son has been at King Edward's Witley since 1st form and is now in 5th form so we have had experience of both junior and senior school there. The multi-cultural side was a real interest to our son and he has thrived there. There are a lot of 'normal' kids there, so your observations were right! There is a good mix between boarders and day pupils and no segregation so they all mix in really well. I'm sure you noticed all the sports facilities and options for your son so they speak for themselves.
It's not an exam factory like some but the quality of education is excellent.
If you need any advice or more info - happy to help.

Hi Peri - thanks, your description exactly matches our observations. Definitely what we want.

One slight downer is the 'religious' side of things. We are not religious and would prefer a secular education. It did not seem particularly overt and the website is very low key making the point that they have students with many religions and none. In practice how does religion impact on the kids?

Hi, it is not an overly 'religious' school - no more so than any of the other local schools, private or otherwise. Some of the children are from differnt countries so I think they are just saying that it's a multi-cultural society. My son went to a state C of E junior school and I would have decribed them as more 'religious'. Yes, they have chapel services and yes, they are expected to attend but personnaly, I wouldn't put it in the same category as say, a Catholic school.

Thanks Peri - thinks thats all my questions for the moment.

Hi Peri,

Apologies for resurrecting a slightly zombie thread, are you still pleased with King Edwards and Dededum, did your ds go there in the end? KEW under serious consideration for Ds so would appreciate any views.

Bump ...

Hi Labro

My son doesn't start Yr 7 till September, is due to take exams in January.
He probably won't go there as we aren't totally keen on spending the money, good state secondary in Guildford, friends going to local comp and he has really matured academically and socially this year.

So I still think it is a great school and think DS2 would thrive there, but now more convinced that he will do pretty well at local school. If it wasn't financially stressful think I would push DS2 into KEW.