St George's College Weybridge or Reed's school Cobham?

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I am struggling to choose from these two schools. I have been to the open days of both schools and they are very similar. Both academic but not too pushy and both very sporty.

Anyone have children at either of these? And what have your experiences been?

On the contrary, it IS academic. With a child there who has gained all A's and A*'s in 11 GCSE's and equal A-level predictions (and is no exception), I am delighted with the results. Although a catholic school, this is by no means forced upon the children in any way - the school accepts children from all religions/backgrounds. Good academic results, great sports and strong moral values are what's on offer.

That sounds positive bluediamond. Do you know what level of participation is required in the Catholic events? Would you recommend my DS joining at 11 or 13 - in your experience, is it hard for the new intake at 13?

My DD is 12 and is in year 2 in the senior school in SGC. She joined at 11 and returned from a European country to the UK to enter senior school. She did have a tough time in her first year as a majority of the kids were from the junior school. The number given is actually 50/50 but her form had a high percentage of junior school pupils. I also think that she landed in the form class where some of the other parents had removed their children from being with other girls that were 'more difficult to get along with'. Having said that, I think that integrating into any new school is different regardless of where you go and she now has friend groups. She is academic and is doing well - A/A* grade student and is in the scholars sets. They are encouraging of her creative mind and cope quite well with her ideas in RE as neither myself nor my partner are religious (although we like the values) and she always has quite a different (healthy) viewpoint. In relation to the Homosexual conversation, I am a gay mum living with my female partner. That has been tough at times and the school is not very open to talking to the kids about being gay and the kids express some very bigoted views about homosexuality which is supported by the staff. My daughter chose the school and she does like it but on reflection probably not the school I would have picked.

mumofateen

Sorry to hear what you say, this must have been very difficult for you and your DD.

It seems ridiculous that this still happens, particularly as local catholic children all head for the outstanding Salesian School in Chertsey so there are very few catholic families to pander to. Families I know there say that the school likes to hide behind it's Josephite ethos when it suits them, but can be incredibly ruthless. The junior school in particular has a terrible reputation for "chucking out".

Hi all
so can anyone comment on Reed's?

St georges had a lot of smokers while my daughter was there, people hang around in big groups and there was always one "popular" group that was really hard to become a part of. The same people hosted parties and only the same people were invited, this affected a lot of the less popular kids according to my daughter, i've heard recently of explosion for possession of drugs in school, people getting beaten up and i've heard that people were caught having sex in school. However the academic side of the school is average, the teachers aren't the best but you're daughter(s)/son(s) will get pushed a lot by them, they are very strict with uniform and in class.

An expulsion for drugs is good, shows they do not tolerate it.

The Josephites still own SGC but it is in a trust and pretty much all lay now. The chaplain is a Josephite. The current head, Joseph Peake, who has been head for a long time, is retiring next year I think. It's usually in the top third or quarter of schools by GCSE/A-Level results the Times publishes. Not stellar, but higher than many better known schools (if that floats your boat). I was there many many (cough cough) years ago when still run by the Jo's - very family oriented and Christian in the best sense.

St George's is reasonably ok, I would say it was very good a few years ago. The school has now gone over board with sporting events.
My DS who is in sixth form had been missing his academic lessons for some rugby tournament. I had no idea. My DD has missed 12 core subject lessons in 9 weeks doing netball, again I had no idea. I was furious when I found out, we don't pay all that money for them to miss so many lessons. And of course, now I am the bad parent for trying to ban them from future sports, because their friends do it- but their parents do not know either!
As far as I know, they do not record lessons missed, they are "proud" of their sports and facilities, but it is at the expense of a English or Maths lesson. In my view they have lost touch with academia. I should not of sent my DS their for sixth form, my dd is certainly not staying!

I thought they are more selective at entry now and expect 70% at CE. Hoever I do not see the relationship between their results and entry requirements. How is the quality of the teaching?

They are not more selective, they continue to provide the same number of places to their Junior school. Less Selective= Lower results but they have in the past done very well with the children. The quality of teaching is like any other school, you have good and not so good, you will not find a school anywhere which has all round great teaching. However, you will find great schools prioritise the core subjects, and I am afraid ST G has lost its way with this. The teachers will push in these subjects as much as they can but sports/musical activities are the focus. The students truly believe they will become the next famous England rugby player, don't know about you but that is not what I am paying for.

My DS who is in sixth form had been missing his academic lessons for some rugby tournament. I had no idea.

Maybe you should show more interest then? A rugby tournament is one day or more likely a half day... that's all.

My DD has missed 12 core subject lessons in 9 weeks doing netball, again I had no idea.

Maybe you should show more interest then? Did you not think it odd she was taking in her kit so much?

Maybe if you put a chip on your other shoulder your view would be more balanced?

Of course I take an interest, what a stupid thing to say. As children get older you have to let go of the "reigns" a bit. I knew they had matches, how do you think I found out! I did not know they were missing vital subject lessons. My DS would say they were playing a match "after school". What I did not know was that they were leaving school early to play, and it's the same subjects they miss.

One DD at GHS other at StG, both happy, both love sports. I do have to agree on the sports comments at StG, it is excessive and relentless in comparison to GHS. DD at StG is not so strong academically so this is a big problem. There is a pressure from the sporting teams, she feels she cannot let them down by pulling out. I do worry about her academic subjects because as soon as she has caught up I one, she will miss another lesson due to a fixture.
I may have to take matters into my own hands.

DS1 is doing his GCSE's at St George's. It has been a great school but more and more of the very good teachers are leaving. This year staff turnover has been particularly high with some excellent teachers exit-ing. The management seem to believe this is normal, they assume we know nothing about schooling, most of us know what normal is. I have heard teachers are leaving due to stress. I am beginning to wonder if DS1 should go to a nearby sixth form college, or Reeds, although I think I may of missed the deadline by a long way.

I wouldn't recomment this school. Despite the fees there are lots of old classrooms including portacabins and I'm told the school is riddled with asbestos. It seems they choose to woo you in with the lovely grounds and spend their money on gardening.