Surbiton High School?

[Chooknhook]

Hello, my DD has just been offered a place in Y7 from Sept 2014. We really didn't expect her to be offered a place (due to the extremely high demand) so haven't really looked at it seriously until now. Looking on MN I see that many of the opinions expressed are a little dated, are there any members who have DDs there at the moment? I was a little concerned to read the post regarding the current head, but having seen her at the school think that this opinion must have changed? Any up to date views good or bad would be really appreciated. Many thanks!

Hi Chooknhook and well done to your DD getting a place at Surbiton. I do not have experience of it first hand but was certainly impressed on an open day. I thought it had a wonderfully warm, supportive and aspirational environment and I have heard very positive feedback on it. Shootingatpigeons, I was struck by your DDs experience of an all girls school. My DD, currently yr 5, has many boys as friends and is quite a tom boy,she is not at all keen on idea of an all girls school but I was really taken with the opportunities and ethos of championing girls and liked Surbiton, NHE, Godolphin over Ibstock, KGS especially as she is very keen on science and maths and super sporty. Not sure though if those benefits outweigh fact that there are no boys!

IMHO there are less distractions for teenage girls when at an all girls school and they really push the girls at, for example, science and maths ...

I have a similar dilemma re all girls/mixed.
Surely being with boys all day long will just put you off them? Girls at all girls schools can be very obsessed with boys.
From what I have seen the girls at KGS do just as well as the boys at science, maths. Maybe this is more of an issue at unselective schools?

Just a quick word re the head situation at LEH - a friend of mine who is a parent at both LEH and WHS is very pleased about the appointment from LEH's perspective, she really rates Hanbury. As shooting has said, as a current LEH parent I agree that the outgoing head is very business- like, but I think a change is to be welcomed.

this is anecdotal but all my dds friends and (male) cousin who went to mixed state and private schools seemed to go out with each other earlier (lots of facebook updates on so called 'boyfriends' in Y7). In a mixed school, girls will tend to party and go out with boys earlier ... but the upside is they'll also be used to having boys as friends ... My dd (nearly 15) was uncomfortable with playing pool with a friends son at New Year as 'he's a boy' she told me!!! :O. Obviously there will be exceptions, but I think generally girls do better academically in single sex schools as there are less distractions and they won't be intimidated in the classroom, especially in subjects like Physics and Chemistry. (Why else do single sex schools tend to top the League tables?) Boys I am not so sure about - and can see it might benefit them to get away from a more 'laddish' culture in a single sex boys school. That said, if I had a son, I would probably send him to a boys school too. The downsides with a girls school? Well it can get a bit 'alpha female' in some of these girls selective schools and a bit bitchy on occasions ...

QBean I have a sporty DD in Year 7 at KGS who loves science and maths and she and I have been delighted with all that is on offer to her there. Although it's early days, I have already noticed good rapport developing between girls and boys in that they are not shy to talk to each other and it is just seen as normal to work together in class. Earlier in this thread someone asked what KGS' view on participation in sport was like and to me it seems very accessible to all, whether you have great sporting ability or are simply keen. For example there are 8 hockey teams in the first year - 4 for girls and 4 for boys and everyone who wants to play will get the chance to be in a team at some point. We chose the school over 3 all girls' schools and for us it has been a fantastic decision as she is really happy there. I would say the kids are happy and hardworking and also all get involved with a variety of extra curricular activities depending on their interests - the school is keen for all children to do this alongside their academic work. Sorry, I have just remembered this is a Surbiton HS post so apologies for going on about KGS. I'm new to MN!

Thanks nmonk! That's really useful to hear. I am assuming to ask you more I should start new thread so I have under sec. Schools!

Yes, great. 4 of my friends' daughters went to Surbiton this year and they are all loving it. Good luck with your offers and decisions everyone.

Since I started this off. I think that girls school can be a great environment for girls educationally. There is lots of research to show that they learn in different ways and that can be catered for and in some mixed schools I think there can be a danger that eg books studied in English will be picked to engage boys (Frankenstein over Jane Eyre) Not at KGS to my knowledge I hasten to add. Yes in the classroom there is apparently some evidence that girls are inhibited in speaking out and may be more distracted from contributing by being concerned about what boys think. I do think my science geek DD benefited from an all girls school certainly to GCSE, but she was in a lovely year. If you look at all the girls' school lots of girls do do Science.

However, and I bear the scars, socially there are some attention seeking girls in SW London, the cool party crowd, and there is no knowing which schools they turn up in, although I have not heard of any incidents at Wimbledon High. Their modus operandi is bitchy exclusion, predatory behaviour with boys, extreme partying with binge drinking and drugs (they are the one on Wimbledon Common, Richmond Green etc. ) and exhibitionism. Somehow day to day contact with boys who don't tolerate all that nonsense and their smelly socks seems to moderate that behaviour. Obviously you can't know whether your DD will encounter this behaviour or how she will respond to it but these girls are good at manipulating the group norms and the peer pressure can be overwhelming for even the most sensible girl, and confidence destroying if they become a target. It is something to bear in mind, and watch out for. Now at a mixed school my DD just finds it all so much more normal and civilised.

Have only positive things to say about SHS - Ann Haydon is a very dynamic head with a clear passion and vision for the girls in her care - very committed senior management team and enthusiastic teachers who have good relationships with the girls. Wide range of academic, sporty and extra curricular opportunities so girls really find their strengths and are encouraged. Pastoral care is superb - there is a real buzz and energy to the school. However, would re-interate some of the other posts - only you know your child and you should go by your instinct where would best suit her personality and strengths. SHS would be hard to beat though!Yes it is a large school - which can have its drawbacks if your child needs a very small school environment, but also comes with advantages in being able to offer wider opportunities, high quality sports teams, music, etc. Balance is the key - weigh up what are the most important aspects to your child's education, possibly revisit your final choices?

I am sorry your daughter had such a bad experience suzanne, but in fairness to the staff at Surbiton I have to say that is it not at all the same as my daughter's. SHS was the making of my daughter who went in Yr 7 feeling very unconfident and thanks to the careful teaching and dedicated academic and pastoral support emerged confident, happy (and with a clutch of A grades at A level - she is presently at Russell Group uni and amazed to find that at some schools attended by her fellow students, girls taking engineering were seen as a bit weird, as no-one batted an eyelid at her choices at SHS). The staff could not do enough for her. As in any school there will be people your offspring don't particularly take to but in a school that size anyone will find their own group of friends. She has made a great group of friends there who she sees when she is back from uni and hopefully will keep up with for many years.

I know a friend who's daughter goes to Surbiton (Y10) and absolutely loves it. The school care about academics and have a good overall pastoral care but could be better regarding a few minor cliques. She is sporty and is thriving there especially with the gymnastics aspect as she is a keen gymnast. Teaching is at quite a high standard but could be better with a couple of teachers. According to friend's daughter, it's an amazing school that she loves and is glad she chose over WHS.

Every school in West London has it coterie of attention seeking madams /insecure alpha girls and they can all turn up at one school in one year and subvert the norms. I would have thought the size of Surbiton might dilute that effect, and since it is slightly less selective you might get fewer sent there by their competitive parents who want a "name" to show off in the office and at dinner parties , but sadly parents can't anticipate who will turn up at a school.

Sorry to gatecrash this thread but all so interesting for me. I have a daughter who has been offered places for Sept 2014 at SWPS, Radnor House and Surbiton, and we are on the wait list at KGS. We have a week left to make a decision but are no further forward (other than that we have turned SWPS down as too far from us). We literally do not know which school to pick. Initially my daughter loved Surbiton but now favours Radnor. I love KGS but we can't even find out where on the list we are. My daughter is pretty girly and loves all the performing arts and music. She likes small classes and having a close relationship with the teachers. She has had a really rough time at her current state school with bitchy girls and a lot of bullying, and all been brushed under the carpet by the teachers, and so I feel I need to bear this in mind. My worry about Surbiton is there are so many girls, does it make for a bitchy enviroment. My daughter has a tendency to want to hang out with the "cool" girls which sometimes backfires as cool. At Radnor, it is such a small enviroment I think everyone will muck in. Also, I love the idea of co-ed. Does anyone else have any thoughts. Also, anyone here on the KGS wait list and have you been able to find out where you are on. Thanks.

Padres from what you have said it seems you have your heart set on a coed school. If you accept Radnor and then get a KGS place, would you then take the place at KGS?
I think the bitchiness comes from certain cohorts (as Shooting wisely points out). You can also get bitchy cliques in co-ed schools! So rather than base your decision on fear of what might happen, have positive reasons for choosing the school based of what attracts you and DD to it.
It is a big decision, but if you're really not happy after a time (highly unlikely, but possible at any school), you can always change at a later stage.
Surbiton is a big school and has better strengths in sport (particularly skiing and gymnastics) than musical/performing arts.
Good luck with the decision and I hope your DD is happy at her new school!

Wow, I attended SHS late '60s-'79. It was a small, pretty academic and very strict school. I loved it. Didn't prepare young women to fight their corner though. Glad it's moved on ...And didn't Chemmy Alcott Olympic skier) go there?

Chemmy did!! Surely padres it depends if you/your daughter really want co-ed or single sex? There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in music/performing arts too at Surbiton - my dd isn't into acting but she plays violin in orchestra and loves the choir. Music has really been beefed up recently in Surbiton with a great new music team. DD is also in the tennis squad ...incidentally why would you choose KGS over Radnor??? is there a big difference? Or is it just the fact that Radnor is new and not so established? Have heard good things about it though ...

Padres - I think your DD will be happy at any of the schools you have listed, they are all fab! I only have experience of Surbiton - it may be a bigger school than some of the others but the class sizes are not big and the staff are lovely and fully engaged with their students with exceptional pastoral care.
You needn't worry if your DD isn't particularly interested in sporty activities - my DD was totally into all things arty and drama based and flourished in those areas whilst at SHS. (She left last year and is now very happy at university!) The school is 'beefing up' it's drama and now has plenty of performing opportunities for all the year groups - for example Inter-House Shakespeare competition, National Theatre Connections, Year 7 show, Full school musical at The Rose Theatre etc etc. Music is also very well catered for, with regular musical evenings to showcase and celebrate the students' progress at ALL levels.
My DD's year was on the whole a lovely bunch and there was very little bitchiness, but as others have said earlier in the thread, there is no knowing who will turn up in your DD's year. I do know that Surbiton will come down hard on any type of bullying and will also move girls to different forms if there is evidence of 'undesirable' cliques forming.

What is the boy:girl ratio at Radnor? I heard it was boy heavy but not 100% sure on that,

Thanks guys for the feedback. All incredibly helpful. Re Radnor, the split between boys and girls is now 50/50. When the school first opened it was heavily weighted to boys and I think in Year 9 there are only a couple of girls but the Year 7 and down is a 50/50 split. It is a fab school and I have yet to hear a bad against it. The head is so inspirational. Likewise, though KGS seems such a well rounded school and obviously more academically proven at the minute given Radnor is so new. I guess my only reservation is Radnor is only a 2 form entry in Year 7 and is that too small for a secondary school although my DD seems pretty keen so I would imagine we will take Radnor. On the basis there are only 10 places on offer for girls in Year 7 I know she did well to get in.

sorry to jump in but as i am battling a similar dilemma. My DD has an offer from ST Catherine's and Surbiton and we live in Isleworth, so Surbiton is going to be bit of a journey but from what i have heard it is Academically better while SC on the other hand is a good school as well but has had a bad press recently so will be really helpful if i can have some advice on both the schools.thanks.

If it were me, then I would go with the nearest school. I think Surbiton and St Catherine's are probably pretty much on a par academically. Surbiton is obviously a lot bigger and I get the impression St Catherine's is a bit more homely and nuturing. I know girls starting in Year 7 in September in both schools and they are all lovely girls, but in this instance given your location I think St Catherine's wins for me but good luck with your decision. Which school does your daughter prefer? Have you gone back to the open days they were running for girls with offers? This helped us a bit to narrow the choices down.

I wouldn't consider st C and surbiton on a par academically.
Take a look at the league tables.
The sixth form is tiny.
Saying that I am sure bright girls do well there (as they will anywhere) and it is a very lovely, kind, caring school offering something different in an area of v academic schools.

Sorry, yes I should have looked at the league tables but agree with what Tess73 said in that St C is a very caring school.