Moving to Surrey - questions on schools and sports

[Rsbl]

Hi,

We are an American family of 4 living in Switzerland moving to the Surrey area. The kids (girl 13, boy 11) currently attend an IB school. Here are my somewhat numerous questions:

• While my husband thinks we should continue with an IB school I am interested in a state or independent school. I don't really understand the difference between the two. My children are fairly bright but I've heard the exams are very difficult and if the child hasn't been training for them it would be difficut to receive good marks. As such, are the non selective schools good? I've read many posts and it appears there is something called a cachment? What is that? Is it worthwhile to change from IB to the English system? They will probably go to the US for university.

• If we do continue with the IB we are looking at ISL Surrey and ACS Cobham. I would be very interested in comments on each. I've looked for prior posts and there are some, but they all seem to be a few years old, so looking for updated information. I'm interested in primarily their college acceptances in the US, thoughts on ISL and how they are handling their first soon to be graduating class, the strength of the foreign languages (both kids are fairly strong in French and don't want them to lose it), and traffic to get to and from the schools.

• Ice hockey - my son wants to continue playing. It seems there is a team in Guildford, but I'm not sure if that is easily drivable from Woking or Cobham? Are there other teams?

• Competitive swimming - my daughter swims competively and I see there is a team in Woking and one in Guildford. If we end up in Cobham would either of those teams be too far away for early morning practices? Are there other teams we should be considering? She is hoping for a swim scholarship in college so the swimming is pretty important.

• How is the commute to Waterloo from Guildford, Woking and Cobham? We haven't decided where to live yet and I'm interested in comments on each of those areas.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

If he was 11 in July 2015 then he would be in current Y7 yes you are absolutely right LIZS sorry OP for adding confusion to the situation- ignore my prep school comments

How fixed are you on Guildford, OP? Is it because it has a train to Waterloo or for another reason?

How do you feel about separate schools for your DCs versus a co-ed?

If you could narrow down some options at this stage, even if only for a academic exercise, there are a few of us bursting to help you. The worst thing is giving you too many options as it all becomes very complicated.

Also, do you need help with housing?

Lots to think about! I'm going to start calling schools tomorrow. I wonder if it helps that their current international school does the IGCSE's. She is choosing her subjects right now.

One of the Guildford girls schools might be ideal for your daughter, and I am sure even if she was put in year 8 at GHS she would not feel "held back" and I know they have accelerated girls on occasion.
For your son there are more issues. RGS is highly selective and lots of very bright boys don't get in, but it might be worth contacting them. Boys from this area do go to Reeds and Salesian in Farnborough (not to be confused with the one near Byfleet).
Most other private schools which take boys are mixed or start at 13.
All apart from RGS involve commuting from Guildford, but lots of young people do that every day.

For State schools there is a complication this year as some schools are choosing "options" in year 8 due to the demands of the new syllabuses for GCSE.

I do think in general you may find the UK education system more rigorous than a lot of international schools, I know a lot of parents complain about IB especially for middle years. Surrey and especially Guildford can be quite pressurised environments.

There not a lot of point in choosing GCSE subjects in a different school. It had to be in the school that they will do the subjects in. It's to do with time tabling and options.

It's useful to go through the thought process though, and get the career advice.

For GCSE, they typically study 10 subjects, of which 6 or 7 are compulsory for the particular school, leaving 3 or 4 options (electives).

Maybe , but most will do a mixture of iGCSE and GCSE and the syllabus can still vary from one board to another. The school websites may indicate which they offer and through which board, not always the same one for all subjects. Often teaching of RS, Geography and History will differ in international schools and it is normal to be expected to take at least one of these.

Zombie thread and as the OPS kids were 11 and 13 then snd on swimming teams I think they know how to swim as they are not little ones!!!

ZOMBIE ALERT