Any experience of St George's Weybridge, SWPS or Guildford High?

[GretaGarbled]

Hi there - I'd appreciate any current views (good or bad!) of these schools - for a very bright girl (not a true genius type, but always been at the top of her a class without effort and should get A*/A/whatever they are now).

GHS obviously highly selective, so should be good for teaching at the right level, but do they get time to just be kids and have fun as well? SWPS and St George's seem more relaxed, but are the brightest kids catered for? St George's also co-ed, which could be better as we're all girls at home.

The other option is to go the local 'good' secondary, but seeing how the bright kids are just left to themselves at our primary (and oldest DD starting to lose some enthusiasm as a result), we're not sure this is the right option anymore, if we can stretch to something that fits better. I know she should get good results wherever she is (so long as she doesn't turn off completely), but its not all about the results, but the journey she has to get there.

Going round in circles here. Any help appreciated!

[donadumaurier]

BreadGoddess does the Senior deputy's name begin with an H and end with a Y? Trying to piece together what you're saying with what I've heard.

[donadumaurier]

For what it's worth though, power struggles are nothing new at SWPS, they've been going on for a long time. I do stand by my precious post though. Standards are dropping because the entrance selection has changed. If your DD would have got in under the old system there is no reason to think she won't come out with the grades you think she's capable of. There have always been good and bad teachers there just like any school, including during the "golden" A level results year.

[BreadGoddess81]

Dona, unfortunately both 'Deputies' begin with an H and end with a Y.

The 'Senior' has been there a long time (about 15-16 years) and the 'Second' has been there a couple of years

[donadumaurier]

Oh, senior is who I was thinking of. Head of year 10 and 11 in my day. Have heard things about second but not in enough detail to have picked up on name. (Senior I think may have been there closer to 20, but don't quote me on that.) There was at one point a whole generation of staff who were there for 20+ years some closer to 30, but most of those have moved on now. Interestingly, lots at the same time right after the departure of former head. Although there was also something of an exodus when Miss Ross left, so doesn't necessarily mean anything.

What I will say is that senior has been in a position of power so to speak for long enough that I doubt any kind of promotion would have had much impact on results. I'm told that's down to the changes previous head made to the year 7 entrance exam- financially sensible decisions, but not necessarily ones that maintain the old results. I've also heard an increasing number are leaving to attend 6th form elsewhere to study subjects the school considers below it so to speak and doesn't offer, though of course that's harder to prove.

[BizzyFizzy]

This is all a bit ridiculous.

The deputy head, Mrs SH, is lovely. She is extremely nice and personable to students and parents on a personal level. Her job as deputy head is to run the school on a day to day basis, so often can be unpopular with girls who want to break the school rules. She was head of Y10 and 11 until her promotion to senior teacher and then deputy head. In that pastoral role, she was brilliant with my DD1.

All schools have a staff turnover when a new head is appointed or the year later. A new head means making changes and some staff find it easier to leave/retire. There were far more changes from SR to DC, than from DC to CM, probably because CM was already a very popular deputy.

In any healthy school there is a significant turnover of staff each year. It's an element of staff that won't leave that can be more of a concern, tbh. A change of head is one thing that will clear out the cobwebs.

One unusual thing about SWPS is that there is no fee remission for daughters, so staff are a lot more mobile than in other independent schools.

[readthethread]

it's interesting to read about old vs current admissions standards.

i always thought SWPS must have brilliant teaching - from the Teddington area those who don't get into LEH, KGS or Surbiton do usually get into SWPS and many go, the school bus is busy as is the train from Twickenham to Staines.

However the SWPS results are as good as SHS, currently anyway.

[readthethread]

i wanted to clarify my point above - i also know some who got LEH, KGS etc... living Hampton/Sunbury areas who chose SWPS over these.

[GuerrillaShoppa]

Update - friend with daughter at Woking High reports that she has settled and is now thriving.

[Fifthtimelucky]

I see this is an old thread but, as presumably decisions have not yet been made, thought I'd share my experience. I have had 2 daughters at GHS and the younger one is still there. They started at 11.

Music, drama and sport at GHS are all excellent. There are lots of opportunities to do things like debating, DofE, young enterprise etc and plenty of time to fit in a variety of extra-curricula activities. I like the fact that many of the girls are real all-rounders: it's not a question of whether they are musical or sporty or clever. They are all three.

Neither of my girls felt particularly stressed out by too much homework/exams (and one is much more academic than the other) and both really enjoy(ed) their time there. I am genuinely not aware of any bullying and the girls really look after each other's welfare.

As far as boys are concerned, there are lots of joint activities with RGS. The joint production of West Side Story this year was outstanding. They have a joint chamber choir and a joint orchestra (though the orchestra is more ad-hoc and put together for particular concerts/trips). In the 6th form the 2 schools have joint general studies lessons. Lower down the school there are joint social activities like bowling or discos. There is also plenty of less formal mixing on the train and lots of GHS girls have brothers at RGS. Lots of GHS girls also RGS boyfriends.

Both my girls were the only ones from their primary school to go to GHS which had worried me a bit, but the school did a really good job of managing the settling in period. Classes are organised sensibly so that girls who were at the junior school are divided equally between the senior school classes. Geography also plays a part so that girls who travel in on the same train are likely to be in the same class.

We liked Tormead, but it was definitely a second choice for us.

For what it's worth, a few Tormead girls join GHS for the 6th form every year. I don't know any that move the other way. We did not look at SWP and Woking as they were not sensible options for us, given our location.

OP: good luck with whatever you decide.

[GuerrillaShoppa]

Just to add my comments on fifthtimelucky's post - I am aware of one girl in the last 2/3 years going to Guildford High School (GHS) for sixth form.

Those girls that do not stay for sixth form at Tormead tend to choose to go to Godalming Sixth Form College in search of the college experience and mixed sex education. Unkind souls have speculated that this can also be an attempt, by some parents, to game the system so that their daughters' university applications come from a state sector establishment, as they believe that this may boost their chances of securing an offer from an elite university (at a time when universities are seeking to demonstrate their commitment to social mobility). I have no idea whether this alleged "tactic" works.

The bottom line is that there is a smaller cohort of sixth formers at Tormead compared to GHS, which I view as a positive - the girls receive more individual attention and each and every one feels valued for her contribution. Those that remain for sixth form are diligent and very focused on their A level studies and the high number of Russell Group university offers they achieve is testament to this (see www.tormeadschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/3654AB-Destinations-Flyer-2016-v3.pdf ). The 2017 ISI educational quality report was also glowing (see www.tormeadschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tormead-School-EQI-Final-16-06-17-1.pdf . )

In the end, the majority of us posting on this thread are in a very fortunate position - we pays our money and we takes our choice - usually on the basis of gut feeling and whether we like the finished product - the girls themselves. Good luck to OP (and anyone else for that matter!) with whatever you and your daughter decide.

[MrsZargon]

Hi all, I appreciate that this is a really old thread but came across it as I now find myself in almost the exact situation as GretaGarbled was a few years ago in terms of location and whether to take the private or state route, so was wondering if I could get any up to date info on schools from you all, and how it has all worked out over the past few years?

To describe my DD - academically she is complicated. She is very bright to grasp maths and her problem solving ability is amazing, but she has always struggled with English. Just before lockdown we decided to get her formally assessed for dyslexia and it has been confirmed what we suspected which is that she has mild dyslexia. The report detailed a lot of specifics but in a nutshell she struggles to concentrate and process information when she is in a distracting environment which explains why we and her teachers were seeing a massive difference between work she produces when she is in a small group or 1 on 1 vs in a classroom environment. Hence us now questioning whether she would be better in a private school where class sizes are smaller. Apart from academics she is a good all rounder - she has close friends but is happy to mix in other groups as well, she is socially confident and happy to join in with music, drama etc. She swims competitively for Woking Swimming Club. She is a good girl who likes to follow rules and do her best.

So from a personality point of view I think she would be ok wherever we send her, but I feel at a loss as to where she should be from an academic point of view as I don't think we have really seen what she is capable of, and I don't think her current school really stretch the kids academically anyway. I'm under no illusion that for her to pass an entrance exam in January, especially now that she has been away from school since March, is going to be tough, but I also think we could get her there for the right school with the help of a tutor etc.
So first off we wouldn't consider GHS for being far too academic. We have seen Farnborough Hill and St George's Weybridge in person and did the SWPS Virtual open evening. The Catholic thing is important to us but not the be all and end all. My main issue with all of this is that we only see the sales pitch for these schools and I'm not plugged into a community of Mums that can tell me how it is on the ground, is it very pushy?, how well do they account for kids that have dyslexia or other needs? etc. My DD is just going into year 6 at St Dunstan's so we will get a place for SJB which is our state option and all I hear are good things about it, so I am in a massive dilemma about it all. If anyone has any personal experiences they can share with me for current pupils I'd be very grateful!
Thanks x

[GU24Mum]

If you're looking at those schools geographically you probably live reasonably close to where we are. From what you've described, Farnborough Hill sounds like a good fit. We know quite a few girls there with a range of abilities and the school seems to do a great job with them. SJB is good too and free of course...........!

[lockdown555]

Daughter at SWPS. Incredibly friendly and very down to earth. Academically strong but not the be all and end all. Very happy with it. You might also want to look at Claremont Fan Court school - very nurturing and on the up

[MrsZargon]

GU24Mum yes I guess we must be close - I’m GU22!! Thanks for your input, I actually went to FH myself and loved it there, trying hard not to let that bias my decision though! As you say they do have a history of churning out happy confident girls and of course the grounds are stunning! Not sure what to make of the new head though - changing the uniform, badge and motto was a brave move - I worry that she is all show and no substance?!!

[MrsZargon]

Thanks lockdown555, nice to hear that your daughter is thriving at SWPS and that it is balanced and not all focussed on academics. Unfortunately Claremont doesn’t work for us geographically, my husband is determined she doesn’t have a really long journey to school each day!

[After8itsgrownuptime]

SWPS results are now better than SHS and its definitely becoming a ‘go too’ school in our part of SW London for families who want an achieving but pastorally supportive school. It’s also a very inclusive school , so to get the results that it does are very impressive. I know 2 friends with DD there. One is dyslexic and she is thriving, the other very bright and being pushed accordingly. I would have picked it for my own DD’s if it wasn’t a 7am bus for us.

[Oblomov20]

Interesting and good to read this. My friends DD is starting SWPS in September.

[Bakeachocolatecaketoday]

@lockdown555

Daughter at SWPS. Incredibly friendly and very down to earth. Academically strong but not the be all and end all. Very happy with it. You might also want to look at Claremont Fan Court school - very nurturing and on the up

...but not CFC for a dyslexic child - you mysteriously won't get in....

[GU24Mum]

@MrsZargon - if you were at FH then so long as you can get over that (!), sounds like a good option. Have you checked the transport options? From where we are, the SWPS bus seems to go very early whereas the FH trains aren't as bad if you aren't an early bird. For my money, I'd choose FH over SWPS but clearly it's not my choice!!