Prior's Field Godalming

[VioletFlamingo]

We are starting to think about our options for DD for Year 7. Our prep school have said she could try schools like St Cats or Churchers but should keep Prior's Field as a safe back up. The Prep school head is really pushing PF but we just aren't sure. I wasn't wowed by the new-ish head there and it just seemed a very different atmosphere from the other schools I mentioned. It just seemed a bit 'free' and the behaviour side seemed quite relaxed compared to other schools. I don't think these things necessarily make a school bad, they just are factors I think don't work for my DD.

Our DD is the type who is quite easily influenced. If friends around her aren't trying or are being rebellious or silly, she joins in too and doesn't want to stand out. The school changed her maths set because at first she was top of the lowest group and started not bothering, once she was one of the lower girls in the next group up, she really pushed herself to keep up. She suits structure and clear boundaries. St Cats seemed calmer and more traditional with house activities. I'd love to find something similar which DD could get a place at.

We also have thought about Cranleigh or doing 13+ Charterhouse who are going Co-Ed or Wellington. If she probably isn't quite St Cats level would she have a chance with these schools?

I believe that it will be fairly easy to get into Charterhouse as a girl for a few years to get the numbers of girls up.

Where do you live? Considered St. Edmund’s in Hindhead?

trinity do you know much about Prior's Field?
We did think about St Edmund's but were concerned about the academics and size. Friends with DC who went through their prep school said the more academic kids leave at 11+/13+. Similar worries to PF really, we feel DD needs quite a high energy, very structured more traditional school with a generally academic/aspirational ethos. St Ed's ticked the traditional box but it felt a little like an extended prep school. Perfect for lots of kids, just not right for DD.
The Royal School came up this week. Any thoughts on that option?

Depends where you are but St Johns Leatherhead my be worth a look.
Also King Edwards Witley

My daughter sat for Priors Field this year. We found the school to be less pressured and more nurturing than some of the others we looked at. Cranleigh was great, but very much a boarding experience even as a day pupil. Didn't like Tormead, mainly due to the head and was too similar in style to the London schools we were trying to avoid.

In the end, DD will start at St Cats in September.

My advice is trust your gut for fit but listen to your school about the academic level - you know your children better than anyone else and the culture / values you want them immersed in. The prep school should have a good sense of which schools have the right academic structure.

The other good piece of advice we had was to remember that you are picking a school for GCSEs not A levels. You can always change at after GCSE if you need to change the academic level. You can also change earlier of course! Good luck.

The girls I know going to Priorsfield this year are not academic so I presume there is a very wide range

Trust your gut instinct. Find another back up. I'm not a fan of PF or King Edwards Witley. If prep school head pushing it she may think your DC may not thrive at the more academic if schools. Keep looking round for alternative back ups.

Anecdotal evidence only, but my therapist says that she treats a disproportionate number of Prior's Field girls for eating disorders and self harming compared to other local schools. My sister was at Prior's Field a long time ago and was hideously bullied there... doesn't sound like much has changed. I went to St Cats and am still in touch with various people there... much better and nicer school!

My daugher year 8 is at Priorsfield. She is very bright and is thriving as school is able to keep her challenged together with a good number of other bright girls. We chose the school as it provides a rounded education and is very nurturing. She says there are distinct boundaries and rules and we would never describe the school as 'free' and too relaxed it is rather the girls generally look happy and not pressurized. The school has a wide range of abilities and it is to their credit that they are able meet the needs of them. There is bullying in every school - it is the way it is dealt with which matters and the little there is at Priorsfield is knocked on the head straight away I believe. Go with your gut feel as others say but talk to parents who currently have children at the schools as well.

Any eating disorders that I know about at the moment are at St Catherine's and Tormead- again like bullying you get them in any school but Prior's Field are very good on the pastoral care - there is far less pressure on the girls .

Lorelai. If your therapist is discussing issues they deal with at certain schools with you, I think it may be time to change your therapist.

Why? She isn't naming students for goodness sake!

Thanks all.
I guess eating disorders and issues happen in all schools.

For us we aren't majorly worried about pressure as DD is the type to rise to it and needs a bit of a goal to jump to. As soon as she feels she is 'best' or doing just fine she tends to go horizontally 'chilled'. I know teenage years are tricky but I am not too worried about pressured or non-pressured schools. I went to a school like GHS and found it so relaxed and happy - we were all so busy doing activities and all pretty keen to do our work so just got on with it.

We are narrowing things down to St Cats, Churchers, Tormead (but unsure), Seaford College, The Royal.
Also considering prep to 13 then Wellington, Marlborough, Charterhouse type options.

Any views welcome!
Thanks again.

She doesn't have to name students, best to leave it at that.

Ummmmm, ok. Cryptic!

I appreciate that you are considering boarding school options as well so this is less relevant for those but, if you do choose a day school, I think you need to consider where you want the centre of gravity for your daughter's social life to be.

Your suggested day schools cover quite a wide geographical area and many children travel significant distances to get to school. From your selection, I am guessing that you are based south of Guildford. Do you want your DD to be able to get herself by train or bus to meet up with friends or will you need to ferry her? Don't underestimate the grinding effect such logistical issues can have over the course of 7 years.

Proximity to a train station/ bus route is also a life-saver if your DD wants to throw herself into all of the after-school activities that a school has to offer. Coach services at many schools leave at the end of afternoon lessons so, unless there is a train or bus service, parents still have to collect their children if they are involved in after-school activities.

I'm afraid that I know nothing of Prior's Field and can confirm that Tormead does have more of a London day school feel (but that's why we chose it in preference to others!). Some girls do commute out from London but most are drawn from a catchment roughly bounded by Esher, Claygate, Weybridge, Horsley, Cranleigh, Haslemere, Alton, Farnham and Camberley. Many girls travel to school by train along the Horsley/ Clandon and Woking lines. Hope that this helps.

If you are including day schools, have a look at Farnborough Hill for your "insurance" option. It has bright girls and less bright girls and seems good at fitting itself to the needs of each girl as she develops. Easy train from Guildford

My DDs are both at St Catherine’s. Girls in senior fall into two camps.... bright, musical and/or slightly geeky or bright and sporty. Lacrosse is a big thing at St Cats. Creative arts other than music are not as high profile. Your DD needs to be organised, self motivated and talented in something to really flourish at St C..... it definitely isn’t a nurturing school.