Guildford High School 11+ Results

[waitinganxiously984]

Does anyone know when Guildford High School send out their offers this year? Is anyone else waiting anxiously?

@AGHSmum

I agree with some, but not all, of *@GuerrillaShoppa*’s post. On the waitlist issue, I think it really is different year to year. For example, the current Y10s are a bulge year with an extra class, because that year the ratio of acceptances to offers was higher than expected. While I don’t know what actually happened, I wouldn’t be surprised if, that year, once they decided to add a fifth class, they then had spaces for a few on the waitlist.

Agree that GHS girls are bright, but by no means all exceptional or geniuses. What I don’t agree with is the claim that their academic success is purely a result of the ability of the pupils, and not at least in part due to how they are taught at GHS. Roughly 40% of each year group are from the junior school, which is more mildly selective (and, while selection at 11 is indeed a bit random, at 4 it is much more so). Almost all the junior girls do go on to the senior school. Also, if you look at applicants to places, the ratio for GHS is much lower than for the top London schools. The fact that their results are nevertheless similar does suggest there is quite a lot, academically at least, that GHS do to get the best from the girls.

I’m not saying it’s perfect; it is not, and there are certainly aspects of the school I am less keen on, but overall it’s been an excellent choice for my DDs.

This is very true. Compared to the London girls' schools, ghs is not nearly as selective yet it's results are just as high - if not higher than many of those London schools. I teach at a London prep and we have had girls apply to GHS alongside London schools and not get into schools like Putney or south Hampstead but they do get into GHS.

Anyone else got a place at GHS and thinking about taking it? DD was lucky enough to grab a spot and it’s one of our top choices (although still waiting to hear back from another couple of schools). Really loved the school when I visited as it felt very vibrant and all the girls were full of energy. The results are fantastic too - I don’t think they just select the very brightest girls (well they didn’t at DDs prep school) so they must be doing something right with their teaching. So gutted that I can’t take DD to have a look before we make the decision.

Which school are you waiting for the results? GHS is very good school but most of them said that school too much pressure & stressed . I don't know every parent different. My friend daughter studying at St Cats . It is very good school

We have not found GHS particularly stressed and pressured. On the contrary, they try very hard to reduce the stress on the girls, recognising that a lot of bright girls have a tendency to put pressure on themselves. All girls got sent a hot chocolate in the post in the last week, for example, with a recommendation for a film to watch alongside. It’s always parents with DC at other schools who make the “pressurised hothouse” claim.

They also have some really helpful policies to help manage stress: such as never giving homework over holidays or half-term (other than in Y11 and Upper Sixth, for obvious reasons).

@gu22mum st Cats is also a great school but the journey is a bit of a hassle from where we live and I would like DD to be able to get to and from school independently. I think you hear about pressure at all selective girls schools and I really think it depends on the child. DD is very resilient and academically able so I don’t worry about academic pressure. Both my DS’ are at schools rumoured to be academic hothouses and the reality is very different.

@AGHSmum that is very sweet and thoughtful of GHS. How does your DD find the co-curricular offering at GHS? My DD is very sporty so I know she will want to be somewhere with a good sports provision.

Sport provision really depends. With the Sports Centre the facilities are decent. If your DD is able and likely to make the A or B teams in the sports GHS focus on (such as Netball and Lacrosse) she’ll have a great experience of playing in excellent teams with good coaching. But in the senior school there is less opportunity or support for those who are keen but not that able, and, because of the extra coaching, the gap between the A, B and C teams and the rest only widens with time.

There are though a wide variety of other clubs on offer in normal times, from sewing to debating to film making etc etc. to get involved in.

@aghsmum she’s never played lacrosse before so hopefully that won’t be too much of an issue buts she very sporty and competes at club level for netball, hockey, gymnastics, cricket and athletics. I recognise the competition is higher at senior schools but I would hope she would have a decent chance of making an A/B team for one of her sports.

@Yossahughes, yes, it is likely she would get into the top teams then! Most of the girls have never played lacrosse before, so that won’t be an issue. GHS has also recently switched from rounders to cricket in the summer term, which it sounds like would work for her too. There is also a good gymnastics team, though I know little about it.

@aghsmum sounds perfect!

@Yossahughes - we have also received an offer and seriously considering it. We haven't had a chance to visit the school and was hoping something could be arranged before the offer acceptance date. But with the current lockdown I guess school cant do much. Glad to hear your feedback from your visit.

Hi All
I am reading the offer letter from GHS and realise that the deadline is 10.30am on Monday 1st Mar 2021 to accommodate those families waiting to hear about state school allocation. But I think state school result is not available until 5pm on 1st Mar at the earliest. Just wonder if school has a typo here. Do you have the same deadline to accept GHS?
Thanks

Yes I was wondering the same too. It would be too tight a timeline.

Hi there. I've just been reading your thread on mumsnet...a couple of years ago :) and I was wondering if you managed to find out anything further re the waiting list. My daughter has just been offered a place on the waiting list but I hate the waiting game and she already has two offers from other schools with scholarship...so not sure if it's worth the wait? Thank you x

My advice would be to call up admissions and see where on the waiting list she is. A girl from our prep did get a waitlist offer last year and two years before that.
On our offer letter it says to let them know by 17th Feb if we are able. So I presume wait list will start to move form then onwards. Where else do you have places?

Hi there and thank you for the advice. I contacted them and although they couldn't tell exactly what number she is on the waiting list they suggested that she was closer to the top. We have applied to St Teresa's and City of London freemen's and she has an offer from both schools one with an academic scholarship. We have four more weeks before we make our final decision but too anxious about making the right decision. Congratulations to your daughter for getting a place!

Thanks @EviKaBen do you have a preference between St Teresa's and City of London? Maybe narrow down those two options and then call GHS again before the acceptance deadline and see where she is on the waitlist? They may be able to give you more precise details once they have had more acceptances in? I know lots of schools send offers out on Feb 10th and as I said they have asked us to reply by 17th Feb if we can. So maybe call back at the end of Feb after half term? When is your deadline for your other schools?