Sixth forms in Guildford - Tormead and St Cats

[TheMarlows]

I know there are lot of threads about the girls' schools in Guildford but I was keen to get current views about the sixth forms at Tormead and St Cats - particularly now that Tormead has the new sixth form centre.
Our daughter who is very academic and is currently at a local state school has been offered places at Tormead and St Cats for sixth form and is having a hard time deciding which school to choose. She really liked both of them when we looked round but needs to make a decision either way in the next few days.

Really depends what you want.

St cats is countryside, traditional with boarding element. It is probably more academic but in reality it sounds like your DD will get high results anywhere. A but out of date and very traditional head.

Tormead is a town school. Probably less of a difference when moving from state. It has a smaller sixth form as quite a few girls leave. Got a solid reputation. The site is cramped but I'm sure you know from visiting. Used to have close ties with RGS and shared sixth form activities. Haven't heard of this more recently.

Yes, she will do well anywhere. I think she is hoping for somewhere she won't be seen as an oddity for working hard and to meet like minded people. So difficult to choose though especially as she doesn't know people at either school.

She is likely to get better uni offers by staying at her state school. Neither school has the profile of girls you are looking for GHS has them in abundance so it’s a pity she doesn’t have an offer from there. St Catz girls tend to be from wealthier families and therefore Tormead may be easier fit from a state school. Tormead is a small sixth form there will be some girls with a similar profile and those that are academic will be given scholarships to persuade them to stay.

Yes @Luluthecat is very accurate. Did your DD sit GHS? Could be worth contacting them.

Tormead's brighter, keener girls tend to go off to more academic schools. Then a chunk go to sixth form college. Then a mix of the rest is left. It is often a fairly small year group size. So really depends on the cohort.

For me the biggest deciding factor would location. Personally I don't like the location of St Cat's it is a pain to get to for me. However, some love the country location and the facilities are great. I think it is more fun being a sixth former in Guildford, with the shops and cafes. Again, my personal preference. Plus the new sixth form looks great at Tormead and they do still do things with RGS in 6th form.

I know lots of bright girls who have done very well at both. What does you daughter think?

Well done to your daughter. 2 great options. As a current parent at Tormead, I can assure you that under the new Head it is an academically ambitious school. Many bright girls here that want to do really well. Plenty of mixing with RGS boys still. It’s a kind school, where the girls are really cared for pastorally as well as academically. Good luck with your decision!

Know nothing about StCats apart from the very good grades they produce, so ill leave them to others who gp there.

I do know a couple of Tormead Sixth Form parents and subsequently, their girls, and I am a parent myself. The girls there are indeed a mix of very academic and just academic, there are grade boundaries to get in and this year the new deputy head academic has stated a whole host of new inititatives testing regimes in Year 11 and lower sixth to help raise academic attainment, all of which has been very popular. I don't agree with a PP that the clever girls leave, although traditionally half the cohort would go to either a sixth college or co-ed school, usually for that reason, 'co-ed'. Last year however the school had its biggest group stay from Yr 11 into lower sixth and around 5 joined externally. They're very used to integrating the external girls and knowing a number of Tormead girls, they're on the whole grounded, welcoming and happy - therefore im sure she won't have any trouble fitting in. Given the uni destinations and grades they get, your daughter will do well and be helped to do well if that's her academic level.
Agree the school is much more cramp than StCat given Tormead's location, so that's a factor you must consider too. The on-site stcats sport facilities will also be better if she is into sport. But the freedom of being able to pop into town and commute by train etc. helps make that transition from school to uni/work. We've saw the new Sixth Form Centre during a parents event and we're very impressed - I don't think it was done to attract more girls, and the head billed it to us as simply an investment in the girls educational experience - the only centre was very outdated and needed it! The girls do lots with the RGS (including the RGS prep), recently the boys came to Tormead for debating and a formal dinner, and also the Tormead winter formal.

Anyway, I wish you luck with you're choice, sounds like your daughter will do well in any setting, whether it's StCats or Tormead, or indeed at her current school! You're spoilt for good choices in Guildford, which makes deciding all that more difficult! :-)

Go* typo!

She didn't apply to GHS, as I just didn't consider it. However now she has been offered academic scholarships at both the other two, I realise that we should have considered GHS too.

She likes them both for different reasons and is trying to make for and against lists but isn't getting very far!

Her current school only goes up to 16 and so she she'll have to change. Honestly she is desperate to leave and wants a fresh start - so not Godalming which is the main state option from her school. She has hated the last 5 years and we just want her to go somewhere she'll be happier!

This is a myth that needs to be debunked. You do not get better state offers by virtue of being in a state school. That’s nonsense. It depends on a wide variety of factors including your home and school postcode, whether you’re the first in the family to do to uni and a load of other things. my kids got no additional consideration at all, and neither did their friends. They got the standard offer as it was a high performing school with a strong track record of sending kids to good universities. The reduced offers is for widening access not for giving all state school children an easy shoe in to uni

Im quite aware of the contextual offers process. It’s actually getting the offers that I am referring to. Some of the Guildford private schools and well known boys public boarding schools have struggled to actually get offers for some of their pupils and I’m not talking just Oxbridge offers.

Do they both do her subject combinations?

Does she like being in town? Hanging out with her friends after school or at lunch etc? Or is she more or a country type?

How would she get to school? Is one journey easier?

She has got two great options, good luck deciding!

Agree with PP, it's basically going to come down to what it is you want beyond the academics, because if your DD is academic, she will do well at both schools, no problem at all. GHS could've been an option, but again another totally different culture. StCats have taken a pasting recently for pastoral care and poor mental health provision (see a thread comparing them to StTheressas) and I'm not sure if that kind of environment (if true!!) is what your DD would thrive in? Maybe ask some questions of StCats about it and I'm sure they can offer reassurance though. StCats is very much a country school with a country feel, old fashioned traditions to-boot. Great part of the world. However, we looked at it for reception (I know a long way off from sixth form!) but didn't like the fusty feel and felt that as a through school, if our DD ended up in Senior school that the location and culture weren't for us (not to say that it was bad - just not for us).

Tormead is a city centre school, academic but doesn't have the same country feel pomp and pageantry as StCats. It also doesn't have the same vast space on tap - although they do now have the new playing fields down the road. If you want a straight forward school that has girls who do well, then that's definitely an option to consider. They also have the benefit of Guildford Town centre and the other two big independents on the doorstep. We chose it for reception in the end as we liked the girls, from Reception through to the Sixth Form they were all lovely and the kind of person I one day hope my little DD becomes.

That said, family friends of ours chose StCats for their DD, so it's all horses for courses!

Good luck!

Thank you for all your replies. They have been really helpful and have given us much to think about. We all really appreciate it!

DD left Tormead just over a year ago, so not absolutely current info, but she had a wonderful time there. It's a really caring, pastorally led school. She joined from a state primary in year 7 and settled very happily. She's academically capable and I felt Tormead provided genuine stretch and breadth academically, within a lovely supportive environment. She was well prepared for university and more independent study. I think she would have become anxious in a more 'hothouse', competitive type of school. There were lots of activities to be involved in - music, sport, volunteering, debating etc. She has a lovely group of friends - quite a diverse, international group - who are, again, very supportive, kind girls. Would highly recommend Tormead.