Tormead, Surbiton High or Hoe bridge

[ClearSkiesWithNoClouds]

hello,
Would any current parents give any info on these for secondary?

I am also interested to know, in particular Tormead vs Surbiton High?

Hoe bridge is totally unknown as previously was just a prep, I'm quite conservative so I personally would rule that out.
I would choose between Surbiton and Tormead. I don't think you can go wrong with with one. Depending on your view point one advantage of Tormead is that it is smaller year groups, so more chance to be in the play/ teams etc.

It depends where you are located and what ethos you want.

Tormead and Surbiton are more similar in that they are all girls, academic schools. Surbiton probably has the edge academically but difference is minimal.

Surbiton is larger but that brings a lot of opportunity, lots of access to sports, amazing art department. Generally the facilities are excellent. It has a wide catchment. It has some coming from London but lots from Surrey direction too. We looked at it and found it very vibrant and the girls there had real spirit. Very easy transport links. Friends with DC there are all really pleased.

We were unsure on Tormead at first. It has a head who was at a London school. It just seemed a little sleepier to us. However, it has a good, solid reputation and lots of friends with DDs there are pleased. Only thing I notice is lots leave for sixth form.

Hoe Bridge would only be my choice if I had a child who had lots of needs and wanted a smaller, extension of a prep school environment. Are you already at Hoe Bridge?

Agree with PP on similarities between Surbiton and Tormead. With Surbiton feeling like a London school and Tormead feeling like a Guildford School, they will always been slightly different in that respect.

Both schools though come with solid, v. good reputations; just from our experience, having been at Tormead for some time, can with confidence say that it isn't all that sleepy anymore, under last head yes, but there is a very strong forward momentum now with future vision (thats actually happening) and lots of happy vibes/energy. If youre looking towards sixth already... the TM sixth form has grown over the last two years to a decent size, and although it is bigger now, with new facilities, the teacher to student ratios are great. Also the new sports complex for next academic year is amazing.

It's all courses for courses, pretty much based on your location, as you would do well with either of these schools, happy choosing!!

My DD finished at Tormead this year (just got her A level results) and personally whilst I would have recommended it 7 years ago, I'm afraid I can't say the same anymore.

Unfortunately the new head has made a lot of (in my opinion) negative changes. Whilst DD loved the school with the old head, due to its' flexibility and free time, she now would disagree. The school feels much more academically focused, which may be your preference, however it seems to have veered away from its original calm and generally happy ethos and more into a grade factory. Also new development of a flash new sports centre which whilst great has been a great disturbance to a lot of the residents and does lead to other state schools no longer being able to use the Urnfield - take with that what you will.

E.g the new head has a got rid of a lot of 'independent study', a period which DD said was extremely helpful to complete homework thus having more free time after school for activites. He has also just introduced a 'business casual' dress code in sixth form which I imagine is very unpopular! DD says a lot of the girls currently in Y13 are disappointed and she herself says she would have left for sixth form if the current rules had applied.

Some positive changes have definitely been made but personally I think you're better off elsewhere. Can't say I know much about Surbiton High or Hoebridge but DD has friends at Hoebridge that enjoyed it. Hope this helps!

On the face of it, Tormead is more academic now - it is certainly presenting itself as such. But there seems to be a lot more mystery and obfuscation around grades achieved than there ever was before.

I am still on some of the chat groups and someone posted that 24 teachers left at the end of last term. A reaction to the new head, or just a pent up backlog from Covid?

Who kowns , but unless your daughter is going into the junior school, I’d be cautious - because whether the direction of travel is positive or negative, the changes have unsettled the school at the moment, is my feeling

@Medlady , I don't have much to say on anything else here, but putting the record straight is absolutely key. As someone who has a better-half who works at the school in administration...

-c.15 new teachers have JOINED the school since the end of last term.
-just 9 LEFT at the end of last term.

of those that left ALL of them went for the following reasons:
-Retirement
-New business opportunities outside education
-Moving to live closer to family
-Getting married
-Promotion
-Working overseas
-Travelling (sabbatical)

We actually know 4 of them well as they are good friends with my other half.

The winds of change are indeed amongst literally all schools at the moment and Tormead is no exception, will most independent school staff (unless hiding under a rock) well aware of the real risks on the horizon! There will always be people who don't like change or see the worse in any decision. But at a time when the strength of an independent school will ultimately determine it's future under a Labour government, the fact that Tormead has grown, is taking on more (NET 6) teachers, investing in student facilities and posting some good results is all a sign of strength and stability, not much more.

@carolinejackson12 I'm struggling to reconcile your post. My DD is lower down the school and we have 2 parent friends in the recently departed Year 13.

You complain about academic focus, but as far as we're concerned that is one of our primary expectations of Tormead for our DD. Unless your daughter didn't do so well (I genuinely hope, and I'm sure she did, do amazingly!), then surely she contributed to the 88% A*-B that the cohort achieved this year? I'm also sure as a result she now has the grades to go wherever she wants post sixth form? Surely that is, stripping it back, the fundamental end goal of school?

I have to disagree on the 'calm/happy ethos' too, the whatsapp group for my year group oooses comments suggesting that the girls (and parents!) are very happy, involved in a variety of clubs, sport, activities, charity work, but most importantly they seem to progress well academically. The school gate 'chat' amongst nearly all i bump into is positive. My DD has come on leaps and bounds since leaving her previous Prep.

Unfortunately in the higher years (year 11 and 13) the pressure does increase (our DS is enjoying yr 13 right now!) and if the new Head feels that Tormead girls should also do well academically, then thats fine by me.

On uniform, everyone knows the sixth form were all given a vote, they voted for the new 'uniform code', so it was implemented. Not sure (apart from the colleges) who doesn't have a uniform code locally (my son wears one)?

I do respect though that what is 'important' at Sixth Form level differs from person to person, but for us, by Yr13, we would like a happy girl leaving with good results.

Know Tormead school very well, of old and new. Last head was a nightmare, especially towards her end. God knows why your DD preferred her, but each to their own! :-D

School very much still happy and calm. Prep school is oversubscribed, know a mum who can't get her daughter in for love nor money. It's a really lovely place.

Senior school defo more academic, but the girls I know are happy-chapettes and doing well. Yes to 'projects' under new Head, more investment in learning and facilities is aparent, if you like that sort of thing.

Not sure why you'd be against working hard in exam years, taking away free time that parents are paying for and doing more study? Clearly a strategy that worked for your DDs year group, Tormead Alevel results almost top in the whole area.

To anyone looking - great school, strong finances (key with labour on the way) and as a PP said, clearly recruiting more teachers than loosing through natural attrition. Got to be a good sign?

Courses for horses - I'd say if you're looking, go see Tormead, Hoebridge and Surbiton and decide for yourself.

Edit: typo

Returning poster from up the thread here. It was some time back since posting that, and I can reassure my opinion hasn't changed. Still recommend tormead to anyone looking for a city centre school, thats growing but still feels like a small family community. Girls on the whole seem happy and relaxed. More pressure in exam years has been on the chat groups, but from a quick review of the ones I'm in, the consensus seems to be that parents want a good balance of pastoral care and academic standards. Most seem to feel that although the pressure is higher in yr11 & 13 than in other year groups the school do a good job of pastoral support during those harder times.

On the uniform - not bothered to be honest I heard from my DD that the sixth form got to vote and then pick what they wanted the code to be for dress. They also dress down on Fridays and wear sports kit for games day. Give it 6 months and the change will be normalised and no one will care, after all nearly all the other local indies have a code of some kind.

On exam results- just check the websitez they're all on there.

If someone chose Tormead I know they'd be welcomed with open arms by the parent community as we were.. and if they were to choose Hoebridge or Surbiton, I'm sure they would be just as lovely too!

@carolinejackson12 , not sure how the new Urnfield sports development has been "a great disturbance to a lot of the residents"? The development hasn't even started yet, in fact the site hasn't been used fully for going on a year now. We live adj to Warren Road and the traffic has been, if anything, lighter. Our house proximity, as a parent, I feel is a viewpoint worth sharing.

Don't get me wrong, even as both a resident and Tormead parent, i'm a bit nervous about whether traffic will increase once the site has been developed, but up until now (noting your use of the past tense) the site "has" been no trouble at all to anyone.

The new sports facilities will be amazing and I think it is an outstanding development for the kids - if we're going to build anything, this is the type of project we should get behind and work with... I am also hopeful the site will be used by the wider community as promised, as the current Head is very keen on community work, outreach and bursary funding, we hear and see a lot of this at school. The school have launched loads of new programmes in the last few years to support the community around them, with state-school partnerships, etc., and fingers-crossed, I hope they follow through with the urnfield and it becomes a beacon of community sport.

There are groups and residents who are viciously against it, the reasons vary from environmental factors (which I am on side with, as long as the concerns are genuine and they work with the school to make constructive adjustments to any plans for the betterment of The Downs), traffic, but most commonly a lot of "not in my back yard"-isms. Eg. some of the meetings I've been to have been quite embarrassing, with the same old voices whinging on about it, instead of debating what they can do to work with Tormead to make it better. After all it has planning permission, so will happen, why not shape it productively? What these people don't realise, is that more people actually support it that are against it, by far, it's just the latter always have the loudest voice.

It's going to be an wonderful place for kids to play sport, it keeps the site tidy, well kept and active (which will reduce the increase in antisocial behaviour and minor crime we've seen firsthand, which is evidently on the rise in our area due to the site currently being empty), and puts to bed my primary concern, which is the school owners simply giving up and selling it to Bellway - who will sit on it for decades until they've paid enough money to the council or in appeals for planning permission for some generic development.

PS. sorry I had to write a second note, as I feel like i've hijacked this thread with my two pennies above! Apologies! 😂

Hey all, spotted this today, so thought i'd sign up and make a comment!

I'm an ex-Tormead Yr13 parent, DD just finished A-Levels and now off to first choice Uni. Shame to hear PP's DD did not enjoy her time in Sixth Form, for the reasons she mentioned. But, for context, I must stress that in a community of the size that is was, we all knew each other very well and the overall mood about the school has always been one of great positivity, which is why the comment is sad to hear.

When the decision to remove what were effectively some free periods from the girls was brought in, the initial grumblings were there, but certainly short-lived. It was very clear in no time at all that the 'spare time' the girls used to do their homework in was now being replaced with more useful time studying, with teachers, making progress, and my DD came to realise very quickly, and certainly upon reflection now, that the change were a sensible move. She still stuck with her choice sport, some activities and just one club - but yes, most of the girls did scale back extracurricular activities in Yr13 from Yr12, simply because it was an exam year.

The cohort did very well this year. Yes, there has been more testing and more 'mini-mock' exams, but parents I speak with (and I know most after 7 years at the school!) are pleased the school took this approach, as these mini-mocks identified quickly the girls knowledge gaps so teachers could focus on coaching them through, giving tailored individual advice. My DD discovered her weak areas and addressed them. Again, I wont lie, the grumblings from my DD in the first instance were quite audible, but as the year went on and her scores and confidence increased, she became accepting that the extra academic focus would be useful in the exams - which it was - results speaking for themselves.

The above is what it is - the school focusing on academics more because they want the girls to do well at A-Level, plus they clearly want their results to look good for prospective applicants!! BUT, for us, the important bit, was the school put a lot of emphasis on non-academic pastoral/wellbeing support at the same time, something Tormead has always been good at, both under previous head and very much so under current one too.

Fundamentally there will always be things people don't like, but I can honestly say the school feels grounded, solid and forward moving - and in absolutely no way 'unsettled'. I, myself, am incredible grateful for the teachers hard work for my DD, and her (plus the other 88%) of A*-B grades are a testament to the girls' hard work.

Plus I feel like I've finally got a return an investment! haha! 💸

All the schools mentioned in the thread title are good for differing reasons. I know both Tormead and Hoe Bridge well, so could comment, however, I'm not sure the 'bump post' by the PP was really to highlight those contrasts, but more to have a moan. A bit random to go so far back to resurrect a post.

Anyway, as Tormead has become the focus of this thread, I'm happy to reassure that from my own experience, the school seems very much settled and doing well. I'm close to 2 teachers there who often joke about 'all the new furniture and trendy wallpaper' the head has bought for the students and staff; but they're all pretty pleased the 30 year old staff room sofas curated by the previous incumbent are now gone! Seriously though, the general mood is that the staff are working harder than ever for the girls, but on the whole they know that's what parents expect these days and they (parents) will vote with their feet if needs be. The staff I've met at events and socials are such a great bunch and some of the nicest people, they really love their school and the girls - I always feel the pride come across from my 2 close friends there, even if they've had a tough week.

Tormead has clearly been popular since the new head arrived, and popularity only comes from positive feedback and vibes - it doesn't just magic over night. The fact that interest levels in the school seem to be at a record high and you never hear of people leaving, just waitlists to get in, is a fact not my opinion. Someone above mentioned the prep school.... my boss at work is actually considering moving his daughter into their Year 5 if he can to try and avoid the drama of 11+! Cheeky!

I know some of the 'old guard' have been / or were unhappy with the new head's moves away from the Foord era we all knew so well, quite a few of the old Foord senior managers seem to have gone, but I'm pretty sure when he was recruited the governors made a decision to take on someone who is very different. Can't have been an accident?

Well that's my moment in the lime light! If anyone actually DOES need any Hoe Bridge info, my husband works there, so do send me a PM. :-)

Have a lovely evening all.

Late to the thread but thought I’d add my Tormead thoughts.

My daughter is currently in year 11 after joining in year 7 from another indi prep school.

She has been happy there with a great group of friends (a bad egg in year 9 that I was not completely happy with how the school dealt with it, but satisfied after further complaints by me & 2 (that I know of) other parents.

My daughter loves the school & nearly all of her teachers.
Academically she is very well supported and she is extremely self motivated to get top grades as she wants to become a doctor.

She was cross to lose the scheduled independent study sessions but is used to it now & appreciates the once weekly private study session.

The school has many clubs across the board. She was in the gym squad, though left due to that bad egg & it being a tad boring compared to her off school gym squad. They’ve tried to get her back ever since & she’s finally agreed to go back, but to just the lunch time sessions.
The other clubs she goes to are Maths, History, Biology & Chemistry.

Staff are open to contact and extremely helpful in any matter I’ve ever contacted them about.

My daughter will be staying on to 6th form along with 3 of her closest friends we know are staying for sure too.
1 is moving to another indi 6th as it makes it easier on her parents as their son is there. Three are going elsewhere as the course they want to do is not offered at Tormead!
Three are going elsewhere as they want co-ed.
Two are leaving the country.
Two want state over paid due to the new VAT.
They are all I know of.

The 6th form centre is a great space & we feel they will get the best out of our daughter to help her achieve her high grades, whilst ensuring she is happy and well balanced with fun activities & downtime.