St Catherines Bramley vs GHS Guildford

[Magda36]

We have got places in both schools at 11+ and it is tough decision. We have mixed feelings. Lots of people say that GHS is extremely academic pushy and not really caring about well being of the girls? But the girls are competing a lot. Is it healthy competition? Which school creates more opportunities. Can anyone share their experience in these senior schools? I would be grateful. Thank you.

Depends what you want for your DD. GHS is a town school, realistically academics over personal and social development by nature of the beast, but it does have a very pastorally focused Head now. It is feminist, all about girls being ambitious and loving learning. DDs left but are very close to their friends. All doing incredibly in careers generally. Lots of anxious perfectionism but that may be true of many bright girls in their early 20s.

St Cats is more traditional country boarding feel which naturally means more focus on character and social skills. I don't think academics are far apart from GHS though. It is more about socially confident girls, still with the academic drive and ambition but in a different way. Friends with DC there positive.

St Cats head has a mixed reputation - old school and can be quite tough. But you need to form your own opinion.

I had DDs at GHS but went to a school like St Cats. I think if I picked again I'd go for a balance and find something more like st cats but modernised.

I have a DD at GHS, so can't comment on St Cat's. GHS is really big on pastoral care. They have an aspire programme every day where they have talks/ assemblies/ activities all related to pastoral issues. There are also lots of wellbeing events thought the year. There is a huge emphasis on doing your personal best and no comparisons with others.
Commenting because the academic hot house label just isn't reflective of our experience or the experience of friends I have in other year groups.
The new head (who was deputy head pastoral) is fabulous. Highly recommended.

Depends where you live too and how your daughter will commute to school. Ghs - train? St cats bus. Or maybe she can walk / someone will take her.

Friends could literally live miles away from you in the depths of Surrey - tread carefully. As that might be you being the taxi for many years.

Adhoc boarding too - is that a benefit?

In a similar dilemma but between GHS and Tormead. Have been worried about whether GHS is ‘pushy’ but most negative things I’ve heard are third hand and everything from current or past parents from GHS has been overwhelmingly positive. DD seems to be leaning towards GHS. Have friends with girls at St Cats who love it, so don’t think either are bad options just what ‘fits’ for your DD.

Hi Firenze12 ,
By saying : "Commenting because the academic hot house label just isn't reflective of our experience or the experience of friends I have in other year groups."
Do you mean their academics are comparable to St Cats ?
I was just wondering if the high scores in many school rankings comes from being just highly selective school or from pushing the girls a lot academically?

My DD was at St Cats prep and has lots of friends who go across the road. That was my plan originally until DD's father came up with idea to take entry exam to GHS which he always though is better school. I am leaning to St Cats , he is leaning to GHS. DD will do well wherever she goes to be honest. She loved every day of the school in St Cats prep but I do realise that senior school might be quite different. Thank you for your comments.

I think the excellent results come from the standard of teaching, individual support if needed to achieve every girl’s personal best, and pastoral care.

@Firenze12 - please can I ask you some questions or anybody else that knows the answers -

1. Does your child have to go to church / chapel each week at ghs? I should have probably asked that question. We are not religious and the school she is in is a bit too much regarding the weekly church / grace etc 😳

1. Also uniform - the majority of girls in PE kit - did you buy 2 of everything in sports gear?

1. Is it a nightmare if they play loads of sports or is it quite easy to get your child home on an evening (suppose it depends on how they travel to school / where you live / which sports they play) or do you struggle with any logistical issues after school has ended?

Thank you x

The open morning a week ago was good but it was a shame they didn't have a microphone as we could hear half the questions 🤪 but my daughter loved the cookies 😍

Hi.
No weekly chapel/ church at GHS no. There is a carol concert in the cathedral at Christmas.
I've ended up with two of lots of most sports kit yes. However you need very little actual uniform, so that balances out. If you choose GHS, feel free to PM me and I can advise on what I bought more of.
I don't find the sport too hard logistically. She does before school training twice a week. 7.45 which means we beat the traffic. She does an after school practice once a week too. She plays lacrosse on Saturdays. It is all very well organised in my opinion.
Re why they get such good results. I think they are good at choosing girls who love to learn. They are all bright but there is more of a range than people imagine. My daughter is certainly not a genius! But she loves her lessons and is enthusiastic about her work. I think the teaching is excellent on the whole.
Hope that helps!

There aren't many sports practices after school though there are music practices. If you're using the train, the early/late slots can be harder but that would be the same for any school.

It's absolutely not a church school. It was historically United Church Schools but that's long gone.

Reviving an old thread as hoping to get some feedback on Guildford High and St Cats. Our DD is 9 and we have started to prepare for 11+. We live in the area and she wouldn’t be a boarder, how is that socially at St Cats (where most kids are boarders)?

DD is very bright, bilingual, musical but not super sporty (does ballet, dance and swimming but not keen on team sports so far) - I think GHS would suit her but keen to hear views and experiences. Tormead is our 3rd choice. Any other suggestions for a local school we should consider? We are hoping to not move if possible.

The st cats head is leaving which I think is a positive - she was good in ways but the school has had the same head for a long time.

GHS also just got a new head but one who has been at the school for years.

Both are brilliant schools. Not actually a huge percentage board at st cats especially early on - unless that's changed recently.

Also consider Epsom college, St John's, Churchers depending on where you live. I'd be careful with smaller schools like priors field or st teresa's as they'll be feeling the crunch with VAT.

I have my concerns about being a non boarder at a 90% boarding school. I was at a boarding school and the non boarders were definitely not fully part of school life and social circles. But this was in a different country so might be different in England.

I will look at the other schools too thanks. Prior’s Field I am not so convinced (but not sure why), maybe too small and niche for me.

St Cats isn’t 90% boarders. Excellent bus links early morning and late ones.

Do think exactly where you are living - lots of people live in the depths of Surrey play dates are long distances away and no trains / bus - so that’s you driving for play dates and parties.

St cats does a science test at 11 plus.

I think it’s quite low to get in now competition is reduced massively. It used to be harder to get into. St cats go very slow pace until yr 9 / gcse and then they know how to push….

If your really worried you can put your child into prep at st cats / tormead with practically a guaranteed place and they can experience that school or hate it 🤣

St cats quite religious every week chapel and also quite sporty.

Priors field and ghs - you shouldn’t be looking at those 2 schools a million miles apart.

Really do consider where you live and the commute. St cats has major roadworks in the local villages this week and has been a pain for many of my friends - taking 1.5 hrs to get into school

Thanks! I thought I read on their website that most children are boarders.

not worried about playdates - we rarely do any now because of work and after school activities. Our closest schools are GHS, Tormead and St Cats. Our neighbours have girls at two of these schools and haven’t heard of any issues.
We are potentially considering moving closer depending on the school and how the first year of commuting goes.

Why should I not consider GHS?

I am not really worried about 11+, not planning to move DD in prep for a number of reasons.

Ghs is considered the best school. See where you get into and decide with your daughter. Do bear location though. When your daughter is 15/ 16 years old and wanting to party maybe it’s you that will be driving her …. Honestly people live 1 hrs at least from you.

There is a major difference between ghs location and st cats soon as one major road gets grid locked that’s it done deal takes forever.

I do think there is a benefit to the school buses with st cats / tormead at least you know your child will get there. Ghs you can get an emergency call the trains are not running and pick me up asap.

walking distance from home to school the dream

I asked this question recently of St Cat's at an Open Day. 25% boarding, 40% at Sixth Form. Good luck with the decision making!

Very helpful! Thank you!
doing open days soon.