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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Boys private school options around Guildford

47 replies

helmethead · 07/06/2010 17:10

Of course there is the grammar school, Cranleigh (too expensive), but any other good day schools? Don't want a boarding school so Charterhouse is out. With all the brillant girl school options feel like by moving we may be short changing our son.

OP posts:

Original poster

helmethead · 08/06/2010 08:37

Ok you are confirming my fears there just isn't the choice in Surrey for boys that there is here. Mummytime I can guess the state comp and thats far better than there is here and my own experience of private schools is that it pays to send them to the best but otherwise it may just not be worth the sacrifice.

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willali · 08/06/2010 11:58

We moved away from Guildford for exactly this reason. THere is a real gap in the market for a middle of the road co-ed senior day school in Guildford I think. Epsom day pupils are the majority but it is expensive. Only very slighty cheaper is St Johns which is what we have opted for. THere is far woder choice this end of the county - CLFS, Box Hill etc etc and for this reason we moved!

MeganMog · 08/06/2010 14:54

yes agree - perhaps someone enterprising will open up a new co-ed or boys school. I have DDs at girls' senior school here and the choice was good, but as you say, it is very limited for boys (we are South of Guildford, so Epsom, Weybridge etc all too far). DS is still at nursery so we have lots of time for things to change, . At the moment the options for friends with boys seem to be to have them weekly board somewhere, get into RGS (if they can), or move.

Original poster

helmethead · 08/06/2010 15:15

We are planning to move south of guildford too. Currently I live near Hampton, Kingston Grammar (co-ed), LEH, Surbiton High, Sir William Perkins by bus), St george's weybridge easy train journey, both Wimbledon schools (school bus), both st paul's.... Just don't want to live in a city anymore but should we just put up with it...

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Ronaldinhio · 08/06/2010 15:19

Royal Grammar School Guildford (not a grammar but public school)
Academically excellent and turns out very, very nice boys

Ronaldinhio · 08/06/2010 15:22

ooops seems you know that already

mummytime · 08/06/2010 17:54

How old is your DS? If at school is he seen as academic? Do you think he won't get into RGS? Because he might be a dead cert, in which case I'd go for it. BTW you can commute by train to CLFS from Guildford, and I know a few boys who do. If you are South then Reigate Grammar is very commutable on the Shalford line.

LadyPeterWimsey · 09/06/2010 17:23

Ronaldinhio - we knew about the academics but we are just finding out how lovely the boys are. I had worried about the bullying and snobbery of the boys' school that I knew growing up but so far we have been really impressed with the attitudes of the boys.

twolittlemonkeys · 09/06/2010 17:28

There are a few in Woking, which is only 10 minutes or so from Guildford. IIRC - Hoe Bridge, Greenfield, St Andrews, Oakfield or Ripley Court. Most go to RGS for secondary, which lots of people I know enjoyed - it certainly had an excellent reputation when I went to school (GHS in Guildford)

mummytime · 09/06/2010 18:39

Lots of boys at RGS come from State schools, so it isn't exactly snobby. I know teachers have expressed preferences for bright state boys over some hothoused Preps school ones.

I know some RGS boys help at my daughter's after school club and are lovely.

pagwatch · 09/06/2010 18:54

yep - unsnobby and nice young men. We could not be more pleased. Sending DS1 there was one of the best decisions we ever made.

I will remind DS to be nice to the younger boys in case he encounters yours .

Original poster

helmethead · 09/06/2010 19:13

Have heard of RGS's headmaster's preference for state over prep school kids - is that the case? Am looking at Cranmore/Lanesborough/Cranleigh for DS at the moment.

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iloveasylumseekers · 09/06/2010 19:21

Good news about the state school thing - we have decided against private primary schooling so that we could afford a third child, but we have two boys and RGS is one of our options when the time comes.

LadyPeterWimsey · 09/06/2010 19:24

I'm sure your DS would be very nice anyway.

helmethead - DS came from a state primary, and at the application stages they were encouraging us to spread the news about their bursaries to try to get a wider application of children. DS went to their summer school at the end of year 5 and that decided him on applying even though none of his friends were going.

We could have sent him to Cranleigh but preferred a more academic environment with a bit less money sloshing around. I do however think very highly of the staff at Cranleigh (senior); I know quite a few of them well and am very impressed.

Suresurf · 17/06/2010 20:45

Since this post is about Guildford, it is worth mentioning that in that area of Surrey, the state schools are significantly better than what is considered the standard of state schools elsewhere in the country. Of course, it is difficult to get into them, which shows quality.

dadynico · 26/08/2010 09:47

Pagwatch, may I ask you why you don't like Freemans school? I am considering this school for my children and have heard good things about it.

thekidsmom · 26/08/2010 09:56

My DS went to RGS and we were very happy there - but if its not an option for whatever reason his friends went to:

Salesian in Farnborough (Catholic, relatively low fees!)

Lord Wandsworth at Odiham (mixed, short terms, half and half boarding - fleet of minbuses from all over in the morning)

Kings Edwards ('KEVI' to its students) at Witley - mixed, half and half boarding/day

But dont rule out state schools in Guildford - take a look at Geroge Abbots, you'll be pleasantly surprised...

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 26/08/2010 15:03

We have children at St George's Weybridge and we are very happy with the school.

We live west of the school, and there are so few choices for boys. There are plenty of children who are bused in from the Guildford area though. If you take the train, it is three trains (change at Woking and Weybridge), but surprisingly quick.

wrotham · 28/08/2010 10:45

RGS has "reasonable" fees because it is VERY acaedemic and historically is a grammar school with a grammar school ethos.
Forget it unless your son is Oxbridge standard. It is also a day school.

Cranleigh and Charterhouse are public schools and really boarding schools (they say they take day but the day pupils are left out of many things).

Charterhouse is more acaedemic than Cranleigh. Charterhouse and Cranleigh fees are similar with Charterhouse taking the edge by a couple of thousand a year.

RGS boys only, Cranleigh fully coed, Charterhouse girls in 6th form.

Hope this helps.

mummytime · 29/08/2010 07:00

RGS fees seem to be rising steeply.

amour · 01/09/2010 10:32

hi,

I live in Bentley. Thinking of moving can anyone suggest a good place. Bentley is lovely there's nothing wrong with it I love this place. I am thinking between guildford and chelmsford. I would really appriciate any feed back. And also if anyone can suggest a name for a company that I am looking to set up soon selling wellness products. the names that have been suggested so far are..naturesangel, wellness heritage,
health path
I want a memorable name.

Bramshott · 01/09/2010 10:50

If you are looking South of Guildford then Churchers, Bedales, Lord Wandsworth College or some of the Winchester schools?

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