Tormead School or Farnborough Hill?

[Reebie]

Hello! First post ever here! My daughter has passed the exams to both these schools for entry in Year 7. We live in Camberley so Farnborough Hill is the more local - the journey to Tormead will involve a 35 minute train journey and a 5-10 minute walk to the school. I grew up in Guildford so remember the reputation of Tormead years ago, but my question is ...is the longer journey time worth it? How is the new head teacher working out at Tormead? Any opinions welcome!

[Lifeisontheup]

Congratulations to your DD!
My DD went to Farnborough Hill and was incredibly happy there and did very well. If you live in Camberley you may find it easier at FH as friends may be more local so slightly less driving at weekends etc. We lived in Guildford when DD started at FH (we chose it over Tormead) and most of her friends were the Camberley side of Farnborough.
One of my friends DD's has just started at Tormead and most of her friends are the Dorking side of Guildford.
That said, both are good schools so I would probably go with where you feel your DD would be happiest if you are happy to do lots of driving at weekends and for matches.

[BeckAndCall]

I'd check carefully the train times you assume to Tormead. My DD is at GHS/ and her Camberley friends catch the 7.02 to allow for the changes: that train waits at aldershot for at least 10 mins then they change at Guildford fro London road ( which your DD would need to do).

Seriously, check really carefully - it's years and years of early journeys if you're looking at the wrong times

[BeckAndCall]

Sorry, being too involved here but I just checked And the 7.09 gets in at 8.11 - so an hour and two minutes - which is exactly what my DDs friends find

[Reebie]

Sorry! We can put her on the train at Blackwater which reduces the journey considerably. And means just a few extra minutes in bed in the morning!
I was wondering whether you had any opinions about which of the two is the best? I know it needs to be the right school for the child, but just interested to hear what people say about Tormead. As less people this side of the Hog's Back make the journey.

[BeckAndCall]

Ah, blackwater makes else. It's still a change to go to London road tho - but we're in Farnham and so that's actually 3 trains!
Plenty of girls from Farnham make the journey to Guildford so there would be plenty of people this side to be friends with. In fact they all seem to have two sets of friends - class friends and train friends!

[showtunesgirl]

I would go with FH for the journey times. Also because of the fact that if she wants to go to a different Sixth Form, the very highly performing one is very near by. I went there and it was and still is fantastic. A lot of FH girls went there for A-levels.

[mummytime]

I'd send mine to Farnborough Hill, several friends from Guildford have sent their daughters there, and they have done very well. I wouldn't add a commute on unless there was a good reason.

[vixsatis]

FH- so much more character. I was there years ago and occasionally go back to help with careers events etc.. It is a very special place: really diverse, really happy with buckets of charm and tradition. It also got me into Oxford.

[mrsrockstar]

My first post here too. Reebie did you make a decision? We are weighing up Guildford High vs Tormead (also for a year 7 place). DD v bright. Like to think she would do well at either - but perhaps at Tormead have a bit more fun along the way? Does anyone know if the girls feel stretched at Tormead or know how dynamic/ buzzy the teaching is?

[BeckAndCall]

mrsrockstar there are plenty of threads on GHS vs Tormead that might help you.

And there is plenty of fun to be had at GHS, honestly. Bucket loads.

[mrsrockstar]

Thanks BeckAndCall. Do you have experience of Tormead or just GHS? I feel I know what's on offer at GHS but am trying to gage current information on Tormead.

[BeckAndCall]

No first hand info on Tormead, other than to say both my DDs have good friends there who are very happy and are lovely girls. Not at all a helpful response, I'm afraid!

[kazysgirl]

Have you considered any of the schools in Ascot which may be nearer for you, living in Camberley, although it depends which side of Camberley of course. There is the Marist, St Georges and St Mary's all very academic and excellent girls schools. Ive not heard anything bad spoken about Farnborough Hill, but I have heard the Head at Tormead has recently changed. GHS is extremely academic and full of confident girls.

[Fayerfield]

Hi Reebie

Congratulations to your DD.

My DD does go to Tormead and loves it.
We joined in yr 7 from a state school and did not know anyone else there beforehand. She now has lots of friends both at school and on the train attending GHS and RGS, all get on really well. The girls all walk in groups up the hill from the station chatting, so the 10 mins is nothing!
There is a walking bus in the evening if your daughter does clubs, where a teacher walks them at 6pm to the station and sees them onto the train.
New head is good. Not great at speeches but seems to be getting the girls going, especially at sports. The school now has use of the surrey sports park and families can join at a disount.
The ICT has had a huge overhaul a guy from Apple is now totally revamping this department.
Most of the teachers are loved but you obviously have one or two that aren't. My daughter has a great laugh, always coming home happy:)
Building work is a pain but we are assured it is worth it. The sixth form is being expanded and improved. Some girls do go elsewhere for 6th but it is hoped the facilities will encourage more to stay. Big multi million pound project, you need to see the school for details, would be on here forever.

Our year did have a couple of problem girls and the school were not afraid to get rid of them, even though they lost their fees.

There is a lot of academic and sport competition between the girls but even the less able are encouraged. Her friend got a scholarship for GHS but turned it down in favour of Tormead as they preferred the happy atmosphere. A very friendly enviroment where great grades are obtained by happy children!

We had a choice of schools and we definately chose the right one for our daughter. I highly recommend Tormead.

Good luck!

[Reebie]

Thank you all so much! Your comments have been so helpful. We did look at the Marist but it didn't 'feel' right. St Georges Ascot was too expensive so we did not dare look incase we fell in love with it! And my DD is not Catholic so I think St Mary's not an option. My DD is convinced she wants to go to Tormead and it does sound as though she will fit in - the balance between happiness and academics sound about right for her. She is transferring from the state sector and will know no one so great to hear the transition was good for your DD Fayerfield. We are off to the offer holders afternoon next week so hope that it will confirm our choice.
The state comprehensive all her classmates are going to involves a 45 minute coach journey so I feel less guilty about her commute now - and Granny and Grandpa live just across Stoke Park, so she can always stay the odd night there if the travelling gets too much. Good luck to you all as make your decisions. I had no idea how hard it was going to be!

[mrsrockstar]

Fayerfield your comments are so helpful thank you. We are verging towards Tormead now rather than GHS. DD v bright but feel she should do well at either and possibly doesn't need to be quite so micromanaged as they are at GHS?? (need to decide v soon!) Most people seem to say the head at Tormead extremely approachable but her public speaking lets her down - although that doesn't bother us too much. We are also back at Tormead this week. Am interested to know if the building work that has taken place already has resolved the problem of lunchtime - I understand the dining room is small and shared with the Junior School so it can be a bit of a crush. Ultimately if these projects are set to happen the end result will be a huge bonus for the girls at the school.
Nice to hear that the children from all 3 schools on the train seem to get along together and there's no rivalry.

[Reebie]

mrsrockstar - we may well see you there tomorrow!

[mrsrockstar]

Reebie - dare I ask?!

[Fayerfield]

Hi mrsrocksta/Reebie

Enjoy your visits. Re dinner my DD says lunchtime problem is yet to be sorted, think it is the next stage. She says yes a bit cramped but no problem getting to sit with your friends or getting your meal on time. A lot/most girls tend to book school dinners for the sept-dec and jan-april terms then go onto packed lunches for the summer so queue is less. But the packed lunches can still sit with the dinner girls. (have to remember to give a terms notice in writing re change of choice) The packed lunches are stored in fridges so no worries about the hot weather!!!!!. Hope info helps.

[Reebie]

How about you mrsrockstar? I still like the 'feel' of the place. Once again shown around by a lovely girl - and couldn't help thinking 'I'd love my DD to turn out like her!'. But I still haven't posted off the letter!

[rockwolf]

I used to go to FH, and i have to say, the school is really great! The teachers really do care about the pupils there and their is alot of support provided. It has a really caring atamosphere which was a great change from my old school, where i was bullied for years.

[anneboleyn36]

Can anyone on this thread shed any light on the Farnborough Hill entrance exams? Can any of your DDs remember how many questions there are on the Maths Paper and the Verbal Reasoning Paper?

[bd25]

Hi Reebie
May I ask which school did u finally decide for your DD

I am currently in the same situation (living in Camberley and torn beween GHS or Farnborough hill)

any advice would be of a great help

thanks

[runningkeenster]

I'd say the same as before - FH is much easier from a travel perspective and now that SWR have taken over the trains, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole (though GWR cover the journey from Blackwater to Guildford).

Not sure what state comprehensive in Camberley was 45 mins coach away unless the OP actually meant the grammar school in Reading.

[Mumtofourandnomore]

GHS is a different school from either FH or Tormead though, I don't have personal experience but I have friends across the three schools. GHS is much more academically selective, it's a fabulous school and has a great reputation, it's a class above the other two. But as a second choice, I would say FH, which also has a great reputation. Tormead too, but I don't think the school is worth the extra commuting inconvenience, whereas GHS would be worth it. My children catch the train to school to Guildford every day from the Camberley area, mainly with GWR but on the rare occasion they have issues, we go with SW trains from Ash which is really reliable. Overall I would say that the train travel is not too problematic, I can count on the figures of one hand the times I have needed to drive them in over the course of a year (mainly in the snow).