Guildford High School Junior School A GSG School

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head of junior school

Since September 2021, Allistair Williamson, previously deputy head (overseeing staff development) of Surbiton Girls’ and Boys’ Preps. Has previously had head of year roles with responsibility for digital learning strategy in schools in both England and New Zealand.

Entrance

At 4+, selective entry via ‘readiness assessments’ which include a group craft activity session where girls mix with peers and teachers, plus a one-to-one activity session with a teacher. ‘We try and make it as gentle a process as it can be,’ says school. ‘They are not expected to read and write. We are looking for children who are ready to learn.’ The entry process for 7+ places is more formal. Girls take written papers in English and maths, have lunch with their peers, tour the school and take part in fun activities. Competition for places is undoubtedly stiff. Around 60 to 70 girls compete for 32 to 36 places in reception every year.

Exit

The majority moves to senior school. There is no entrance assessment at that point – once girls join the junior school the expectation is that they will go right through. Of the very few who leave after year 6 some choose boarding and one recently went to ballet school. If there is an academic issue the school flags it up as early as possible, certainly by year 5.

Pupils in year 6 of the junior school can apply for music and academic scholarships to the senior school.

Our view

The junior school is housed in a separate building on the senior school site. Junior girls frequently visit the senior department (they have lunch there every day) and the two buildings are so close that as they come down the stairs they can spot senior girls working in the science labs. Every corner is well used – the art room recently expanded into the eaves – and the science lab is spacious.

The school prides itself on being ‘a lively, vibrant place where girls blossom personally, intellectually and socially’. When we visited the place was a hive of activity. Girls were busy rehearsing for their inter-house music competition and everywhere we looked small groups were enthusiastically practising their song and dance routines. The school walls are full of artwork and motivational posters – we spotted one declaring that ‘mistakes are proof that you are trying’.

Teaching at this high-achieving school is a combination of traditional and innovative, offering academic rigour, practical work and a lot of fun. The Sunday Times placed it top of the prep school league tables recently although the school stresses that these aren’t the be-all and end-all. ‘Yes, league tables are great but it’s not why we come to school every day. We are far more interested in the development of the girls and the characters they are turning into.’

Girls study 14 subjects, with Mandarin taught in key stage 1, Spanish introduced in year 1 and French from year 3 (languages are all taught by specialist teachers). ‘The girls are very enthusiastic,’ says school. ‘They think it’s cool to learn and they want to learn new things.’ The girls work hard in school and with that in mind the junior school has endeavoured to reduce pupils’ homework. ‘They take their reading books, spellings and tables home but when they get home they need to be going to Brownies or ice skating – things like that,’ says school. Strong emphasis on reading. All pupils have a reading journal and the school is keen on encouraging girls to read the classics. The current year 6 cohort have discovered a penchant for Agatha Christie. We particularly liked the mural running the length of the main staircase, spiralling through centuries of monarchs, wars and historical events. A few girls have learning difficulties or special educational needs – such as dyslexia and dyspraxia – but not a huge number ‘because the pace is so fast here.’

Everyone is involved in drama productions and most girls play at least one musical instrument, many of them performing in a group or orchestra. Years 5 and 6 recently sang Berlioz’s Te Deum at the Royal Albert Hall, while the Festival Choir sang Wassail in Southwark Cathedral. Sport is a key part of the school right from the start. The youngest girls do gymnastics, dance, games, athletics, mini tennis and rounders. Swimming is introduced from year 2 (using the school’s 25m indoor swimming pool) and from year 3 girls have five PE lessons a week, including swimming all year round, netball, cricket, tag rugby, football, athletics, rounders and tennis. Netball, gymnastics, athletics and swimming are particular strengths of the school, with girls regularly winning national and county championships. There’s a raft of extracurricular activities, with more than 80 clubs (everything from chess to yoga to IT) each week. In year 2 girls go on their first residential visit while year 6 girls get a trip to France at the end of their time at the junior school.

All the girls belong to one of four houses. As they progress through the school they get the chance to sit on the school council and year 6 girls take roles as prefects and house captains. As in the senior school, pastoral care is the number one priority. A peer mediation scheme encourages pupils to use listening and negotiating skills to resolve ‘any small difficulties’ and teams of peer mediators take responsibility in ensuring that playtimes are happy and disagreements are defused before they can escalate. Girls wear a smart but practical uniform of tartan pinafores (skirts for year 5 and 6), pale blue shirts and navy blazers.

Pupils come from Guildford itself, as well as towns like Woking and Esher – mostly places within a 20-minute drive. A few travel in by train with older siblings but the majority are brought in by parents.

The last word

A top-notch, happy and caring school. Bright girls who are keen to learn and want to get involved in everything from the performing arts to sport will thrive here and go right through the senior school to boot.

Special Education Needs

Guildford High Junior School is selective on entry and welcomes bright pupils. Dyslexia or any other type of learning difficulty or special need is not a barrier to entry or to accessing the High School curriculum. All teaching staff are trained through inservice training to support pupils with learning difficulties and our experienced special needs co-ordinator organises appropriate assessment and one to one special needs support as required by individual pupils; this involves additional costs for parents. 09-09