Ages 
A genuinely comprehensive school that prides itself on being a strong community, excels academically and offers a co-curriculum that produces ‘very rounded individuals'. While its size may be daunting for some, nobody slips through the net. ‘There is a place for everyone,’ one pupil told us.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,932 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 440 ·
- Local authority
- Surrey County Council
Headteacher
Headteacher
Mrs Kate Carriett
Since 2016, Kate Carriett BMus MA NPQH NPQEL, previously principal at Kings College Guildford, making this her second headship. Studied music at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College and trained as a secondary music and English teacher at Birming
Entrance
Predictably oversubscribed with more than 800 applications for 300 places on offer in year 7, over a third of which are swallowed up by siblings. Approximately 75 places available for the sixth form, often filled by students from independent secto
- Open days
- Open Mornings - September. Tours throughout the year by appointment.
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Just over a third of pupils leave after GCSEs. Most sixth formers progress to university; over 40 per cent to Russell Group. Two to Oxbridge in 2024, and two medics. Favoured universities include Bristol, Nottingham and Exeter, as well as local Un
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 35 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 31 per cent A*/A at A level (53 per cent A*-B).
% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)
What is this?
Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.
Teaching & learning
An academically non-selective school with impressive results that put it up with the top performing state secondary schools nationally. And it hovers around the top 10 per cent for value added too.
Parents and pupils attribute the school’s
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
- VRQ
Learning support & SEN
Strong and well-resourced SEN department for the 16 per cent of pupils on SEN register (slightly above national average). Pupils with needs ranging from dyslexia to autism are supported by a large team (19 staff) and have access to one-to-one inte
Arts & extracurricular
Drama, dance, music and art promoted through the curriculum. ‘I can’t rave enough about the performing arts,’ gushed one parent. Music highly valued, with spacious and well-equipped practice areas. Individual music lessons during the week (free fo
Sport
Sport is strong, with girls’ football flourishing. Around two hours a week devoted to PE lessons. In winter, the core sports are netball, hockey, rugby and football, while in summer, it’s tennis, athletics, cricket and rounders – but there’s plent
Ethos & heritage
Named after the Guildford-native 17th century Archbishop of Canterbury, George Abbot, and affectionately known as ‘Gabbot’. School is located within a middle-class residential area north east of Guildford town centre. Two main buildings, erected i
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Pastoral care in strong evidence. One parent told us she was ‘blown away by what the staff will do for the pupils’. First port of call for pastoral concerns is non-teaching head of year who is accessible to children every breaktime. Pupils can als
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Mobile phones and earphones are not permitted to be used at any time by students between 8.25am and 3.15pm whilst on school site. If a mobile phone is seen or heard it will be confiscated and retained for the remainder of the school day. If the same mobile phone is seen or heard again the following sanctions will apply:
•2nd offence - confiscation on the day and 5 days in signal-blocking phone pouch •3rd offence - confiscation on the day and 10 days in signal-blocking phone pouch •4th offence - confiscation on the day and the rest of term in signal-blocking phone pouch Year 7 have a signal blocking phone pouch which phones are secured in daily. This is being rolled out over the next 5 years so that all students have their phones in lockable pouches every day.
Pupils & parents
Lots of affluence (‘many could afford private education,’ said head) but pupils proudly boasted of the school’s diverse community where over 40 different languages are spoken. Those we met were friendly, polite and articulate with no major complai
The last word
A genuinely comprehensive school that prides itself on being a strong community, excels academically and offers a co-curriculum that produces ‘very rounded individuals'. While its size may be daunting for some, nobody slips through the net. ‘There
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Good
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Good |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
