WHAT? WHERE?

Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Tormead Prep is a day school in Guildford for girls aged 4-11. It’s the little sister to Tormead Senior across the road – and while housed on its own self-contained campus, it’s very much part of the all-encompassing Tormead School.

A small cohort of 200 girls make full use of the attractive, compact site and the impressive facilities of the Senior campus.

It’s a short walk to Guildford’s London Road Station so it’s handy for parents who commute. RGS Prep is next door, so it’s also convenient for families with boys there.

Tormead Prep is a one-form entry from reception to year 2, with two forms from years 3-6. Entry at reception is via an informal assessment, and at year 3 girls visit for a day and are assessed in English, maths and reasoning. There’s also an informal interview. Girls are mostly from Guildford and nearby villages, but some travel in from Camberley, Cobham, Surbiton, Farnham and Haslemere.

Most continue into the Senior School at year 7. It’s an automatic progression without the need to sit an 11+ assessment.

Tormead Prep achieves great results, without hothousing. It’s is all about creating girls who are bold, confident and unafraid to take risks. Failing is openly talked about in a way that empowers girls to try new things and be ambitious. The message is loud and clear: girls can do anything.

There’s a buzz about Tormead which no doubt filters down from the headmistress Nicki Fry, who’s bubbly, energetic and charming. Similar qualities are evident in the girls who are eager to tell me about their lessons. It’s a happy place with a strong community.

Founded in 1905, it’s been on the current site since 1915. Hillier House was purchased in 1954, giving the Prep School its own separate premises.

FACILITIES

Girls at Tormead Prep in Guildford, Surrey.

Set on a seemingly bijou site facing its big sister, Tormead Prep offers everything you’d expect from a town-centre prep school. It’s a bit of a tardis, with an attractive and well thought-out playground curling around three main buildings. These are Alleyne House and Shackleton House, both named after former headmistresses, and the main building, Hillier House – a handsome converted house.

Expansion, though, is on the way. The school has taken over the house next door which will be developed into a new library and specialist classrooms. A dedicated music studio has already opened, and the school has its own hall where school assemblies and productions are staged, plus a specialist science lab and an art room.

Outside, there’s a netball court, a gym trail and an outdoor ampitheatre, and this area is set to grow too, with the addition of a secret garden as the school expands into the grounds of the property next door. It’s an exciting new phase for the school.

SPORT

Girls playing netball at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

All girls will have 30 minutes of swimming each week and a one-hour lesson of gymnastics or dance, plus one hour of games where the main sports are netball, hockey, cricket, football, athletics and tennis. Girls also take part in cross country. Whatever the sport though, the emphasis is on developing skills and igniting a passion for physical activity. Girls are encouraged to be the best they can be, whatever their ability.

Alongside the sport that’s on the curriculum, Tormead offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities including archery, ballet, modern dance and tap, as well as clubs for all the major sports.

PERFORMING ARTS

A girl plays music at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Strong. All Tormead Prep girls have music lessons with specialist teachers from reception to year 6, and individual music tuition is available from year 1. There’s a wide range of orchestras, bands, ensembles and choirs.

Drama is also taught from reception as part of the curriculum, and each year group presents a performance or production in either the prep school hall or across the road in the JCS Auditorium at the senior school.

LITTLIES

A girl at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Reception and year 1 are housed in Alleyne House, in two bright and airy classrooms with bifold doors that open up in the warmer months to create a lovely indoor-outdoor flow. There are no more than 20 pupils in each class, and each class teacher is supported by two teaching assistants.

There’s an enclosed all-weather play area, affectionately nicknamed Tellytubby Land, which includes a mud kitchen, water play stations and construction area. And there are also climbing frames, a ‘Wildside’ outdoor learning area and plenty of toys and bikes.

In September 2023, the pre-prep moved to the Little Wandle Phonics Programme which teaches children to read in small steps.

ACADEMICS

Girls at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

The focus on academics is centred around instilling a love of learning in girls and building confidence. The belief that confident girls are confident learners means an individual approach which aims to nurture and develop each girl’s talents and skills. Higher Order Thinking is at the core of the teaching philosophy.

The school follows a progressive inquiry-based learning and cross-curricular approach and STEM subjects are delivered this way with great success.

Specialist teachers step in for all girls for music, games, gymnastics and languages. German is taught from reception, French from year 3, and Latin and Spanish is introduced in year 5. Critical thinking is a timetabled lesson from year 1, and in year 2 design technology is introduced.

As an Apple Distinguished School, iPads are used in lessons from reception to year 6. There are class sets up to year 4, and in years 5 and 6, girls use their own devices.

A transition programme, ‘Crossing the Road’ begins in year 5 to prepare girls for senior school which involves pupils having DT, science, art and modern language lessons in the dedicated classrooms at the senior school.

PASTORAL CARE

Girls at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

If Tormead had a calling card, it would be the school’s strong pastoral care. As a small school, every child is known by staff and strong relationships are formed all round. It’s a close-knit community and the pastoral care network ripples out to support not just pupils but also teachers, staff and parents.

The school’s values of respect, tolerance, inclusivity and kindness underpins the pastoral system. Form teachers are the first port of call, but there are also school nurses, an ELSA and school counsellors.

Student voice is important too, and the Tormead Prep School Council is an active body that includes four year 6 pupils and representatives from each class in the school.

As a school that encourages girls to step out of their comfort zone, be bold, confident and the best they can be – it’s important the girls feel they’re in a safe environment. They talk openly about failing and why it’s an essential part of the learning process.

The school celebrates the girls’ achievements and wants girls to be proud of themselves. The Sparkly Jar of Fabulousness encourages pupils to nominate others, or themselves, for acts of kindness, bravery and resilience. And there’s a Hall of Fame which recognises a girl from every class each half term who has shown kindness or thoughtfulness.

Posters around the school also display inspirational slogans. Last year it was ‘This Girl is on Fire!’; this year it’s ‘Roar Like a Lioness!’.

THE HEAD

Nicki Fry, head teacher at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Nicki Fry has been at Tormead Prep for 17 years, the last three as headmistress – a new role created in 2021 after the arrival of new head, David Boyd, who felt the prep needed its own dedicated head.

Nicki knows Tormead Prep inside and out – so was an obvious choice for the role. She’s passionate about girls’ education and bringing the best out in all her girls.

Bubbly, warm, energetic and clearly very popular with the girls – they all wanted to give her a hug as we toured the school – Nicki is a big advocate of girl power. She wants Tormead girls to feel empowered to take risks and step out of their comfort zone to grow and develop. It’s all part of her Future Women Leaders ethos.

Nicki’s elegant office is in the centre of the school, looking out over the playground, and her open-door policy means girls and parents can drop in at any time. And why wouldn’t they – it’s a cosy and inviting space with plush pink velvet sofas (#swoon), soft beanbags and a pretty teepee.

She hosts a weekly book club with the year 3 pupils where they’re encouraged to kick off their shoes and get comfy while they talk books. Book clubs are run across all year groups by senior staff.

Nicki is one of those people who dazzles you with her full attention. It’s no doubt part of the reason children, and indeed parents, are so drawn to her. She’s glamorous (OMG, that velvet trouser suit!) and charismatic, but also down-to-earth and approachable. It won’t surprise you to know that she still teaches drama to the year 5 pupils.

She’s married with a daughter at university.

QUIRKS

Not quite quirks as such, but charming nonetheless. Alleyne House and Shackleton House are named after former headmistresses, Honor Alleyne and Marian Shackleton.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Girls at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Breakfast club is from 7.30am, and after-school care is available until 6pm. There’s also a homework club from 4pm to 4.30pm.

ISI REPORT

Tormead’s most recent ISI inspection was in September 2023. You can read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Phones are not permitted at Tormead Prep.

TRANSPORT

Tormead operates a dedicated coach service with eight transport routes. They cover Camberley, Cobham, Cranleigh, Esher, Ewhurst, Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere, Peaslake, Surbiton, Walton, Woking and the villages surrounding Guildford.

FEES

2023/24: Fees are lower than other girls’ schools in the area. Reception is £3,500 per term; years 1-2 are £3,700; years 3-4 are £5,450; and years 5-6 are £5,520 per term. School lunches are an additional £265-£300 per term.

WORD ON THE GROUND

A girl reads a book at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Tormead strikes an excellent balance between strong academics and pastoral care, offering a well-rounded school experience. Families like the family feeling and strong community spirit. Parents have praised the quality of the teaching and learning and the excellent communication from the school to families.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Girls at Tormead Prep School in Guildford, Surrey.

Good for: Those looking for a great all-rounder offering where the academics are strong but not in a pressured way. Tormead girls have a reputation for being a happy, down-to-earth and friendly bunch.

Not for: If it’s rolling hills and converted stately homes you’re after, Tormead isn’t that, given its city centre location. This also means it can get busy with traffic.

Dare to disagree? Go and see Tormead Prep for yourself. There are open days on Friday 20 September and Saturday 5 October. Book here.

Tormead School, Cranley Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 2JD. Tel: 01483 796091

Tormead Prep School, Guildford

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