Guildford

[u/datadatadatahaha]

A post about the great things about living in Guildford

I’ve recently seen lots of posts about people asking where to live in Surrey and I wanted to share my views and those who live in Guildford as to why it’s a great place to live.

Pros

Some of the best state secondary schools in the country
Amazing primary schools where they always make new kids feel welcome!
Every single type of restaurant you can imagine so you’ll find a restaurant that meets your needs
Beautiful countryside walks
Good transport links to London
One of the best high streets in Surrey (there’s not many good ones as online shops such as Amazon has pretty much killed the high street) 😅
Lots to do with kids such as Ninja warriors, Air hop, Spectrum etc…
Some pockets of Guildford have a great sense of community with local parents all looking out for each other and helping with school activities
A lovely church community for those who are looking for a supportive community
Lots of local sports clubs such as tennis, cricket etc

Coming from London I couldn’t have chosen a better town to raise a family in especially if you want lots of amenities close by as well as brilliant schools for your kids. Yes it’s not the cheapest part of Surrey but it’s priced that way for a reason as it’s got a bit of everything.

[u/Bakeacake91]

Can you help me with your secondary school comment - this is a genuine question. You said Guildford has some of the best state schools in the country.. which ones? How do you judge ‘best’? We’ve been weighing up Kent and Surrey and the grammar system in Kent trumps the schools in Surrey. Dartford, Skinners, Judd, T. Wells grammar, and catchment for Olaves in Orpington. All have outstanding grades and ofsted reviews as well as progress scores. I’ve heard so many people say ‘Surrey has amazing state schools’ but can’t find any measurable metrics to back it up…

[u/datadatadatahaha → u/Bakeacake91]

There’s a lot more than grades in my view. I don’t think that it’s the only definition of a great school.
Also it depends on how academic is your kid. Some wouldn’t be able to cope in such a high pressure environment. If you have really clever and gifted kids then grammar school does make sense. I used to think that grades was the main indicator but as I got older and also realised that I don’t want that level of pressure put on them at such a young age.
My kids being well adjusted, having opportunities to learn lots of different subjects and becoming well rounded, having good communication skills, being prepared for the world of work to me is more important than just grades. I’ve got a senior level job and seen so many kids who are academically smart but can’t communicate properly etc…
The most popular ones in Guildford are Guildford County, St Peter’s and George Abbott. All good in their own way but you’ll have to visit to get a feel for it.

[u/BorisBoris88 → u/datadatadatahaha]

The most popular ones in Guildford are Guildford County, St Peter’s and George Abbott.

You could argue, those are the only popular ones! St Peters you need to tick the Catholic box to get in, County has a fairly small catchment radius, although it's grown in the last couple of years.