Baynes Family: May 2013

Off to London to scouts some schools

Off to London to look at two schools for Tatiana

Priorsfield

Priorsfield is an all girl school. We loved it, it's a school that empowers

girls to be girls. It's a small school and feels like a family

the cafeteria

This school wasnt as polished as Cranleigh. We did get toured by the school principle. I didnt take as many photos because I felt it was rude while she was showing us around. There are advantages and disadvantages to an all-girl school. This school was much more low key. Everyone was super
friendly. We got to walk into all the classrooms and meet the teachers, where at Cranleigh we werent allowed to disturb the class. There is a pool but there is no team she would have to go to either Charterhouse and use the pool or the local community pool, Tatiana would have to join the local swim team. They did have a theatre it was much smaller. I guess girls would play boy parts. They had a cooking class where Cranleigh had cooking as a weekend activity. They had a weekly sewing class, where Cranleigh had sewing as part of the fashion design class. They also had a recording studio and an amazing music center. This school was definitely geared towards girls. Not saying that girls should do all the cooking, cleaning and sewing but we all know it's who ends up doing it. She might as well know how to do it properly. This school is really geared towards the arts if your daughter is more academic she would probably go to Saint Catherines. Tatiana is not academic and definitely leans more towards the arts so this school is perfect.
They do dances with some of the local boys schools so there is interaction with boys.
I asked who are the boyfriends of the girls and they said the girls that come here that have brothers :)
Weekends: most girls go home. Tatiana is welcome to go with a friend for the weekend
(this is how they meet the brothers) or activites are provided.
In the dorm she would get her own room

Cranleigh school

We went school shopping for Tatiana

Cranleigh is one we might send her to

beautiful building

the chapel where there is worship every week

the gym

the study hall

the science room with our tour guide

where the girls sleep

the design studio

the art department

the fashion design department, you can see Tatiana was very excited

a recording studio in the music building

the lunch room

the cafe

there are two theatres this is the small one

the other theatre which is also used for exams

where the boys live

the stables

my father would have loved this school!

the theatre

the local town

for those of us who think there is never a blue sky in England

What we came away with...
Cranleigh is amazing no doubt about that. We didnt like the head master so much but he is retiring and we hear the next guy is fantastic. They have a hockey team that EVERYONE is expected to be a part of. The school sees this as a way to get to know each other. You compete against other schools it doesnt matter if you dont know how to play. Its all about teamwork. Tatiana didnt like this idea.
I thought all the boys were total gentlemen, I didnt see any couples (its not really allowed) Girls were doing their thing and boys theirs. There is a school swim team and the pool is right by the girls dorm.
The atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly.
There are speakers that come to the girls dorm. Lots of activities and charities.
Girls are assigned a big sister to help in the new year. lots of trips available. Its really endless what you can do here. Their motto is "a busy child is a healty child" and they do keep them busy.
This is going to be a tough decision.
Weekends: most girls go home. Tatiana is welcome to go with a friend or activites are provided.
In the dorm she would share a room