Mumsnet Talk

Looking at transferring ds to the prep dept of one of the above for start of Y3, as quite underwhelmed with current state primary. Also have a younger dd so need to consider Merchants boys and girls.

Any feedback from current/ past parents would be appreciated- interested in atmosphere/ culture as well as academics!!

Thanks

Meant to say- we intend to keep them on into the senior dept of whichever school we go for.

I went to Stanfield and MTGS (quite some time ago!) and had a fantastic experience of school. I absolutely loved the place and still feel like I owe them a great deal for my excellent education.

Back then Stanfield in particular was not for the feint-hearted academically. The academic standards at Merchants are much higher than those at St Marys.

In my day it was driven home to us that we were very lucky to be there and if we didn't want to behave well enough/ work hard enough to be there then there were ten other children in a queue for our place who would. As a result the standards of behaviour and effort were incredibly high. I think in my whole time at MTGS I only ever saw one girl recieve an 'order mark' in class- and that was only for answering without putting her hand up. However, it did not by any means turn out robots. The school was definitely in the business of teaching girls to think critically and independently and was almost a bit feminist in it's advocacy of girls aiming high and becoming whoever they wanted to be.

Mind you, this was all in the day when there were many assissted places available so it was almost the case that anybody who was bright enough to benefit from the education could go there. I don't know if the culture has changed now. I have heard in passing that Stanfield especially has become a bit 'footballers' wives'.

My dd went to St Marys and left two years ago for a state 6th form college. We chose it as we wanted a mixed school and it had a good academic reputation at that time. We had high hopes when she started but found that she was not stretched academically and got bored. Worryingly visits to the senior staff : Head of Lower School, Head of Year and even the Head did not improve the situation. The pastoral care was good. Things may well have improved as the Head changed while my dd was there, though the numbers in the Senior School have fallen.

Similarly, I transferred my daughter, rather late in the day, during Year 5, to St Mary's Prep School (The Mount). I can't commend it highly enough. The whole prep. school care, ethos and academic achievement has been second to none. Mr Collins and the staff get it just right, with a lovely balance of good discipline, friendliness, and fun with a true family atmosphere. I think the The Mount is holding a prospective parents' visiting day fairly soon, but I know you can just make an appointment individually if you prefer and look round. My daughter has never looked back; several years on, she is now at St Mary's College and thriving academicaly, socially and in terms of the wider curriculum of music and sport. The college offers wonderful all round development and, as she said during the first days at The Mount "This school really makes me want to get out of bed in the mornings". That attitude has never changed and you can't get any more motivated than that! Best of luck to you and your girls.

Have since learnt what the abbreviations mean! Sorry for inadvertently feminising your ds, so that should read best of luck to you and your dd and ds! I am getting the hang of this now! x

Merchant Taylors was our first choice having done lots of research before making our final decision. We currently have one child in the junior school and one in the senior school who is dyslexic.
You must visit the junior school, Stanfield, and meet with Miss Yardley, the Headmistress, who is without out doubt the most positive and lovely lady you could wish to meet. She is full of enthusiasm which spreads all through the school. We visited on a day that was not specifically an open day (always a good ploy) and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. The most important thing was to see the girls themselves, busy working with obvious motivation, all of whom were happy to show us what they were doing unrehearsed!
Transition to the senior school was smooth and our daughter visited the building many times during year 6 to get to know her way around. She was well prepared for the entrance examination and we were given a good indication of her academic ability and how well she would cope alongside her peers given her dyslexia. We needn't have worried as since she transferred to the senior school she has thrived. She receives weekly support and all the staff, who are fully aware of her strength and weaknesses, have contributed to raising her self-esteem.
The school's academic reputation goes before it but we want far more than that for our girls. The single sex thing was a bonus for us although there are quite few opportunities for the girls to join the boys from down the road in extra curricular activities.
Any causes for concern have been quickly addressed and followed up quickly and we are always made to feel welcome when visiting the school.
Hope this all helps!
Regards

I wouldn't recommend the Merchant Taylors' Junior Boys School. The standard was poor and far too obsessed with sport to the detriment of everything else (Certainly no better than any local primary).Teaching materials were shabby, out-of-date or poor photocopies. If you have a bright child don't bother... buy plenty of books, if not try Kumon.

A lot of parents just put their child in for Year 6 - to be coached through the exam.

Do not underestimate St. Mary's College and The Mount. They have exceptionally high standards just as Merchants do, but St. Mary's provide a much warmer and caring environment. St. Mary's support all pupils, even those who are a risk of not getting the higher grades (Merchants I believe get rid of pupils who may not gain the higher grades, so they can remain top in the league tables.) St. Mary's also do very well in sports and have higher standards in music, providing every child with free 1-to-1 tuition in an instrument and work children through their grades.
My children are very high achievers. They used to be at Merchant Taylors' Schools - overall it was good. They are now at St. Mary's and The Mount - it is exceptional in every way.

St Mary's offers and delivers an exceptional all round education. My children have all been extremely happy both at The Mount and College and the school has managed to bring out their individual talents- not only academically but in sport and music in particular. The ethos of the school expects the children to achieve their potential academically and also helps each child to develop as an individual, think of others and prepares them incredibly well for their future. I cannot recommend St Mary's highly enough.

This is weird because having heard about both schools through reputation I understood the academic standards for Merchants was really high and lots of people were transferring from St. Mary's to Merchants. A lady told me the other day St. Mary's was struggling for numbers. I think her do had sat the exams for both.

All the 'St Mary's standards are just as high' comments have been made by people with dc at St Mary's. For their own reasons they must have selected against MTS/MTGS so they are not unbiased (although perfectly valid) opinions.

The academic standards at Merchants are higher, that cannot be disputed. Maybe the pastoral aspects of the schools are different and suit different types of dc. In my day you did need to be quite a confident sort to enjoy Merchants.

Yep. That's how I understood it EBDteacher.