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The Cotswold School or Chipping Norton School?

20 replies

Whojamaflip · 29/08/2013 04:34

Just when I have finished with the angst that was choosing primary schools I'm now faced with sorting out which secondary for my ds.

Narrowed it down to the Cotswold School or Chipping Norton School but am now stuck.

ds is middle of the road, hard working and reasonably bright but not outstanding. he loves sport, science and is also interested in choir and music.

Has anyone any experience of either school? I have heard good and bad about both and am totally confused.Confused

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Whojamaflip · 29/08/2013 09:13

bump

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lostintoys · 31/08/2013 20:18

I've heard good and bad about both, but recently I've heard a lot more positive things about Chipping Norton, from people whose opinions I respect.

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HepsibarCrinkletoes · 31/08/2013 20:23

Chippy, definitely. My lot are/were at Burford which is brillant, but a lot their close friends have been/are at Chippy and I've only ever heard great things from the children and their parents. They know a few at Cotswold but I've not heard such massive praise abou there.

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lade · 31/08/2013 21:04

Hepsibar

We're at the stage of looking at secondaries and have the choice of Burford or Farmors. Would be interested in knowing more about Burford. What would you particularly recommend it for? Would you consider it over Farmors (our catchment school)?

Sorry for the hijack Blush

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HepsibarCrinkletoes · 31/08/2013 22:08

I don't know a great deal about Farmors tbh, but I can only sing Burford's praises with gusto. DD1 left last year and has just finished her first year at Bristol. DD2 has just left having done astonishingly well in her A levels (well enough in fact to be mentioned in Burford's press release for her results, TOTAL non stealth boast!). DS is starting in year 12 having done well in his GCSEs - he is in no way an academic like his sisters, but the school have really nurtured him, both academically and with his sports (sport is his strength), and he is really looking forward to his last couple of years there.

They are strong with sport, science and technology in particular, but my three are all keen historians and geographers, where they've really thrived under the staff and their great teaching.

I genuinely love ALL of their friends, both their close ones and the periphery; I feel Burford works brilliantly alongside parents in turning out smart, decent and hard working young adults. The pastoral care, I think, is fantastic - their father died last year and the support we had from the school was outstanding.

Do PM me if you want a child's view of it - all three would be very happy to tell you their experiences and thoughts. I couldn't have picked a better school for my older three children (I have a four year old too), and I know that they have been incredibly happy there.

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Whojamaflip · 31/08/2013 22:17

oh help Confused

so far I have heard that chippy school is not so great when dealing with bullying and that they don't push kids to be the best they can.

Cotswold on the other hand apparently aren't interested in a child who is not academically brilliant or who needs a bit if extra help.

I have friends with children at both schools and they either love them or hate them with a passion.

I am planning on visiting both - what questions should I be asking?

sorry for being so wet but compared to this, primary was easy Blush

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Whojamaflip · 31/08/2013 22:18

burford sounds fantastic BTW but unfortunately would be a logistical nightmare to get ds there.

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TCOB · 31/08/2013 22:21

Cotswolds is utterly amazing - yes, will make your child be all they can be and no excuses - but superb and with an amazing, vigorous Head. And actually harsh but fair with pupils of all abilities.

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TCOB · 31/08/2013 22:23

When visiting though push on how selective they are becoming re A level selection; seems to be getting v tough.

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HepsibarCrinkletoes · 31/08/2013 22:34

I agree with TCOB on the A level selection at Cotswold. Like Burford, they are getting tough - they can afford to. A couple of DS's good chums have got in to Cotswold for VI form, but some didn't and have had a bit of a shock.

Schools and logistical nightmare journeys are no fun, I totally understand that. Good luck with it all, I agree primary is a doddle in comparison!

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BikeRunSki · 31/08/2013 22:40

Whojamaflip DH went to Cotswold (admittedly he left 20 years ago) and could be described in exactly the same way you have described your DS. He loved the sporting facilities, and the school helped him get better A level results than he or anyone else expected. BiL is a very different person indeed to DH, also went to Cotswold and MiL has always described the school in a similar way to TCOB, so that "philosophy" is clearly well established in the school.

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Lotkinsgonecurly · 10/09/2013 23:00

We have this dilemma soon and will be going to the open days. However I've only heard bad reports about chippy, little positive. But all the children of friends that I've known go there are lovely, we'll rounded and praise the school. Guess we will be open minded until the open days.

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Lotkinsgonecurly · 10/09/2013 23:01

Meant to add, currently everyone raves about cotswold.

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Rabbbit · 20/10/2013 14:33

Im a student in the chipping norton sixth form and have been at the school from yr7-yr13.
In my lower years, i would have praised the school highly. But now i have grow up and consider myself more of an adult, i have slowly grown to see what the school is really like.
The pastoral care they provide for a lot of the more challenged pupils is great, but for toughs who only struggle a bit will quickly fall noticed and be branded as a low achiever. never to be pushed to do the most they can.
They Failed to detect my dyslexia completely, it was only until i had to take night classes at collage to re sit my English gcse, that people there paid and sent me for a test.
On the point of bullying, yes it dose go on, nothing extreme, but it dose happen. Ive only known the school to really crack down on things when its comes from somebody in a higher year, pupils picking on other pupils in there own year, is normally seen as people falling out.
In my opinion the schools pupils are going down hill fast, i remember whe i was in yr 7 ,fearing, but respecting older students and teachers, now it seems that that changed, now as a sixth former i regularly get shouted at and disrespected by much younger pupils, knowing full well that if i did any thing in retaliation i would be cast out as a ''bully''.
And unfortunately there are many small children here that you would not want your children be socializing with.
If you have any questions feel free to message me :)

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grovel · 20/10/2013 16:10

Choose the one David Cameron won't be sending his kids to.

As if.

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GardenPath · 11/11/2013 00:01

As I understand, (I had a child there) Chipping Norton Sixth Form 2nd year A level is down to 40 students (as from Autumn Term 2013) from the original intake (Autumn 2012) of 130. 90 students were not deemed suitable (by the school) to continue into the second year and had their places withdrawn or were told to leave, either to continue elsewhere or make other arrangements. Also, my understanding is, the school is not obliged to count this first year failure rate in it's statistics when trying to attract intake, only the success rate in the second year which, having weeded out those students likely to lower the figures, is bound to look extremely favourable for the school. This has resulted in those 90 students, over two thirds, being failed by the school and the educational system and in having wasted an important year of their educational life.

I accept there are bound to be a few children who, for whatever reason, do not go on to a second year, but this is a huge number if the figures are correct (and, admittedly, I was told by another parent and have not verified myself) I can still hardly believe this can be allowed to happen to our kids, am I missing something, or am I but a lowly, confused parent and not supposed to understand? Are there any teachers or less confused parents out there who could enlighten me on this?
AIBU to think we should demand better than this shoddy treatment for our children?

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roguedad · 02/03/2014 17:43

I was really impressed with the Head of Cotswold and his team at an Open Evening. He seemed to get it that schools really need to focus on delivering academic performance. I was shown around by a very helpful 6th former applying to LSE, and remember several things beyond its languages and science focus - It has a good new maths dept with a ethos of getting the kids doing the national competitions, some amazing art and a kitchen for cookery classes that looked really serious. A swimming pool on site as well. Just hope we get it in tomorrow's allocations. I don't know Chippy so could not comment.

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andreaDono · 04/04/2014 19:26

Chosing the secondary is so stressful. We are in the process of deciding between Cotswold and Farmor's Schools. Really can't decide! We like Cotswold better however our DS has a couple of good friends that are going to Farmor's so he would prefer Farmor's for that reason. What to do???

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FatMumSlim72 · 23/07/2014 14:15

Cotswold or Chippy for sixth form? DD VERY hard working and high achiever. Live nearer Chippy.
Socially Chippy - but should we go with league tables and academic performance of Cotswold??!?! Any help gratefully received :)

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NewYearDear · 15/10/2021 21:57

Anyone have any up to date feels on these two schools? Thanks!

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