Mumsnet Talk

We have been thinking about moving to the Cheltenham area for a little while now and
have been thinking about sending our DS to either Richard Pate or St Edwards for year 3 entry. Can anyone tell me if they have had experience of this. Are these schools quite selective. Would we need to tuition for 7+ . Any other opionions on the schools will be gratefully appreciated.

bump

bump anyone

How about Cheltenham College junior school?

I don't know anything about tutoring for 7+ so hopefully someone else will come in to answer this for you. It's been 12 years since my DD was this age so things may have changed a bit but both are nice schools.

St Edwards is in a lovely location with wonderful facilities and goes all the way to 18 so DS would not have to move at 11 if you so chose. My neighbour's son teaches there. I've know lots of children who went there and all seemed happy. In my day it was known for NOT being very academic/high-pressure - it was more the school for children who wanted a 'broader' education but it could be very different now (I see they got 6 Oxbridge places this year) and I'm sure they do make the best of any high-fliers who come their way in any case.

Richard Pate is a very good school but much smaller and not in quite such a beautiful location. Only goes up to 11 so DS would need to move on. It used to be fiercely academic and probably still is. Gets lots of local scholarships and grammar places. My DD2 won one of the scholarships at 7+ but we preferred Berkhampstead (also worth a look? very happy school with good results, facilities not so good though) and she went on to Pate's Grammar (not really related to Richard Pate - excellent school - and free!)

Dean Close is another very nice independent school (3-18) in the area, well worth looking at? Wonderful facilities/music etc.

Do have a look at Berkhampstead school in Pitville. It is a truly fab and supportive environment where pupils really achieve well. Not pressurised but the vast majority of kids get grammar school places offered and they always get scholarships at 11 as pupils leave. Music and art are excellent there and there's lots of opportunity on the sports field too. My dcs are both starting there in September and have just had a great taster day

The daughter of a friend of mine did the 7+ exam and she did coach her at home. The main reason for this was that the exam was taken in October, if I remember correctly, and it included areas that may or many not have been covered on the curriculum. For example division, more times tables and telling the time. I am not sure about the english element. I suspect that you would need to go over a fews thing but if your DS is bright it shouldn't been too much work.

St Edwards is having a tough time at the moment - two students have died under tragic circumstances within the last year. Potential bullying issues there.

you surely don't mean the deaths are related to bullying do you?

Are you taking the p**s yogabird? Can't tell...

I think that was the suggestion, yes. Dreadful - two young people who took their own lives in pretty horrific ways.

I absolutely am not! I am shocked and horrified and amazed to read this.

I genuinely thought you meant that there was just a bit of a problem and you would reply along the lines of, 'no, of course not, it's just that my friend's ds was unhappy there and so he moved.'

I would have no idea about it since I live outside the area and didn't hear it reported. I would never think to make a joke about something so serious. I would imagine though, that if it were true, that there would've been an investigation and the school's anti-bullying policy would have been revised to reflect its findings.

We have a serious bullying issue at St Edwards against our daughter and would welcome hearing from anyone else experiencing past of present issues.

Dean Close and Cheltenham College are better schools than the ones mentioned. Pastoral care at the former is very high. I have three kids at DC and my sister as 1 kid at CC.

I live quite close to Dean Close. My DCs don't go there, but I have a friend whose DD is in their pre-prep and she (friend and DD actually) are very happy with it.

themoleman - get out of there now would be my honest advice. You would not be the only one to have had to do this in recent years.

Dean Close, Cheltenham College, Richard Pates and Berkhampsted are all very good schools, although RP and Berkhampsted both only go up to y6. Afaik none of them are ridiculously competitive as most tend to have been there from reception so it would likely be a case of which have places available.

I have had a terrible experience with St Edwards. Themoleman - would love to hear from you.

I know lots of people who have taken kids put of Berko and moved them to Dean Close. Regardig selectivity: none are so they let any ability in. Tests are merely for setting.

Looking at Deans Close for our DC but worried about the entrance exam, has anyone got any advice.