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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Anyone have children at Pate's Grammar in Cheltenham?

18 replies

SandyThumb · 15/02/2012 10:12

I've heard the Head Teacher is very good - and has done great things with the school? Is that true?

OP posts:

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busybee18 · 16/02/2012 18:56

You might get a better response from the Gloucestershire section of the ElevenPlus website.

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EvilTwins · 16/02/2012 21:36

I live in Cheltenham. Pate's has a great reputation, but is notoriously hard to get into - people from well outside Gloucestershire want their kids to go there. My DTDs are only in Yr 1, but I would be very happy indeed if they got into Pate's in a few years time.

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AnotherSurreyMum · 16/02/2012 21:56

The Head is leaving to head up Reigate Grammar in September isn't he?

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amarone · 16/02/2012 23:03

The Head, Shaun Fenton, has just been appointed new head of Reigate Grammar from September. Very exciting for RGS as he has an amazing track record!

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Luvvies · 16/02/2012 23:11

Heck, I have a DC at Pates and hadn't heard the head was leaving. Have just checked email comms from school - nothing - and my DC knows nothing either.
Hope its not true!

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amarone · 16/02/2012 23:23

Luvvies, I had a letter from the governors at RGS 2 days ago announcing the appointment of Shaun Fenton (is it Shaun?!) as the new head.
Can't believe they would not tell the parents at Pates first...
Is he good though...?

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Luvvies · 16/02/2012 23:34

I've just emailed to ask him. Definitely not heard anything here.

Yes I would say he is good, and is supported by excellent teaching staff. My DC kind of sits under the radar - does well, behaves, so we actually have very little to do with the school. And he's happy with it like that. There is a lot of talk about the Pates "family" and we've yet to see that in action - not convinced that anyone there really "knows" our child, after 2.5 years, but our comparison is a small prep where DC was very well known, and our other DC is at independent senior school, where we know the staff and school extremely well and have a lot of contact.

So while I don't really know the Head personally, I have absolutely no complaints about Mr Fenton and will be sorry to see him go. The school's exceptional results speak for themselves.

And a bit miffed I found out on MN! (And that I may now have to explain to him how I found out)

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Luvvies · 16/02/2012 23:38

And he's happy with it like that
I meant my DC is happy, not Mr Fenton!

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amarone · 16/02/2012 23:59

I do think it's quite astonishing that you have not been told that he's leaving...!

We're all excited because the current head resigned months ago, and we've been in limbo.

It will be interesting to see what Mr F does though, as RGS is an independent school, as opposed to state grammar. Briefly saw some article quoting him saying that children from state sector should have priority to good unis...?

Maybe they should, but not sure how that opinion will sit with the board...

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amarone · 17/02/2012 00:19

Just had another thought... While I don't have any DCs at RGS yet; they are all at the junior school, RSM.
It's small, 300 pupils across KG - Yr 6, and 'family values' are rammed down our throats, but I see little of it personally...
RGS is a big school so I wonder how he's going to instil those values...

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AnotherSurreyMum · 17/02/2012 16:04

Luvvies - I had the same letter, so it's definitely happening!

I suspect RGS is quick off the mark in announcing it as they will be making offers this week, and they will want prospective parents to feel positive about the future of the school.

I have one child at RGS, and we are extremely happy with the school, but I know that most of the parents will be delighted with this news. A new head will always bring a fresh perspective and a drive for further improvement. RGS is already an excellent school, but I expect we will see even greater things from it in the future

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capers123 · 17/02/2012 16:30

RGS was a state grammar back in my day - I had the option of going there but chose another local Grammar instead. Perhaps RGS is going to go down the Academy or Free School route (as some excellent privates in Bristol have done) - they can still accept donations from a foundation. Pate's does that very thing, their income is boosted considerably by the Richard Pate Foundation (which also runs a private prep school); they even share a Bursary department. There is not automatic progression from one school to the other - entry to Pate's is by the same 11+ that our other grammars in Gloucestershire use.

So just think - Reigate St. Mary's stays private, RGS goes state. Interesting idea.

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capers123 · 17/02/2012 16:34

As a matter of interest, how selective is RGS now? It went 'private' in '76, when all the grammars were axed in Surrey but allowed the exisiting pupils to stay on free whilst also admitting extra fee-paying pupils. I know some of these new children had failed the 11+ and were academically average.

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AnotherSurreyMum · 17/02/2012 16:35

capers - I'd be surprised, but it's an interesting idea, and financially for us, a dream come true (So long as they don't do it until DS2 has had a chance to get in) !!!

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LIZS · 17/02/2012 16:37

Now very selective. Has an intake at 11+ from state schools but vast majority are from local private schools now at 11+ and 13+. RSM only became formally associated with RGS about 5/6 years ago.

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Luvvies · 17/02/2012 16:39

We have now had an email from Mr Fenton. In which he says he wanted to wait to tell people in person on Monday but us aware the news has made it to the Internet.
RGS gains then. Pates has such an excellent reputation I am sure it will attract someone good.

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AnotherSurreyMum · 17/02/2012 16:44

According to its own admission information, RGS is 'academically selective' but not 'excessively' so.
As with all independents it has to ride a fine line between getting enough students to pay fees, and keeping standards up.

It is not nearly as academic as RGS Guildford for example.
In the last couple of years at our prep there have always been a handful of children who have not got into Reigate Grammar, but have gained places at Caterham. Last year there was a supposed 5% difference in the entrance exam threshold between the two, but I expect this might have narrowed this year as Caterham has gained in popularity.

RGS doesn't automatically take the 'top 120' in the entrance exam for exam.
If a child doesn't reach the % pass rate then they're not usually offered a place, unless they have done unexpectedly badly in the exam, and their current school report and interview suggest that they are, in fact, a suitable candidate.