Mumsnet Talk

We are due to have a look at this school for our DD next week. I realise it's mixed ability and she is a A*/A pupil but as long as each child reaches their potential that is fine. Does anyone recommend it?

I don't want to slag off a school I know very little about. I live locally and have never met an LVS parent - which intrigues me. Those going private tend to use St. George's or Wellington. Don't know why.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/a1570918-Info-on-LVS-Ascot
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/a1574549-Lambrook-vs-LVS

These links to previous recent threads might be helpful.

I would choose somewhere else in this area.

We've chosen it because DD has decided on Photography and Computing at A level and it is very hard to find schools which do both. She would have to board. We'll be able to make an informed choice after our visit. We've also left it very late. If anyone knows anywhere else that does both subjects I'm still open minded. Many thanks.

My DS is in year 13 having joined at sixth form. We recently went to a year 7 talk for my DD and I was very impressed - several members of staff spoke, as did pupils, and it was much better than many of the more academic schools we'd visited. Yes, it does cater for mixed abilities but if you're bright, you'll do well anywhere. I know someone in year 12 doing photography who absolutely loves it. They have a wide range of subjects at A level, including BTec. The head of sixth form is very good and the facilities are fantastic (though he doesn't board and can't make full use of them eg pool). I think you'll be fine!

Many thanks for your first hand information. We've been for a visit, unfotunately on a Wed afternoon when everyone was doing sport and so we were unable to speak to any subject teachers. DD is keen so we shall return on the open day in March. Everyone seemed very friendly and positive.

When you visit, ask them how many left after GCSEs last year and where they went. My DS has friends there (or did, they all left). Anecdotally a lot left due to "a lot of good teachers leaving". I have no idea if that was the correct reason, but would be interesting to know how many stay on. My understanding is that it does very well bringing students on to GCSE, but not quite so well at A level. Most people I know speak very well of it - there is a lot of snobbishness due to it being non selective.

From what I've seen of sixth form, the subjects my DS takes, and end of term letters, there hasn't been a large number of teachers departing at all - just a few, as you would expect in any senior school.

I think it's very refreshing to have a non-selective school - especially if your DC isn't very academic. Having just been through 11+ with my second DC, I'm fed up with listening to schools bang on about A and A* and how many go to Oxbridge etc etc - life isn't like that for everyone so LVS is a refreshing change.