Ripon Grammar

[OVienna]

North Yorkshire Mumsnetters - I am determined to shake you down!

There must be more people on here who have/have recently had DCs at Ripon Grammar. I was shocked at how few threads there are on the school.

Can you tell me a bit more about it? DD is taking the test in September. We are relocating to the area...have some flexibility on where we end up living but this is the school that appeals to us most.

Am interested in everything - the good, the bad, the indifferent. I know the head's been there for a while and I'm curious whether he's entering the retirement era. I am keen to avoid rose tinted glass syndrome.

Can anyone tell me about their DCs experience there?

TIA

[OVienna]

(Whistles)
(Is disappointed!)

[Justalittlebitblondie]

Hate to see this unanswered - though my experience may be a little out of date...

It is a genuinely good school - the children who leave are friendly, outgoing and confident and they do get consistently good exam results. It is a grammar so the entry is self selecting but they also get good added value but it is probably also not truly diverse as it is selective...

My suggestion is to go and see, have a look around and see what you think but also have a plan b - where would you feel comfortable going if they don't pass the tests...

[amybear2]

I have 2 children currently there, and one who finished a couple of years ago.
I have found it a very caring supportive school who go to pains to acknowledge effort as well as grades.
The head teacher is a nice, down to earth, family man who seems to know most of the kids names.
The facilities have improved a heck of a lot in the last ten years recent years- new huge sports hall, climbing wall, music block, 2 large classroom blocks, sixth form centre astroturf pitch.

[OVienna]

Thanks so much both for your answer.

I have a couple of other questions (which may be better directed to Amy since she has current students there). What about catchment areas - we are going to be moving; if DD passes the benchmark at Ripon we will be focusing there. Do you think we really need to be living in the city, as close to the school as physically possible, to be assured of getting a place? I was told that this wasn't necessary but the last thing I want to be doing is moving hundreds of miles and finding out we'd screwed up at the last minute when we could just have focused our search there. I would be curious to know how much flexibility you thought we had in this regard. Is 1 mile away okay, but not five? I know there is no gaurantee either way....

Also, I will be looking for a primary school for DC2. I have had a look at the OFSTED reports of some of the ones actually in Ripon (with help from Locrating) and there seem to be a number in Ripon in the Needs to Improve or even Special Measures categories...I'd appreciate a view on the ground on this situation...

[MarvellousMarbles]

I think you can look on the North Yorkshire secondary school information page and see how far away the furthest child admitted to the school lived in the last admissions year, which tends to help give a guide.

I believe you're fairly safe of getting a place if you live in any of the villages around Ripon (and pass the exam obvs) - no need to live right in Ripon.

Many people seem to live in the villages between Ripon and Harrogate and do primary in Harrogate, then Ripon Grammar School.