Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

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

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

Secondary education

Queen Ethelburga's (York) or Christ College (Brecon)

18 replies

greenmile123 · 02/12/2015 04:21

My daughter will be starting sixth form next year (Sept 2016) and she has received offers from these two colleges. We would like some comments on the two schools. We're more concerned on the academic side, whether the schools offer appropriate support to assist her in getting into Medicine. Of course, pastoral care and the group of people chose to attend the school matters as well. I would really appreciate if you guys could give me an honest opinion on the two schools, good or bad.

Thanks in advance!!

OP posts:

Report

PotteringAlong · 02/12/2015 04:49

There are long threads around if you search for them saying don't touch queen ethelburgha's with a bargepole...

greenmile123 · 02/12/2015 07:41

Yeah, I've looked but it hasn't been very constructive criticism? They've mostly been just 'don't go there, go to this one because of x x and x'

OP posts:

AnotherNewt · 02/12/2015 08:06

They're quite a long way from each other, aren't they, so although travel is less of an issue for a sixth former, do think about exeats and events and the journey required.

Also, look at what subjects your DD wants to do. Will she definitely be joining the school at QE, not the faculty, in which case their highest results are maths and languages. Check the other sciences (both schools) and how many go to medical school annually.

Otherwise, it's a case of looking where your DD thinks she will fit in best. She won't flourish in a boarding school if she is not happy there.

meditrina · 02/12/2015 08:10

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-34792452

The thread about the arrest and bailing of the owner/provost was deleted.

The suspicion of voyeurism about someone who lived on site would concern me. I would ask the school about the number of CCTV cameras they have, and where they are sites. This is also sensible to ask of any school you are considering. I believe there are quite striking differences in extent of use between schools across the country as a whole.

talkinnpeace · 02/12/2015 09:17

greenmile
There is one very long thread about QE that you can read the bulk of.
Dozens and dozens before it were deleted because QE have a very active legal team.

Interesting that other name schools do not feel the need to have such.

I know nothing about QE directly (live in the south and could never afford boarding) but their actions are unusual to say the least.

The business structure of the school is unusual as well.

NWgirls · 02/12/2015 09:52

I really hope accusations eventually are proven wrong. It could all be based on false accusations. In the meantime it seems sensible to gather as much information as possible for anyone considering the school for their child.

Emergency inspection reports by ISI are worth reading carefully. (What is an appropriate number of cctv cameras for a boarding school?!)

Google News searches are helpful.

Even the recently updated safeguarding policy on their website makes it clear that the safeguarding is overseen by the Proprietor who (unlike other parties described) is not named in the policy document, but can inspect records etc - see towards the end of the document.

Apparent family relationship between former and current chair. Is the accused actually the beneficial owner, I wonder? (Any reason to think a potential whistleblower would not risk their job, i.e. strong incentive to keep quiet if they suspect something?)

Extraordinary letter to leavers which reads like "we can help you if you ever get into trouble but don't forget that we have great lawyers and power if you ever try to cause trouble for us"

History of reputation management by legal means including threats towards MN posters and possibly MN itself. (It could perhaps be helpful id MN can deny this, but threads keep disappearing)

Buyer beware.

The above are some of my observations and speculations from a distance. I have no inside knowledge or relationship to anyone involved and no desire to be sued but what I have seen gives me reason to feel uncertain.

Not sure how long this thread will last, but I hope MN will see the public interest for parents in legitimate questions being asked. I hope the school is much more open with parents with children at the school than it appears to be with the world generally.

(Insert bulletproof legal disclaimer here)

talkinnpeace · 02/12/2015 10:24

NWGirls
I was one of the recipients of the threats - I have the whole lot stored on my hard drive.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/12/2015 10:26

700 CCTV cameras on site - I think that one fact would decide things for me. Search for the most recent inspection report on QE, OP. It's all in there.

TheSecondOfHerName · 02/12/2015 10:32

Read the ISI report on QE. And/or the news.

NWgirls · 02/12/2015 10:53

talkinnpeace

Yes, your past posts have not gone unnoticed - and you can take my imitation as (deserved) flattery in that I have a good chunk of the very recently deleted thread saved myself...

didofido · 02/12/2015 11:57

I can't imagine why anyone who has been reading MN Education for any length of time would even consider QE. If only 25% of the observations are well founded (& no doubt it's a lot more than that) it would be a definite 'No No' for me.

greenmile123 · 02/12/2015 14:00

Thank you very much. I really appreciate all your comments. From this thread I think I can say no for QE. What about Christ College? Anyone have any comments on that?

OP posts:

didofido · 03/12/2015 06:08

I've only seen Christ College from the outside - used to work in Brecon - but they seem pleasant, polite kids. Sorry I can't be more helpful

happygardening · 03/12/2015 07:49

OP did you look round Christ Church before you applied? What did you like about it? Why are you hesitating now to accept the place having ruled out QE? Is something bothering you? Are you looking for full boarding? Do you have other options? I've never heard of Christ Church till I saw you're thread but am wondering why you're seem to be hesitating especially if this is you're only option, and perhaps stating you concerns/likes might help you decide.

happygardening · 03/12/2015 07:50

Sorry Christ College not Christ Church my DN is at Christ Church.

poocatcherchampion · 03/12/2015 08:09

I went to Christ college and loved it!

I'll write more in a sec but feel free to pm if thread goes poof!

poocatcherchampion · 03/12/2015 08:46

OK, I left a little while ago 15 years what!! but I loved it. Fwiw I transferred from Monmouth girls and it was the best thing my parents ever did. Girls school -> mixed school.

Pastoral care was outstanding and it is a proper boarding school so loads of activities evenings and weekends.

I was encouraged to apply for Oxbridge and there was support to do so, I decided not to as my subject there wasnt what I wanted so went to another red brick with great grades.

I think there has been a massive increase in good exam results since I left - when I arrived they were good but the school was shrugging off an old rugby school image to be a bit more all rounder

I loved it. Best years of my life

greenmile123 · 14/12/2015 02:49

Oh wow! 15 years ago!! Yeah the results are pretty good, especially in the Science department (which is great because my daughter wants to do medicine).

Would you know how I could find out more about what people who have just left the school thinks about it?

Thanks for the help!!! Really appreciate it :)

OP posts:

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.