Bearwood College Wokingham

[San1211]

I am moved in the earley area in Wokingham. I am looking for a private school in the area. Visited Bearwood College. The schools looks very good but looked the A level and GCSC results and it was very disappointing and worse than comprehensive schools in the area. Any body has any idea about the school ?

[Inclusionist]

Historically very weak academically. Beautiful though!

Maybe have a look at Leighton Park or St Josephs? Bradfield is also lovely but may be a little far.

Assuming you want co-ed there. If girls, The Abbey has a formidable academic reputation and Queen Annes know for good all round standards.

[San1211]

Thanks Inclusionist.. Had been to St Josephs as well. Looks better than Bearwood but some public schools and comprehensive schools in the area look better.
I am looking for Co-ed and my DS will start reception so Abbey is not an option. Will look at some of the other ones you have suggested.

[alemci]

looked a lovely setting for a school. one of my friends dd went there and her dh is staff.

[Inclusionist]

If your DS is that little I would recommend looking at Lambrook for him. My DS will be starting there in Sept 2014 and I did a LOT of local research. How old are your others?

Maybe Lambrook - Wellington (DH used to work at Wellington, I can vouch for the education) then they are all going the same way?

[San1211]

Hi Inclusionist .. My son will be starting receptions on 2014 as well. He is the only one at the moment. I am slightly scared of sending him to a school which is far from home as pick and drop will become a challenge. How far is lambrook for you? are you not concerned about the school run?

[Inclusionist]

At the moment Lambrook is 30mins from us but we will be moving in January to a new build on the edge of Bracknell that is less than 10mins door to door.

That said, if we were not moving I would still use Lambrook. It is really lovely. The longer school run wouldn't be ideal but I personally would consider it worth it.

There is a school bus from Hare Hatch on the A4 if that would help you out?

[Milliways]

Apparently Bearwood does OK if you look at the British kids alone. It used to have a lot of foreign student with English as second language that skewed the results - but that may not be so true now.

Have you looked at Crossfields?

[San1211]

Inclusionist - yes if the school is far a school bus will definitely help but that comes with extra cost and also fixed times.

Milliways - Crossfield is the list for next open day visit. For schools who have GCSE and A level results you can easily find the information and see how they do academically but for prep schools which are mostly till year 6 or 8. How do you find how good they are ?

[Inclusionist]

You just have to look at the leavers' destinations San. See how many get into the good/ selective senior schools and whether they feed the type of senior school you think you might want.

For example, if you think you might want Reading Boys do they regularly get children in? We might want RGS/ Hampton/ Eton/ Millfield etc so I would be looking for schools that send some boys to each of those every year.

If the school don't put exact details of leavers' destinations on the website ask for them.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

One of DDs friends went there. She is very dyslexic and I believe they have special provision for this. Might that be another reason for the poorer results?

[FayeKorgasm]

My son went to Leighton Park and loved it. I was very happy too. There was a school bus that collected and picked up from Wokingham which was very useful. I'm sure it is still available.

He has now graduated with a good degree from a great university and working.

Good luck with your decision.

[Dontletthemgetyoudown]

Dd starts at Abbey in September. I looked at lots of schools as we are moving from a good state school to fee paying. Dd will be joining yr 3 which we felt was a good time to move.

Ds2 will be starting Reading boys. We are really pleased that he got in, although had a place for Blue coats that is walkable/bikeable from where we live.

Crosfield looked good and was on the short list we have several friends with children at Crosfield. They all recommend it highly.

[BlackBorderBinLiner]

Ideal for the nice but dim child, lots of overseas students. Rolls have fallen and staff that have left have not been replaced.

Lots of options in the area and lots of the state schools are excellent.

[San1211]

Thanks all you for your help... will keep researching

[encyclogirl]

Dh went there, said it was lovely but no encouragement to achieve whatsoever in his day. He left in 1987 though.

[Tiredbutstillwithapulse]

My son goes to Bearwood College and I must say I've been delighted. Yes, the results are low and yes, they have more than average amounts of children with learning difficulties (which I suspect impacts on the results but looking at the added value they give to those children, the learning support team must do a good job) but they've also got A star students, just not as many as some other places. I think they ' turn out' people with good social skills, lots of experiences above and beyond some other schools and a close 'family feel' throughout the school. It certainly suits my son, as his results are testament to.

[Tiredbutstillwithapulse]

My son goes to Bearwood College and I must say I've been delighted. Yes, the results are low and yes, they have more than average amounts of children with learning difficulties (which I suspect impacts on the results but looking at the added value they give to those children, the learning support team must do a good job) but they've also got A star students, just not as many as some other places. I think they ' turn out' people with good social skills, lots of experiences above and beyond some other schools and a close 'family feel' throughout the school. It certainly suits my son, as his results are testament to.

[TVV989W]

If your child has any special educational needs, DON'T considder Bearwood. "We are a selective school and we do not support any special educational needs - except dyslexia". Communications are erratic and you are kept away from your child class teacher - just 15 mins in nearly a term for target setting.

[Tiredbutstillwithapulse]

Everyone has different opinions but my experience is anything other than the one highlighted above. Three full written reports a year, a target setting meeting which you have your input into and two parents' evenings and every chance to see your child's teachers if you want to. Every fortnight they send out a magazine about everything that has happened that week and they have two online accounts too. If anything I get too much information!

[m00ncake]

I completly agree with TVV989W. The new regime has NO interest in children with special educational needs as it does not fit their business model. They have said it enough times "we are a selective school" and they intend to make life uncomfortable for any child that does not fit their criteria.
Since Reddam took over they have become less transparent and the parents made to feel unwelcome in the school.

[stepitup05]

I agree with Tiredbutstillwithapulse. I have only just registered my daughter but communications are great so far plus the app which holds all info helps a lot.

[schooling101]

Reddam House/Bearwood College....please read the small print when happily receiving your bursary/scholarship... you leave half way through, you have to pay it back!!! It is not all it claims to be... when a school has to hand out 100% scholarships left right and centre, you MUST always ask WHY? You'd never catch your good schools doing that!! White Hose did it - they shut; Waverley did it - they almost shut. They are not selective (YET!), they cannot afford to be!!
What was a great school for children who struggled academically has let itself down in a huge way. ~As a parent there, you have to find the best in it, as you are now stuck there. There business strategy seems underhanded... on a visit there or I heard was how bad their competition was; all that made me do was want to test out their competition... which I found to be more honest and not a whisper of other schools in the area!!
When more than half of the pupil body left following their GCSEs this year - Need I say more?
LOOK BEYOND THE IKEA FURNITURE AND NICE LOOKING BOOKS - those are not the substance of any school.

[colander1]

Schooling101 - that's dreadful! I hope you aren't stuck there. I'm very disappointed to hear they are talking about their competition that way that is incredibly unprofessional.
I wonder how long they will stay open? Someone told me they only have about 4 girls in year 7!

[Tiredbutstillwithapulse]

Hi Schooling101, You appear to be very angry. Presumably you are one of the few who got an academic scholarship? Although I'm confused whether this is the case because you are concerned that the school no longer caters for those who struggle academically? ( although I see no evidence of this being the case in my child's class) If you did get a scholarship did you not read the fine print before you signed it or question it with the school? If not, do you know this for sure or are you relying on hearsay? Are you angry that your scholarship wasn't 100%? Have you approached the school with your concerns? If you're a current parent, you'll have got the same survey I did - if you've got concerns of this magnitude, surely you'll have made an appointment to see the Head?
I'm going to email the Head now and ask about the conditions for scholarships. I'll update when I heard back. I'll also ask about entrance testing.
I am a parent there now. I am far from "stuck with it". I have experienced Reddam House for nearly a term and I am impressed. Is there still work to do? Yes. Am I impressed by the education my child is getting? Yes. Do I think that the teachers are doing a good job? Yes. Is my child happy and learning? Yes.
I can't comment on what you allegedly heard on a visit. I wasn't there. But who have you complained to about this at the school if this was in fact the case? Were you visiting to decide on whether to join? If so, why did you if you feel so negatively about it now?
As an ex-Bearwood College parent, I know that staying during the transition was a tricky decision. I know some did not stay. Some did not think an increasingly academic school was the right place for their child.
The difference between the competitor schools you mention as having difficulties is that they were one-offs. Reddam House is part of a much bigger, international group. They also own the site and have invested heavily in it. Which business model would invest millions not to see it work?
You are completely right in regard to furniture and nice looking books. These are the last thing on my mind when choosing a school. I value the impact the school has on my child higher every day. For us personally, Reddam House has been great.
I am sorry you are having a bad experience at Reddam House, if you are a current parent. Please do share the views you express above with the Head. Without doing so, or saying so on the parental questionnaire, how can they address your concerns when you say you feel 'stuck with it?'

[stepitup05]

If I was starting up a school like this, I would do exactly what Reddam House have done. I would offer scholarships to children with talent which would give good results at the end of term . Plus fantastic performances, and winning sports teams. I think it is genius and what is wrong with boosting the pool of talent. They had to start somewhere. The children in my daughter's class are of all abilities but I feel my daughter's needs (above average but not outstanding ) are being met. I cannot speak for other children. I notice that they dont take kindly to bad behaviour and take action, which is how it should be. My daughter is happy at school and never complains about going. She is doing well in tests which monitor the children's progress on a regular basis but not breaking the barriers, so she is obviously still being challenged. I agree that the school is a work in progress, but they have a tried and tested formula. They know what they are doing. When I was shown around, no one criticised other schools, in fact, one school, up the road, was given praise. I like the school and the general ethos, I think anyone receiving a scholarship is very lucky, but if you decide to accept such a great offer, you should always read the small print.