Peter Symonds vs Barton Peveril - your opinions? (Hampshire)

[hampshiremum321]

My DD is not especially academic and wouldn't be looking to do A-levels - but Level 3 courses - Cambridge Technicals/BTECs - Applied Sciences / Health & Social Care. Been to open evenings at both and both look good. Travel time to both similar, number of pupils going to both from her secondary pretty evenly split.
Would love to know what people think!!

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I have no direct experience of either, but we looked around both for DD1 (she eventually went to Brock and that's a whole other story)
I do however know parents of kids who are either at or have just left both of these establishments.

PS is very big. You don't seem to get parents evenings unless they want to see you. Some issues with finding places to work unless you get there first thing. Seems to suit motivated DC who don't need chasing perhaps?

BP is slightly smaller. Pastorally possibly stronger if that is a need. Don't know who gets parents evenings.

The impression I had was that PS is a bigger step up from school than BP, so possibly better prep for uni, but possibly too big a step for some DC.

If not doing A levels I'd also look at Eastleigh College.

[hampshiremum321]

Thank you TeenPlusTwenties. We are also looking at Fareham College and South Downs college. It will be a choice between the 4, depending of course if she gets offers!
Any opinions on Fareham College/South Downs anyone?

[TeenPlusTwenties]

That's quite a range. have you considered Richard Taunton's?
(don't know anything about that one).

[hampshiremum321]

Richard Taunton is too far to travel to. Those 4 are the ones she can realistically get to. She wants to either do an Applied Science BTEC, or combine Applied Science with Health & Social Care (an option at BP & PS)

[Waitingaround]

Both are very good.
BP have parents evening for all who want it.
Which did your DD prefer?

[Lindor]

DD went to Barton, did well. Not much community feel. Lots of friends went to Peter Symonds and according to DD symonds is quite druggy.
( Obviously drugs are everywhere, but it seems worse at Symonds- wealthy kids maybe). Definitely better support at Barton. Symonds is more sink or swim.

[Fredericacaca]

DD is at PS and we looked around BP. It was definitely the more academic kids from her school who went to PS, but we would have been happy with either. Only one of her friends isn't taking A levels there.

The current year 12 has around 2400 whereas year 13 has around 1900 students. Class sizes are between 15-20 for most subjects. I'm not bothered about the last of parents evenings, as DD has no issues. Why waste time going to see a tutor for 5 minutes just to be told everything is fine? They definitely do step in if there are issues. The college acts like a stepping stone to university & DD definitely wasn't daunted at university open days this summer. However, this does mean they must be willing to take responsibility for their own work & not rely on others nagging them to meet deadlines.

DD has never had problems finding space to work, but she does struggle to find a plug sometimes. I strongly recommend Symonds for academic students, as DD has had so many opportunities to undertake projects relating to university applications. I'm genuinely not sure how good it would be though if you were taking a less traditional route.

[Fredericacaca]

Drugs - the kids from DD's secondary school who did drugs went to both Barton & Symonds. I can give you a list of names to avoid at both if you like!

[Boulshired]

We found the same that the academic students went to Peter Symonds but I cannot remember there being much difference in entry requirements. Looking at DS and his mates most have done what they would have expected from GCSES to a level/ BTEC irrespective of college. The exception being Fareham, some of his friends who struggled at school have done really well with level 3 qualifications at Fareham College.

[hampshiremum321]

Hi, thank you everyone for the responses - this has been really helpful!! Will be going to another PS open evening in a couple of weeks to speak about their new Level 3 Medical Science course and Health & Social care BTEC. We really liked Barton and will be going to South Downs open evening next month. We liked what we saw at Fareham too! Am wondering if PS will be a step too far for her though, as she is definately not one of the academic kids.....
Thanks again for the responses

[Waitingaround]

Both my children are equally academic.DS chose Symmonds and DD Barton, both did equally well and went on to their chosen Universities.