Grammar schools vs Hillingdon state secondary schools

[Beth1234]

Hi mothers,

Am in need of desperate advise as you will understand shortly.

I need advise on Swakeley school for girls, Ruislip high, etc., and which secondary schools (non - Catholic as we are not strict Christians) in Hillingdon would anyone recommend please.

DH and I (are) were looking to move near Dr Challenor's high school (for girls) in the hope that both my girls would get amazing secondary education. We were to put our current house (in Hillingdon borough) in the market when we met a lady yesterday who completely gave us an opposite view of what we originally thought.

Of course, Dr Challenor's has a fantastic reputation (or so I thought) until this lady mentioned that she and her daughter (14 yo) have had terrible experience with that school and are now looking to move on. In fact the impact on both has been so bad, that they are not even willing to try Chesham grammar and are solely looking to move private.

She also mentioned, there is ample of bullying in that school, with girls self harming and into drugs and the tutors have no care in the world. They are not interested also in making a child understand work that they otherwise do not. Apparently the school is n trouble due to limited funds and the headmaster has recently resigned as such.

Apologies for this very long msg but as we cannot afford private and are not strict catholics, we thought this would be the best option, but just by hearing his one experience we are a bit shook up.

Any advise will help.

Many thanks,
Beth x

[GobOnStick]

Hi.
Swakeleys has a good reputation with good results. Vyners is also really good and improving all the time - small catchment area. Ideally Bishop Ramsey, but if you don't go to church, you don't have much chance.
My DD goes to Beaconsfield High School which I felt was more friendly and less pressured than Dr Challoners. We would have also considered Chesham, but couldn't move in time, although several commute from Uxb to Chesham every day.
All schools will have an element of bullying so you have to look at the other things it offers.
You don't say which part of Hillingdon you're in, but there is a bus from Uxbridge which the Beaconsfield High girls catch. There are a number who travel every day.
I hope this has been helpful. :)

[playbox]

Swakleys did wonders for my daughters confidence she now at uni. I worried about bullying as she had been a target at primary but it never happened. Staff were very caring.

[pll66]

My daughter is hoping to get a place at Swakeleys (we find out on Monday), it is very good and I think most of the girls in DD's year want to go there. She had to do a banding test.

[Killasandra]

They're all very different schools. So it depends what you're looking for.

I've heard loads of good things about Swakeleys but didn't consider it because I don't like single sex schools.

I very much like ruislip high.

I love Harefield academy.

I've heard loads of bad things about vyners and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

My 3 go to 3 diff schools, because they're diff kids. All of which I'm happy with.

If you like grammar schools investigate Langley grammar and Herschel grammar.

Bucks is a very affluent area and Beaconsfield high and dr challoners represent all that. Which I didn't want.

Basically it comes down to what you want. Do you want a mixed environment? An affluent environment? Lots of music? Lots of expensive school trips? No expensive school trips? Lots of sport?

Mostly the results are all the same once you've adjusted for the cohort. Ie your DDs will probably get the same grades whatever school they go to.

[hillingdonmum]

my daughter is at swakeleys. I think the school is very good. we have had no problems. my daughter has low confidence in herself and a real worrier but the school are great with her. I cant imagine her anywhere else to be honest.

[Beth1234]

Hi lovely ladies,

Thank you so much for the feedback. Really helps.

Hi Gobonstick - I thought it's very hard to get into beaconsfield high if you don't live in the catchment area? We currently live in Ruislip - still 50/50 on whether to stay on leave. x

HI Hillingdonmon - that's great to hear - def makes me feel great about the fact that we are currently in Hillingdon.x

Hi Playbox - do they give the option of 3 sciences please as my daughter is looking to have a science education? Also, out of curiosity, what is she studying in Uni? Also, how much do they assist with preparation for Oxbridge uni's / russell group of uni's?x

Hi Killasandra - many thanks for your advise. How much doesRuislip high assist with russell group of uni's?x

Hi P1166 - did your child get into Swakelelys? Good luck!x

Any more information, views, thoughts etc will most def assist.

Thanks so much and really soory it's taken me forever to respond. xo

Lot's of love,

Beth. xo