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Secondary education

Maidstone grammar schools

12 replies

pchick · 15/10/2010 19:23

Has anyone got any opinion about MGS and Oakwood, both positive and negative?

OP posts:
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IloveJudgeJudy · 15/10/2010 19:57

MGS is quite "old school" and very strict about uniform. My DS (not at either school, but knows people there) tells me that the Y7s at MGS are not treated well by the older boys.

Oakwood is smaller and not so strict about uniform. A few friends' DC go there and are doing well.

I think you have to go with your instinct. I know that MGS had quite a high 11+ score as their benchmark. HTH

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1maid · 31/01/2020 19:42

Hello

Can I have some more information about Maidstone Grammar School for boys? I’m new to the area and considering it for my son

Thank you in advance x

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dungtwicebother · 01/02/2020 21:53

They don't have a high pass mark entry.

They have a two tier pass mark so that clever boys further away have a chance at entry - otherwise they would fill up from a two mile distance.

Ofsted think they are resting on their laurels.

I think they are old fashioned. With an excellent maths department. It's the only option for clever boys locally and it's a shame they are stuck in the dark ages.

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1maid · 01/02/2020 23:12

Thank you x

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1maid · 10/02/2020 22:14

Hello

Just thought I would ask if there was anyone else out there who knew a bit about Maidstone grammar school for boys. Thank you

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SJaneS48 · 11/02/2020 14:41

A friends son has just started there - so far it’s going fine as far as I know. The only issues seem to be around the journey in.

Oakwood is the more popular of the two as a destination from our (non Maidstone based with the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells schools also an option) Primary. Oakwood is a bit smaller & performed marginally less well at GCSE (although I think that changes dependent on the year). I think it’s seen as slightly friendlier but that could entirely be a misconception!

Both the 2 boys Maidstone Grammars are outperformed by the girls. I think (from memory!) they are also undersubscribed & take marginal students at second round.

The Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Grammars for Boys are a more popular choice where I live even though they are further away than the Maidstone Boys ones. All the Selective’s have good results though so I’m not sure you can go that wrong!

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1maid · 11/02/2020 15:53

Thank you x

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dungtwicebother · 12/02/2020 00:10

The Tonbridge & TW Grammars are now selecting on distance as a priority rather than ability. (Barr a marginal few) (they took some sports hall money in return).
This can only be a good thing for other Kent grammars as no matter how clever, your local grammar is the one you shall attend.

I sincerely hope Headteachers raise their bar across the County.

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SJaneS48 · 12/02/2020 07:35

The changes in catchment though seem to have affected the East Sussex candidates though not Kent? We’re Sevenoaks and boys from here all got their first choices whether that was Judd, Skinners or the Maidstone Grammars - whereas friends boys in East Sussex who would previously got into Skinners were offered Tunbridge Wells Grammar for Boys.

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SJaneS48 · 12/02/2020 07:37

PS -should have said that this was 2019 intake!

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dungtwicebother · 13/02/2020 00:04

Because Skinners filled up by distance and not score. As did Judd. Simple Geography.
I

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SJaneS48 · 13/02/2020 07:56

The East Sussex boys were getting into Skinners as TN32 and the like were prior to 2019 in catchment - they weren’t getting in on high scores!
The catchment areas in Kent still include rather broad postcode options, ergo boys and girls will still have a number of choices. They do here. The most local grammar isn’t the one they will have to attend.

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