Sir Roger Manwood School Sandwich/Primaries in Sandwich

[ALWgreenwich]

Hello; hoping someone out there can help me.... We're seriously considering moving to Sandwich in Kent from Surrey just for the secondary schools. We've got two kids (aged 4 and 5) so we're thinking ahead for how to get the best chance of getting into Sir Roger Manwood's Grammar school in Sandwich: do any MN'ers out there know which primaries in the Sandwich area are actually 'good' and whether any of them help the kids with preparing them for the 11+? Or is always the case that you need to get private tutoring?
Also - any general comments on what it's like to actually live in Sandwich would be very welcome - I'm from Yorkshire, currently i've been to Sandwich once on a Saturday afternoon, don't know anyone for 50 miles and have had an offer accepted on a house there.... all seems a bit crazy at the moment!
LW

[schoolchauffeur]

I am afraid I can't help you on which Sandwich primaries are the best, but I can say that SRM is a great choice. I was born and brought up in nearby Deal and My brother went to the school and his son is currently a pupil there and it is really good! My nephew didn't do any extra tuition-the test you sit to get in is english, maths and verbal reasoning and he said it wasn't that hard. I will see if I can find out which Sandwich schools is friends came from and get back to you.

[Putrifyno]

In Sandwich itself there is an Infants and a Junior school, so not a lot of choice really unless you want to travel out to the surrounding villages. Sandwich itself is lovely little place - nice pubs and restaurants, not too far to the sea, good selection of shops etc (Though how businesses will be affected by the Pfizer pull out is to be seen I guess)

[ALWgreenwich]

hello, thanks for the information; good to hear the positives on the area as it's only local press recently seems to be full of the Pfizer pull-out!
I've emailed the Junior school to see if they have any stats on how many kids passed the Kent test last year, just to check really that it's not only the private-school educated kids who are able to get in.... call me paranoid :)

[confidence]

Sandwich is a beautiful place, and Manwoods is a great school, from what I hear.

You may benefit from the Pfizer closure as there is predicted to be some emigration of middle class grammar-school type families from the area, making it harder for Manwoods to fill their numbers, widening their catchment and making them more likely to take kids on appeal.

There is also another advantage to Sandwich in that the non-grammar school, Sandwich Technology College, has an excellent reputation. If your DC doesn't pass 11+ or just ends up with a more practical set of interests, you could do a lot worse.

[Putrifyno]

Kent is still quite good for Grammar Schools. My niece went to Manwoods, and I have friends with dc in the Infant and Junior schools. They seem very happy with it.

[pooches]

Sandwich is delightful. We live about 6 miles away and will be applying to Sir R and failing that the Tech. Both well regarded, house prices low and getting lower since pfizer announcement. Canterbury is a short distance away too which has everything you might need in terms of shops (including Waitrose, Jack Wills and Cath kidston for the upmarket stuff and Lidl, Asda etc for the other!)

[DSB1]

There are some good primary schools in the area: Eastry primary school for example. If you consider going private, St Faiths at Ash is a great primary school that is reasonably priced, and has a good record of pupils going on to grammar schools (well over 50%). Property is well priced for the south east, you can get a nice 3-4 bed detached house well within the Manwood's catchment area (e.g. Ash or Eastry) for well under £300K.

[princesszo]

I went to Manwoods from 88-95 and it is an excellent school. I lived in Walmer which is near by but we often spent time in Sandwich, and I had friends that lived there. It's such a pretty place, although not overly full with 'fun' things to do for young people.. Manwoods has/had a good social life however. Don't know anything about the primary school situation, but imagine they are good.

[princesszo]

PS. I went to state primary school, not public, and the 11+ was not terribly hard if I remember. There were some pupils with public school backgrounds, and the boarders were generally from army families, but there were plenty of 'normal' state educated kids too. Main primary schools that fed into my year were Sandwich, Ash, Preston, Deal, Eastry if I remember.

[Inghouls2]

I live in Kent and though I don't live in the Sandwich area, I visit Manwoods with my son. As far as I know it is going to become a super selective with it's change to academy status. Just something to bear in mind.

[ALWgreenwich]

Ooh thank you Inghouls2 as I had no idea about it changing to super-selective; that means I guess that being within its catchment area will no longer matter, it will be simply based on highest score in the test...?
Is it official yet?
thanks everyone!!

[january2016]

Sir Roger Manwood's School

My girl will be joining Sir Roger for boarding (Year 10) coming Sep 16. wondering anyone have any personal experience with this school. Pls shares with us. We hope our girl can find a friendly environment to continue her education as both myself and my husband are working aboard

[srmskent]

The school is located in nice surroundings. However, I would advise your child (especially boarding) against it if he/she is from an ethnic minority background. The school is known for its support for discrimination. We raised concerns 10 years ago and even now they have refused to look into it.

[Ponyo2017]

Hi
Could anyone please tell me their experience of secondary schools in the Deal and Sandwich area? Ideally non-selective-either a mixed school or single sex. There do not not seem to be any good schools which aren't fee paying or grammar for secondary.
Thanks

[kerstin123]

Good day fellow parents ..

I have read the various comments below. I am looking at relocating back to the UK with my son, who is British to start Year 10. He has been in a British curriculum school abroad. I am interested in Sir Roger Manwood.

Can anyone advise on any recent feedbacks in 2016/2017 on this school? I will be considering boarding and my son is from an ethnic minority background. I am concerned by the comments below. Please advise. Thank you