AIBU to think Blackheath High's advertising a bit disappointing?

[JennyPenneSauce]

www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net/238/preparing-for-oxbridge-and-world-class-universities

Here is the content (yes (sic) World is capitalised).

'Preparing for Oxbridge and World class universities

We have a dedicated and highly experienced group of staff who provide expert advice to students who are applying to the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge, and to competitive courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry, to name but a few. Whether a student wishes to apply to institutions in the UK or abroad, they will receive personalised support and advice which will be unique to their application.

A number of our staff are Oxbridge graduates themselves and are able to provide subject specific advice for admissions tests and targeted support on the requirements and challenges at every step of the process, including carefully selected interview practice.

Miss Sarah Williams, our Deputy Head of Sixth Form takes the lead in mentoring each student through every stage of her application until she reaches her goal of a place at her chosen university.'

Click here to see leavers' destinations yields for 2016:

Bath Spa University
Bournemouth UniversityCamberwell School of Art
Cardiff University
Central St Martins
City & Guilds of London Art School
City University
De Montfort University
Keele University
Kingston University
Newcastle University
Queen Mary University of London
University College London
University of Aberdeen
University of Bath
University of Birmingham
University of Kent
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
University of Nottingham
University of St Andrews
University of the Arts London
University of Westminster
University of York

Granted 2015 has two Oxfords and a Cambridge studying Math, English, Modern and Medieval Languages (not medicine) but not sure how regular this is?

It smells like a possibly cynical effort to me to lure in overseas students by inflating its success ? Or maybe I am being overly critical?! It may be well-meaning?

[user1497480444]

Blackheath High doesn't need to waste time and money on advertising.....

[nightswimming1]

I suspect they struggle to keep or attract many of the very brightest students who might choose JAGS, SPGS, CLSG or even Westminster sixth form instead. So they want to let parents know they are well equipped to advise the highest achievers? Wouldn't have thought it was to do with overseas students.

[unfortunateevents]

This reminds me of an information evening we went to at the local private school when DS1 was going into 6th form. Waaayyy too much time was spent on talking about the support available for Oxbridge and medics, although they were rather vague on numbers of acceptances in a single year. I already knew that their Oxbridge numbers usually went from 3-6 each year, so not exactly something to proclaim from the rooftops. DS1, who wanted to study something not offered at Oxbridge (and who didn't have the results to get in) came away from the evening really disliking the place. For the money, I decided he could stay at his existing comp, where they get a couple into Oxbridge and medicine each year anyway.

Just had a look at the website for Blackheath High, their presentation of leavers' destinations is interesting. The list of universities is a drop-down menu and you click on that to get the name of the student(s) and course offer for that university. Nifty way of initially covering up the fact that they are mostly getting only single students into each of these universities. Not sure what is happening to the rest of the 6th form! Interestingly, when you click on University of Oxford for 2015, the logo which pops up on the accompanying map is for Oxford Brookes!

[user1497480444]

I suspect they struggle to keep or attract many of the very brightest students who might choose JAGS, SPGS, CLSG or even Westminster sixth form instead.

Its a local school, over subscribed with local girls, who have no interest in traveling any distance. many walk to school. It is one of the most competitively sought after employers in South East London, It has the best opportunities for a wide range of abilities, and has absolutly no need to advertise widely, or make any attempt to "keep and attract the very brightest students" - some schools just don't need to, it hppens, just on their local reputation.

[user1497480444]

I suspect some of the posters on here are exactly the type of parent they are trying NOT to attract, so their advertising is working perfectly!

[Eastpoint]

By showing each girl has gone to a different university they are demonstrating they have helped each girl find a course & university to suit them. That shows good pastoral care. The girls are also confident enough to pick a university where they don't know anyone, there's also a range showing an academic leaver can go to UCL and an artistic student to Camberwell.

[JennyPenneSauce]

It has the best opportunities for a wide range of abilities, and has absolutely no need to advertise widely, or make any attempt to "keep and attract the very brightest students"

This was my previous opinion and so was surprised by this marketing angle, it seems a bit tacky and not strongly substantiated - and surely high standards include proof reading . Cambridge dictionary would suggest the use of world-class :

'Someone or something world-class is one of the best that there are of that type in the world'

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/world-class

The content is on their own website, not paid advertising FYI . I may be a bit over-sensitive but it does seem a bit odd to me!

Anyway, I hope they do still encourage nice girls of varied abilities whom they do do a wonderful job with

[JennyPenneSauce]

Or even proofreading LOL! No, I did not go to Oxbridge...

[CauliflowerSqueeze]

Why are you scrutinising the capital letters of a webpage with such venom?
Why do you care about how they are trying to attract people?

[llhj]

I think it might over egging it to say it's one of the most sought after employers in South East London!

[user1497480444]

I think it might over egging it to say it's one of the most sought after employers in South East London!

for education professionals it is.

[nightswimming1]

User, nowhere did I say it wasn't a good school. But GDST schools, while rounded, are unashamedly academic (and they are internally compared within the GDST on their results). So attracting and retaining the brightest girls locally will always be something they want to do. It wasn't a criticism. You don't offer an opinion on the website extract - what's your take on it then?
As for attracting the right sort of parents, not sure what their entrance involves but as I recall 11+ is about the girls' performance and references and so long as you can pay the fee (or qualify for bursary) they don't really ask or care much about what we think!

[DevilMakesWork]

Yes, you're being unreasonable.

[Glamum]

Blackheath High is not a huge school, therefore it makes sense that they will have small numbers at each university. I think the range of universities and courses show how diverse their intake is, which is reflective of the area. From what I know of it, they are a well-rounded school in terms of academic and extra curricular. They always seem to be doing exciting things (from social media) and feature quite heavily in the local community. I think they're probably just highlighting that they will send a proportion of girls to Oxbridge, much like the other schools in the area. If I could, I would send my daughter here.

[moreshitandnofuckingredemption]

Anyway, I hope they do still encourage nice girls of varied abilities whom they do do a wonderful job with
This is exactly what they do, in my experience.

[Jantutor]

We live in East London & my daughter is in year 5. Having looked at all of the options we've decided to only apply for Blackheath. Risky... Maybe but I know what I like and so far it's Blackheath.

My daughter has attended a few days at Blackheath with her current school (she'll be attending another event later this month). We've met a senior staff member (unrelated to entrance) and last October went to open morning.

For us, the fact that it is academic (ish) but not a high-pressured 'homework factory' appeals. We had considered applying for City of London but don't think this is a good fit. We want our daughter's school experience to be one full of enrichment (as it is at her current school). We want a school environment where she doesn't have to be the best to feel worthy. We want a school environment that speaks to the pysche of tomorrow's women and cultivates a sense of togetherness, while drawing out individual strengths. A school where the options for engagement are varied and open. Most of all, we want our daughter to relish and enjoy her school life.

As moreshitandnofuckingredemption said - a school that does well with nice girls of varied abilities.

I would love to hear from any existing or recent parents.

[TalkinPeece]

Mary Quant went to BHS
she hated it

[moreshitandnofuckingredemption]

Talkin that was some time ago!