Schools in Chandlers Ford and Romsey

[paulajg]

Hi, looking for some advice. My OH has just got a job in Romsey and we are looking to move to the area. We are looking at Romsey, North Baddersly and Chandlers Ford areas. I have a daughter who is starting year 5 and a son year 1. I want to buy a house that is in the catchment area of a good secondary school. I have ruled out The Romsey School but would be keen to hear about The Mountbatten School, Toynbee and Thornden. Also any pointers on primaries although I don't think we will have much choice with that. Currently Fryern and Nightingale have space?? Thanks

[TeenTimesTwo]

All the schools you have listed are good.

We chose Romsey over Mountbatten - both very good schools but different ethos. Mountbatten has a glossier reputation but it wouldn't have suited my DCs imo. Suggest if you end up based in Romsey you go to see it at this year's open evening early October and see for yourself.

Thornden I think you would have to be in catchment for. Best results, lots of mixed ability teaching (I think). Friend has DC at Toynbee and is very happy with it.

Primaries in Romsey:
Halterworth 2 form entry, tends to be full, feeds Mountbatten. Similar ethos to Mountbatten imo.
Cupernham Infant & Junior on same site. 3 form entry, friends were happy with it. Officially feeds RS but sizable chunk go on to M.
Romsey Primary, 1 form entry but taking 2 in Reception from this year. Has come up a lot in recent year with fab HT. Has spaces in some year groups but not others. Official feeder for both M and RS.
Romsey Abbey CofE. Single form entry. Has been a bit up and down, not sure where it is currently. Good music. Strong links to adjacent Abbey. Not my cup of tea but I don't have up to date info.

No info on CF primaries.

hth.

[paulajg]

Thank you teentimestwo. That's a great idea about the open evenings.

[TeenTimesTwo]

You have to visit. In DDs year 3 or 4 parents who had been set on Mountbatten changed their mind after visiting both.
I am wondering what incorrect or out of date info you have heard to rule out Romsey so early on?

[paulajg]

I compared the four schools on the schoolsguide website and yes also read some out of date reviews. You are definitely making me think again about the Romsey school. If you live in Romsey do you generally get into the secondary school you apply for? Can I ask what were the things that made you go for Romsey over Mountbatten. Thanks so much for your help.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Both schools still take a considerable number from out of catchment so I can't currently envisage someone living in Romsey not getting their preference. But there is a lot of house building going on. Hampshire (or at least our bit) still has official feeder schools which are higher up priority than other 'out of catchment' so that can help too.

I have had one all the way through Romsey and another half way. For us in our circumstances pastoral care was very important, plus academics/support for the middle-low achievers. We have not been disappointed and DD1's results surpassed our initial expectations. But also I don't see the high achievers being any less catered for.

From an outside point of view, M seems more 'pushy and results-results' with RS more 'relaxed and whole child' (but still with ambitions and expectations). Example, both schools have a smart uniform, but M are more picky about enforcing it (and more detention happy in general). M seems to have more h/w in the lower years than R has - DD2 wouldn't have coped with the amount.

If I had different children I might have gone for M, but the feel/ethos seems very different as far as I can tell.

[Stickerrocks]

To back up Teentimestwo I know someone living 7 miles away & out of catchment who got a place at Romsey (2nd choice), when their nearest catchment school (1st choice) was over-subscribed.

[Ta1kinpeace]

I live outside the catchment and got my kids in
BUT
literally hundreds of homes have been built since then
DO NOT bank on an out of catchment place

Not sure why you'd rule out Romsey but be happy with Toynbee
IMHO there is little to choose between Romsey and Mountbatten - it comes down to vibe and personal choice
( teentimestwo and I have compared notes many a time !)

Baddesley is a bit up and down but if you can get a house in Romsey in catchment for any of the feeders for either school, you'll be OK

see you in the Cornmarket once you are settled in

[RosaMallory]

We don't rate Cupernham Juniors at all. Bullying teacher, poor class control. All looks good on the surface.
Romsey Primary is excellent. Ds2 made huge progress there and it has a caring ethos. New head is great.
Romsey School is excellent. It's more friendly and less pressure on dcs. My ds1 is doing really well there.

[paulajg]

Thanks everyone, I think we are going to focus our house search in Romsey and I have definitely brought The Romsey School back into the equation after your comments. Thanks for the advice on primary schools as well as both children will need to attend one, my son for a long time, so are equally as important, although I am concerned that I may not get them both in to the same one due to available places.

[Ta1kinpeace]

If you are IN the catchment you should get places pdq
Worth contacting each of them to check

[paulajg]

We live in Dorset at the moment and have our house on the market so can't do anything in regards to schools until we sell and have started the process of buying. I have spoken to Hampshire CC in regards to current places but it obviously changes.

[Jenijena]

I’m another local person and concur with what’s written (but tbh even Toynbee isn’t a ‘bad’ school and may suit and support some children better than Thornden). I’ve been impressed with NB Infant School - feels a good balance of kind, supportive . Rownhams is close by too, and still in Mountbatten catchment - I hear mixed things about the primary school. It’s a nice area to live in.

[Jenijena]

Sorry meant to say kind, supportive but appropriately challenging...

[TeenTimesTwo]

Yes, North Baddesley is in Mountbatten catchment. I don't know house prices but think it is possible they might be lower than Romsey. Though nowhere is exactly cheap!

[Ta1kinpeace]

Baddesley is cheaper than Romsey and definitely in MB catchment

Rownhams and Nursling - there are moves to move the Oasis catchment boundary up to the M27 so be careful