Anyone have experience of Carres, Sleaford or THe Kings School, Grantham

[purpleflowersarebest]

DS has passed his 11+ and we are now wondering about which school would suit him best out of theses two. The results seem much better foe Kings but would be interested in the opinions of people who actually have dc at either.

[CookieDoughKid]

Those schools are some distance apart. Would you move to be near them? I have not heard a bad word about Kings but surely commute time to school is just as important?

[purpleflowersarebest]

We are near Ancaster so slightly closer to Carres.

[poppyseed]

Carres Grammar always used to have a good reputation.
You need to find out when the open evenings/morning are and see them working. Sometimes your mind is made up on these visits far easier than by looking at prospectuses.

[Danglingmod]

You need to check the admissions policies. I'm pretty sure that Carres is a regular "top 25%" grammar school but that King's is "superselective" (takes boys in rank order of score). I do know some boys who take the train from King's Cross to Grantham every day because they scored more highly than local boys. This would account for the school's higher results.

[Ethelswith]

My know,edge is not that recent.

If he is clever enough for both, he'll do well at either. There isn't a wrong choice here, in the academic sense.

I can see why it's tough to make a decision from Ancaster. I think the important factor are where his friends are going (including which girls schools and which comes) - ie who would he be in the bus with in either direction, are there school bus services to both towns these days? Or can you drive him in, if so which way do you want to be going?

Grantham is probably the town with more going on, which might be a factor if you are thinking about things like nonschool clubs

[CookieDoughKid]

Danglimod is that really the case?! Kings Cross to Grantham is commutable but it seems such a lot for a young boy.

[Danglingmod]

Yep, certainly know a boy a few years ago who did. Only an hour on the train. Also know a kid who commutes to school in the opposite direction!

[CookieDoughKid]

Ah true. It's not like you need to change trains. It can take an hour just to get from one side of London to the other!

[supadupapupascupa]

No idea but I think you just missed carres open evening. Sure it was on my calendar for last week or one before....

[Tronkmanton]

My DS is at Carres and he loves it. We’re nearer Sleaford though so Kings wasn’t a consideration. We really can’t fault it: lots of sport and an on-site 3G football pitch; and excellent and enthusiastic teachers.

What might be worth checking is whether the school bus that you get a pass for to Kings is direct or not. My friend has a daughter at KG and lives in Ancaster, the bus she has a free pass for goes all round the place and takes hours so her parents either drive her or pay to put her on a more direct bus.

A plus point for Carres is the excellent joint sixth form in Sleaford, massive choice without the upheaval of leaving a friendship group.