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Opinions on Pipers Corner pl?

5 replies

ittakes2 · 03/07/2019 15:23

Hello
I am looking at Pipers Corner for my academically able daughter - I found their well rounded approach to the girls development appealing - does anyone have any experience of Pipers they are willing to share please? Some people have said Pipers give a lot of homework but I am not sure as I thought people chose Pipers if their daughter did not get into grammar school? thanks

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BubblesBuddy · 03/07/2019 21:03

My neighbours had DD there and one went to Oxford. The other to UCL. However, that’s a rarity. They didn’t like the larger grammar schools so chose a smaller school.

Yes, it definitely was for girls who didn’t get the 11 plus and I suspect that hasn’t changed much. They do have girls coming through their own prep. It gets excellent results but for a very bright girl, Wycombe Abbey is first choice. Or go to a grammar unless you have a delicate flower! They get better results than Pipers but, of course, they should.

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underneaththeash · 03/07/2019 22:16

My daughter is there and we’ve been more than happy with the school. Teaching is excellent both in academic and non-academic subjects. The curriculum is balanced and there is a range of extra-curricular activities. Sports are well taught and very inclusive.

Their communication could be significantly improved though.

Having said all that though, the school excels in getting academically average girls, good GSCE results whilst maintaining curriculum breadth. Personally, if you have a child who is very able, i’d look elsewhere.

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ittakes2 · 04/07/2019 06:39

Hi BubblesBuddy and Underneaththeash. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. My daughter is in a large grammar school and as Bubblesbuddy suggests I think she might be too delicate for what I now see to be an exam factory/machine. I don't think all grammar schools are like that - the one my son attends is lovely but I am worried about my daughter being under too much pressure for her GCSES. Thanks again for your comments.

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BubblesBuddy · 07/07/2019 15:19

Yes but there is pressure to succeed at Pipers too. They don’t get academically average girls excellent results by no pressure! Of course there is pressure. You also have to factor in that you are now paying and your DD will know that. That’s pressure too.

Why can you not talk to the school she is at? Where is the pressure coming from? Teachers or peer group? She would be fine at Pipers and she might be able to work less and do well enough and perhaps that’s good enough. However she might not have many similarly bright friends and also is there actually a place if she’s already post year 7? Do they have a year 9 entry?

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ittakes2 · 16/07/2019 05:56

Thanks BubblesBuddy - whenever I have talked to her grammar school I have been so disappointed with their response/action its exactly the reason I contacted Pipers. The pressure at her grammar school comes from the way the school treats the girls and the girls in turn put pressure on each other. As an all girls grammar school they have a wonderful opportunity to create a women helping women atmosphere but its more Lord of the Flies! She has been on the Pipers waitlist since she was small and I kept her on it incase grammar school did not work out.