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Original poster

Any opinions or experiences on these schools in Devon please ?

62 replies

Ishani · 23/04/2011 22:33

Stover school, first choice I think as co ed
St Margarets
The Maynard School

TIA

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Original poster
Ishani · 27/04/2011 12:34

DD1 is in year 6 now and yes yes to other DC's, I have a year 2 and year 4 and a baby boy too just to spice things up a bit !

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Original poster
Ishani · 27/04/2011 12:33

I can live anywhere so i'm trying to find the school first and then i'll buy a house near to it, DH will be going from Bristol to Cornwall, including Gurnsey and parts of South Wales.
Dorcester hasn't been ruled out either.

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Yellowstone · 27/04/2011 12:28

Ishani you seem to be looking at schools in very different parts of the SW -at least Newton Abbot to Taunton is quite far. How far do you think your DD can travel on a daily basis? Surely geography dictates the school to some extent since you said you weren't in the boarding school bracket....

thetasigmamum · 27/04/2011 12:24

What year is your DD actually in at present? And there are other DCs?

Original poster
Ishani · 27/04/2011 10:33

So that's a no to Queens then lol

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oakman · 27/04/2011 10:22

Some say that Queens is now the fee paying state school of Taunton!

propatria · 27/04/2011 09:34

Queens isnt even the second best school in Taunton,

Purplebuns · 26/04/2011 22:46

Just wanted to say that Blundells has day students my youngest sister is starting in September and there is a real mix of backgrounds that attend there. :)

Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 19:14

So Exeter and Maynard are the top choices ?

My head is spinning lol

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Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 19:13

Colyton might suit I don't know but the maths paper puts me off, it's not her strong point, but the 11+ paper she didn't pass is different from the one they take there so we'd not stand a chance of getting her ready from scratch and then joining the waiting list by all accounts.
My DD is an A/B student rather than a string of A*'s I think.

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oldspot · 26/04/2011 19:08

If not Colyton, which is absolutely amazing, then Exeter School would be our only other choice in Devon; it was our fall back and it's an excellent all round school with sound academic results, great music, sport and extra curricular, and Bob Griffin is a fabulous Headmaster.

Yellowstone · 26/04/2011 18:49

If a relatively standard cost day school is what you're after but one which has a good reputation, I wouldn't be put off either Exeter or Maynard simply because you don't feel Colyton would suit. I know plenty of children who passed the exam for both Colyton and one of the other two but I also know plenty who passed Exeter/ Maynard but not the 11+, including a couple of girls who took the Maynard exam late, after finding out they didn't have a place at the grammar. I've got nephews and a niece at both Exeter and Maynard and they all seem to have been happy/ done fine.

motherbrown · 26/04/2011 18:21

Don't agree with the comment about Queen's. The intake is very high at present along with pupils from other local indies abandoning them mid term in favour of Queen's. My daughter is neither LS or dyslexic. She is a G&T scholar and is being suitably challenged along with excellent pastoral care and a great "all round" education. I'm sorry to hear that you have not had a good experience but I certainly have no knowledge of pupils leaving "in droves"

oldspot · 26/04/2011 17:51

Don't go to Queens College they are leaving in droves same reason we left OK if your child needs LS or is Dyslexic - fantastic - academically talented children are not catered for

thetasigmamum · 26/04/2011 17:07

It's always difficult online, isn't it. Not to worry. The thing is, it may be that the Big 3 are also unsuitable then. Which might mean considering options like Stover, Bramdean, Blundells, etc. And the state schools. But I would still counsel against the Cathedral school, I really would. Just because I genuinely don't know anybody who has been happy with it.

Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 16:55

I've just spoken to them, she hasn't a prayer and i'm not going to waste energy pursuing that course.
Thank you very much, it's just I don't want to give exact details on here.

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thetasigmamum · 26/04/2011 16:53

Sure. Colyton is competitive, that's true. It's basically the best state school in the country. But that's not the same as 'flying' kids in to do the 11+. However if you have a child who is already at secondary school and who failed an 11+ somewhere else then Colyton is unlikely to be the right school for that child.

Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 16:16

Can PM you both please ?

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Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 16:16

Ah right, now the same person that recommended the cathederal school is the one that told me Colyton is very competitive.
Half the trouble is the schools being closed for Easter so you can't speak to anyone and when we moved up North I managed to pick the worse private school in the area and it took 18 months for the penny to drop so I don't want a repeat of that.

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thetasigmamum · 26/04/2011 14:38

I would not recommend the Cathedral School at all. I know several families that have had children there, all have withdrawn them to either send them to the junior departments at the Big 3 or to the state sector (which is where my 3 children are, incidentally - one at Colyton, two at a very good primary school in Exeter, one of those will be going to St Peters in September - he point blank refused to try for Colyton and we respected that. It was the right call, for him). The Big 3 are all 7-18 schools (actually St Margarets might even go from 4) and they have a big intake at 11+.

Are you completely set against the state sector?

motherbrown · 26/04/2011 14:36

Did you mean Queens College Taunton? If so I have a Year 9 daughter there since last September and have nothing but praise for the place. Would be happy to provide more info if you want.

Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 14:12

You were, thank you I have an appointment to look around a few, just feel time is of the essence.
I am very overwhelmed what with middle schools to consider too, the cathederal school keeps cropping up too which

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thetasigmamum · 26/04/2011 12:12

Well, I kind of was hoping I was providing that.....:(

Yellowstone · 26/04/2011 12:09

Just a bit confused about how you could have mistaken pretty standard day schools for 'extremely expensive boarding schools'. Surely the websites of the schools you mention make their status pretty clear?

Original poster
Ishani · 26/04/2011 12:02

All the schools websites are lovely, I've looked at what seems like hundreds was hoping fir some local insight which I have offered to those relocating to my area in the past.

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