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Original poster

Anyone with DDs who go to Chelmsford or Westcliff grammar schools?

34 replies

ILikeToClean · 22/10/2013 17:12

DD has just passed the 11+ and also the separate Chelmsford exam for Chelmsford High school for girls. We are in catchment for Chelmsford, out of catchment for Westcliff but I think with her scores, whichever school we put first on the CAF she has a pretty good chance of getting in.

We have visited both schools and just cannot decide which one would suit DD better. Chelmsford is in catchment so a bit closer, but I have heard good and bad things about it, namely that it is very pressurised, you are a failure if you get a B, a lot of the girls have "issues" and eating disorders, but also heard a lot of opinions that refute all this and parents saying the girls have lots of fun there.

Haven't heard anything bad about Westcliff, but the impression I get is it is just a bit more relaxed and the pastoral care is much better. It's further away and triple the cost of getting there every year though!

DD is very bright, but not a geek and we still want her to be a normal girl who has a fab education but not at the cost of feeling constantly pressured, although perhaps I am not giving her enough credit by thinking she won't cope or is not good enough, iyswim.

Does anyone have any knowledge, good or bad, of either school? The decision needs to be made soon!

TIA

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TDWSxx12 · 09/08/2016 13:41

My dd is going to Westcliffe High School for Girls this September, she has already made friends at the schools induction days. We saw Westcliff Chemsford and Southend, as soon as dd saw Wescliff she wanted to go there. She is also very sporty so when she found out the school did well in sports so she can't wait to start!

Sparklycat · 15/03/2016 19:26

Haha whoops didn't read whole thread first sorry.

Sparklycat · 15/03/2016 19:26

You must think about commute times for her I think, the school day will be very intense and she'll probably want to stay late for extra curricular. I'd go for Chelmsford as its closer to you. Don't want a burnt out and exhausted child.

14Annabel · 15/03/2016 19:23

Sorry, I am probably a bit late.

Go to Chelmsford School!

Whilst Westcliff has excellent results and great teaching staff, the pressure on students is beyond belief. The headteacher is not very personable and tends to bully his staff. Stress levels are high. Quite a shame that an excellent school will not live up to its reputation for long.

J

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 06/03/2014 22:16

MrsB - wow great universities! Wherever she goes will be great, but as you say, means she'll be moving on and away from you, but a wonderful new stage in her life, at the end of the day you want your children to get the best out of life and she'll certainly do that so good on her! As parents we have to send them out into the world with a smiley face and then cry in private!!

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MrsBartlet · 06/03/2014 19:26

It's funny you say that, JoandMax - fun is always the word that comes to mind when I visit the school. They do work hard but they definitely play hard, too. My school was nothing like that!

ILikeToClean - Cambridge, Durham, Exeter and York are her favourites. We are doing the rounds of the open days in the summer term. It all seems so exciting and then I remember that it means that before long she won't be here at the end of every day to chat to and hug. It makes me feel like weeping! Enjoy this stage with your DD - it goes far too quickly.

The sports induction will be fun for your dd. My dd is not at all sporty but she still enjoyed them and it was a good way of getting to know a few familiar faces so that the fits day of term was a lot less daunting.

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 06/03/2014 13:45

JoandMax - thank you. Exactly what I want to hear, work hard but have fun too!

MrsBartlet - your DD sounds very determined if she has wanted to write from age 8! Good luck to her, what universities will she apply to?

Yes she has signed up for netball, athletics and hockey! She is on the netball team at school and has done some athletics for school but never played hockey, so she will give it a go. She loves swimming too so is looking forward to the pool! I think the more times she can go there and meet others the more familiar things will be. I have a list of dates in my diary for us going there, what with DD2 going to the open day too I think I will have to get a season ticket for the car park in June!

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JoandMax · 06/03/2014 06:39

Well done to your DD!

I don't have any recent experience but I went to CHS a while ago (well 20 years when I started there, how did that happen?!!!) and it was great then. Although there was an expectation to work hard and aim for good results there was also a lot of fun too and lots of support in all areas.

MrsBartlet · 06/03/2014 06:33

Dd was the only girl from her school to go and she was fine. Most of them are in the same position and are all looking for friends so it is very easy for them to make new friends. In fact, I was more worried about ds when he started at Kegs as he was one of 3 from his school to go and I was concerned that he would not push himself to make new friends as he had the security of old friends with him!

Dd is doing her AS levels in May and her university application has to be in in October. She wants to do English at university and then wants to be a writer. She has wanted to do that since she was about 8 and hasn't changed her mind yet!

Is your dd going to do the sports induction courses?

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 05/03/2014 21:32

She is looking forward to it but all her friends are going to the local comp, so she's sad about that. She makes friends easily so I think she'll be fine - she realises what an amazing opportunity she has! DD2 will be doing the exam in September - just as DD1 starts! Again I'm just going through stuff with her rather than heavily tutor and so far so good, but who knows on the day?! Good luck to your DD going into sixth form - does she have any ideas about what she wants to do?

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MrsBartlet · 05/03/2014 06:25

Dd is already in sixth form so she will be starting her final year in September. Is your dd looking forward to it and does she have any friends going with her?

When do you have to go through it again with DD2?

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 04/03/2014 22:22

Thank you! Will your DD be going to sixth form? Just spent about 2 hours filling out all the forms and putting all the dates in my diary! Now got to get DD2 through too!

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MrsBartlet · 04/03/2014 21:25

Yay! Congratulations to your DD, ILikeToClean. Your dd will be starting her first year just as my dd starts her last. I hope she will be as happy there as my dd has been!

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 03/03/2014 00:25

Bumping to say DD got an offer from Chelmsford! Feel v proud and that she's obviously meant to go there Grin

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MrsBartlet · 23/10/2013 18:16

That's great. They are both good schools so she should be happy whichever one she goes to. Fingers-crossed for you. Do let us know how she gets on.

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 23/10/2013 18:01

MrsB we went to the info meeting this afternoon. First visit for DH - didn't see much of the school beyond the hall but he liked it and was very impressed by the head's manner. She came across as being extremely warm and funny, but took no prisoners when it came to answering some rather inane questions! It took us 20 mins. After chatting again to DD we have decided to put it as our first choice on the basis that if she gets an offer then it was meant to be, if not then she should get an offer from Westcliff and that will mean she was meant to be that school! So the CAF is done!! Thanks so much for your help - fingers crossed she gets in (somewhere!) I'm a great believer in fate...Grin

Thanks too Brigit and I'll still be chuffed if she gets Westcliff - it's just geography I think!

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MrsBartlet · 23/10/2013 16:15

Yes, I would say go for the easiest to get to as you will have 8 years of travelling back and forth to pick up and attend events (presuming dd2 goes as well). However, that is easy for me to say as our favourite happened to be the nearest as well!

Also, as you mentioned, you need to bear in mind the financial implications of paying 2 sets of bus fares and that sounds like it will be costly if they both go to WHSG. It gets so expensive once they are at secondary with trips etc. Ds is currently in Germany on a school trip and Dd had a trip to Berlin earlier in the year. At £500 a trip you could pay for those out of the extra you are going to have to pay for buses to WHSG!

You need to play on dd2's competitive streak so that she follows her sister!

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 23/10/2013 08:52

Well done MrsB with both at grammar! DD2 is a different child - v competitive so her aim is to beat DD1's scores so she has an incentive!

I think I know what my gut instinct is but do you think location can play a great part - i.e. thinking about extra curricular activities, going to the school for parents eve, maybe having to take or pick up in rush hour, Chelmsford is much handier for that. I know a lot of parents say go for the easiest geographically as they're there for years!

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MrsBartlet · 23/10/2013 06:37

Have a look round the schools then trust your gut feeling. It is all about finding the school which fits best with your dd. When we looked at CCHS when dd was in Y5 it just felt right for her and when we went back again in Y6 she said it felt like home! You will know what feels right for your dd and for your family.

I feel for you having to go through the process again next year with your younger dd. I found the whole process more stressful the second time round. After having got one through it seemed to put more pressure on the younger one. I spent a year telling my ds that it didn't matter how he did in the 11+ he would still be as bright as his sister and the exam is just a snapshot of how they perform on one day! Fortunately, he had a positive outcome and I don't ever have to go through that again Grin

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 22/10/2013 22:40

MrsCakes - yes we looked at all 3 too with the opinion that wherever she ended up DD would be lucky. As I home tutored I wasn't sure how she would fare, she certainly has done better than I thought Grin! I have a mini break from tuition then have to crack on with DD2 who will take it next September too!

Brigit - my Dd sounds similar to yours, v clever but ditzy and not much common sense, hence my concerns about CCHS, although PP kind of alleviated my concerns.

You know what will happen,we'll put CCHS and WHSG 1st and 2nd, Southend 3rd and that's the one we'll get! Not that I would mind, quite liked Southend!

Aargh, still not sure! Hmm

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MrsCakesPremonition · 22/10/2013 22:29

We looked at CCHS, SHSG and WHSG this summer - trying to see if they might suit DD and if it was worth helping her prepare for 11+. She liked them all - so we'll just see things go when she takes the 11+ next September. I have a secret leaning towards WHSG - but that might be because I know children who go there and love it but don't know anyone at CCHS.

Thanks for the info on transport - I'll get digging.

ILikeToClean - your DD has done so very well, you must be very proud - and of course, it must be nice to have options. I hope your visits go well and you get a good feel for where would suit your DD.

BrigitBigKnickers · 22/10/2013 22:29

As to why I don't think DD would have coped- she is a bit ditsy- rather disorganised and I think it is less pressurised at WHSG (I know girls who are Chelmsford and really don't think it would have suited her there.)

She is also passionate about performing arts and I feel that WHSG, whilst academic, encourages her to continue with it.

Original poster
ILikeToClean · 22/10/2013 22:24

MrsCakes - my friend's DD goes to Westcliff on the CSSE official bus which I think goes from the Downham Arms at around 7.30. It's around £300 per term! My other friend's DS goes to Kegs on the public bus which goes from Wickford station around 7.20 and is £300 per year. If you are looking at Southend I think the train is your best bet, from Wickford to Prittlewell and then a 20 min walk which a lot of them do apparently. Which school are you looking at?

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BrigitBigKnickers · 22/10/2013 22:23

Find out about the scholar season ticketsl offered by Greater anglia- train tickets can be bought at a 55% discount. Phone the school and ask about it. It's fairly quick from Wickford to Southend Voctoria and a few mins on a bus the other end (think there are discounts for the bus too) much cheaper! (My other DD travels to her school via train and it makes a huge saving.)

MrsCakesPremonition · 22/10/2013 22:03

Lurking on this thread but I'd love to pick your brains about transport between the various grammars and Wickford. I don't seem to be able to get my head round the available services despite having looked at the CSSE website. At first glance none of the school buses seem to go through Wickford - but I'm not sure I've got it right.
Thanks.

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