The Cedars School, Croydon

Thanks itsnotteatimeyet. I've just been reading about their eudaimonia programme . Does anyone know How that work?

Er not at all selective ... but it is v catholic

Hello everyone- I'm so amazed to read such fabulous feedback about a school. Generally when we talk about our child's school we always hear good and bad things but reading all these genuinely positive experiences makes me want to send my boy there too. I too want to be part of such a warm and caring community. Is it hard to get in and how selective are they?

Well said greatsmbitions, I think I know who you are and, in fact, think I'm the friend who recommended you!

It's funny, as our Father not only has a doctorate in theology, he's also a doctor of medicine! Really enjoyed talking to him at the Paella contest during the summer last year. I'm glad he's at the school, as my son finds resolve in discussing with him various things he's going through. Oh, and my son says also he's a 'bad' (read outstanding) football player!!

Hi everyone

I have a son in year 7 at The Cedars. There are 12 people in his class.
2 year 7 classes.

When I was desperately searching for information on schools this time last year, I looked on Mumsnet hoping to get some insight from parents with boys at the school. At the time there was none , so I'm so glad this thread's been created so that I can share something that might help prospective parents.

I only considered Independent schooling because my middle son is an athlete. Whilst he has to work hard to maintain an average academic performance , he excels on the pitch. I felt that an Independent school could best offer him the professional coaching he'd need to thrive whilst exposing him to a quality education.

It was a friend who mentioned The Cedars to us. We approached it with the scepticism & anxiety that an untested , unestablished ( is this a word ???? ) school poses.
Meeting Mr. Teague , I voiced all our concerns & questioned the reality of the proposed development of the school ( astro turf / pitches / extension etc ) I in no way wanted my son to be a guinea pig & wanted reassurance that his vision of the school was credible.

All I can say is that , this meeting along with those we've had subsequently has been frank & honest on both our parts.

Mr. Teague believes in the school. This is very clear.
The teachers we have spoken to , all of whom are very accomplished people , many coming from very prestigious & established schools & institutions , could very well have gone anywhere but have chosen The Cedars , for as one said to me ' Something new, not the same old treadmill '. It is a gamble for them all , but there is an overwhelming sense of belief in what is after all a 'new business'.
They have a vested interest in making this work & the dedication is obvious.

I am not a catholic. I haven't been to church in years , the usual , wedding , christenings etc. I was brought up Cof E.
I had to Google search Opus dei & yes it did freak me out. My husband was even more unnerved at the thought of a Priest being present at an all boys school !!!
But we didn't want to be so narrow minded & give in to ignorance , so we decided to question & go look for ourselves. The rest is history.

My son is into his 2nd Term now & says he loves his school.

Small enough to know everyone , there is real sense of camaraderie amongst the boys mixed with the usual boisterousness. They are typical boys.

No-one has ever even mentioned Opus dei to me or my son. Attending mass is a choice. He chooses to go when he feels. There are no religious demands or expectations other than to be 'sympathetic' to the fact that it is a catholic school. I have no issue with this. Some will. It is not for all.

There are insufficient boys to have A,B,C squads but enough to have team trials. As there are so few boys All receive coaching by sporting Professionals unlike the ' leading' schools that access these coaches only if you make the A team & use academic members of staff for all the others.

My son is being challenged academically inside the classroom & outside on the pitch. This is exactly what we wanted in a school .

Last term we were approached and offered a substantial scholarship from 'the school across the road' , having seen my son play.

Despite the outstanding facilities , & The Cedars lack of it , we're more than happy where we are.

I hope this helps to inform parents either way.

Good evening Margaret10. At the moment the public transport options are, as you say, limited to the tram, which is what the majority of the boys do. There is some parking on the school site for drop off and pick up, the school gates are opened so that cars can enter and circulate more easily and there doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment. Some parents also park in the car park around the corner in Oaks Road. We are hoping that one day there might be a tram stop by the school, particularly as we have been told that the stretch between Lloyd Park and Coombe Lane is the longest stretch of tramline on the network. Fingers crossed.

If there is anything else we can help you with just say.

Have a good weekend.

JanieSa, our girls and boys are free to be themselves in an environment that encourages them to be who they want to be in life. They get to win and lose amongst their same gender peers, taking the best from it.

I have a son and daughter and they are so different. As you are probably aware, boys and girls learn differently; there are co-ed schools now teaching the core subjects single gender.

Hi to all Cedars parents. Please can you advise on transport to school. Other than the tram, there seems to be no other mode of transport ie buses. I get the impression dropping n collecting boys at the school must be a nightmare due to lack of car parking facilities. Do you know if school is addressing this issue esp with the extension of school every year.

Also how do you non-Catholic parents deal with the fact that the only religious education is Catholic? This is something that I worry about.

Hello. Do any of you Cedars parents have girls at The Laurels? My concern is similar to that of the person who started this thread. We love the character education and tutoring system but are unsure about the quality of teaching (lack of academic record that obviously comes with a new school) and lack of extra curricular clubs and maybe sporting options? Also is the all girl environment with all female teachers a bit closeted? Thanks

Trixus - thank you for your words of encouragement. I hope to meet you at The Cedars parents' functions next year!

Hi everyone - I want to say a big thank you for starting this "The Cedars" thread because there are very few posts about this school. I've never posted before - but the recent few posts have prompted me to take the plunge.

We've followed the school since (before?) it opened and are very excited by it because it is very much in line with our familial beliefs in respect of high academic standards AND a focus on raising balanced young men full of the virtues! Every time we've visited, the boys have consistently been so well spoken and mannerly, teachers - interested and interesting, and grounds - well kept, peaceful and inviting. Robert Teague is a lovely headmaster and you can see that he and the teachers, live their faith and look after the boys at the school.

I'm really glad that Cedars parents have started to spread the word about the school because otherwise - it is a bit of closed book particularly given the number of outstanding private schools in the area. PLEASE DO POST MORE because schools thrive or die on reputation. ALSO - those of us who aren't sure about accepting offers really need to hear the good things going on to help us make an informed choice. Otherwise all one hears is "Whitgift this.... Trinity that.... (not so much Royal Russell to be fair though)". It can be difficult making a punt in the dark given it will still be a few years before the school output can be measured objectively against other schools.

In a strange kind of way, i hope we won't fall victim to the temptation of an offer from our first choice state school because I just know that my son will do amazingly well at The Cedars... even if there is a price tag to it. I can barely sleep knowing that the die has already been cast regarding state school offers and we won't know for another two weeks!

Hi Margaret 10,

Welcome to the Cedars.Looking forward to meeting your family in the near future.
My son's class is of 17 boys.
I can assure you the school does push them academically and spiritually, however given space for the boys to make their choice in attending mass etc.

As the government has introduced new GCSE gradings the school has informed us well in advance and my son and the rest of the boys made their options for GCSE last year.Which has given them enough time to focus and prepare gradually where as most schools are allowing children to make their options now in year 9.
My son is very happy at The Cedars and is so attached as his second home.

I wish all the best for you and your son.

Margaret10 I have a son at Trinity and one at The Cedars. You're right that they both have wonderful headmasters. However, Trinity's headmaster will be leaving at the end of this year which is a sadness for us. Had the Cedars not come into existence I would have sent my last child to Trinity along with his brother. However, for all the wonderful things Trinity has - and they are many - what it doesn't have is the personal Tutorial system which enables pupils to really get to know themselves very well and to struggle in things which they find more difficult to get to terms with, whether that be academics, friendships, spiritual life or their own self-worth.

gooseberryroolz - in answer to your question about the Opus Dei connection, the school has a chaplain from the Opus Dei prelature, some of the teachers belong to Opus Dei and PACT Educational Trust (which runs the Cedars and its sister schools) was founded in 1996 by some married members of Opus Dei who wanted schools here in the UK like they had seen in other parts of the world - all inspired by the teachings of the founder of Opus Dei St Josemaría Escrivá. Don't be afraid to google Opus Dei - but if you are wary then you can see more information about it on The Cedars website under the Ethos tab. The Cedars is, unfortunately, not a free school but an independent one. It was not possible to start a free school without compromising some of the founding principles. I hope this helps.

Hello everyone,
I am a parent of The Cedars school. My son is in year 10 and joined from its very creation. I cannot stress how refreshing the school is. There is absolutely nothing to compare it with. My son is so happy there and has grown into a fine young man. As other parents have said, it is a family of like minded parents, pupils and teaching staff who all share a common ethos.

Margaret10.

You have chosen wisely. Your son will have the happiest days of his life and will
turn out to be an exemplary young man with a moral compass to match. He will receive a first class education which will open many doors for him in the future.
Welcome to the family!

Your mum is absolutely right. I have decided to accept the offer from Cedars. Looking forward to meeting all you fellow parents.

Margaret10.

Hello,

I have no personal knowledge of Trinity. From parents who children do attend, I am told it is a first class school and a delightful headmaster.

If your two choices are Trinity or Cedars then you will not make a mistake either way. You have chosen very wisely.

To answer your question, you cannot compare The Cedars with any other school in the area. It is a one-off.

If you are looking for a school where little Jimmy is dropped off at 8 and you can pick him up at 6. The Cedars is not for you. If you are looking for Olympic size swimming pool and flamingos adorning the grounds. The Cedars is not for you. If you are looking for an average education with average results. The Cedars is not for you. If you are too busy for your own child and expect the school to deal with him. The Cedars is not for you.

However, if you are looking for an outstanding first class headmaster and staff, education which is second to none, hands on bespoke teaching, small
classes combined with that intimate Prep school feel to it (which is lost
at every senior school that I know of) then The Cedars is for you.
It feels wholesome, warm and friendly A home from home. All that is missing is Bing Crosby singing a Christmas carol. It is one big happy family.

As for Royal Russell. My mummy told me not to say wicked things behind people's back. Next question?

Can somebody please explain the Opus Dei connection for us bystanders? (I don't really want to google anything containing 'Opus Dei' as search terms.)

An Opus Dei sponsored free school in Croydon? Is that it?

Hi Tess
I am a parent of a Yr 9 boy who has been attending The Cedars since it first opened. He is very happy there. I am not an Opus Dei member, but a Catholic, married to a non-Christian. My husband and I are delighted with the school, the wonderful teachers and the very high standards of academia and discipline. But perhaps more importantly with their unfaltering character nurturing ethos, and the high levels of the personal parent - teacher communications facilitated by the tutoring sessions which monitors his emotional well being and personal development. Furthermore, the school's philosophy fitted very well with our own thoughts of what we considered were important for our son's long term development.
In answer to your concerns regarding freedom vs Opus Dei, I can confidently tell you that your child's freedom will not be hindered. For instance when Mass is offered, boys are given the choice to attend or participate in private reading. I myself have not imposed upon my son to attend Mass, but when he does, I know it is off his own accord. His decision making and sense of judgment I consider to be an important part of his character development and am pleased that his spiritual growth is allowed to flourish naturally.
Recently we heard some distressing news about the health of one of the teachers. The following day my son told me that he went to the School Oratory to pray for his teacher. On his own. During his break time. Without being prompted. Made my day!!!

Hope this has been of some help.

All the best Tess🙂

Can I ask why you chose Cedars over Royal Russell ? My ds has been offered a place at Cedars and Trinity so I am unsure whether I choose a school that is well established over a school that is still in its early development. I really like the heads at both schools.

I am an ex-parent of Royal Russell School and a current parent of The Cedars School.

If you have any question regarding either school I will answer honestly
and factually.

You're welcome Margaret10. What I omitted was that the teachers actually care about the boys wellbeing and progress. They want to see the boys succeed. As I'm sure you know, not every boy is academic and the school helps to identify their strengths, enabling them to develop those further.

My son says he likes that his school is a small community and he knows everyone.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Dmama2, you have certainly reassured me.

Hi Margaret10

Not sure how many boys in year 7, however, there are 18 boys in my son's class.

Our head has brought on board highly qualified dynamic specialist teachers. The boys are regularly tested to ensure they are progressing and being challenged, which identifies whether intervention is required.

Boys are set individual targets and are developed and challenged. The tutorials also serve to help the boys overcome any issues they are facing at home and/or at school, which benefits their learning.