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Original poster

Piper's Corner School, High Wycombe

31 replies

Zodlebud · 04/05/2015 13:20

We visited Piper's Corner recently and loved it. It had so much to offer, particularly in terms of enrichment, and we could really see our girls there. My only slight niggle is that it didn't seem as academic as others we have seen and was wondering if anyone could reassure me. The school is within two miles of a grammar school and Wycombe Abbey so acknowledge many of the cleverest girls from the area may be going to these other schools. I just want to make sure my girls achieve their potential, be that a million A-levels at Grade A* and on to Oxbridge or a solid set of GCSEs before starting an apprenticeship. I got the impressed that the pastoral side is superb and they would really work with the girls. Their list of leavers though veers towards the more arty subjects with few Russell Group universities. I know a significant proportion of girls leave to go to co-ed schools for sixth form (which is fine by me and something we would consider), but I was just wondering if the school cuts the mustard for the high fliers?

OP posts:
GRW · 05/05/2015 00:29

My DD is at Aylesbury High, and they do take girls from a wide area, as far away as Milton Keynes. I think Challoners don't usually have places for out of catchment. Aylesbury High have more places in sixth form, so you could choose Pipers up to year 11 and then AHS for A levels

Original poster
Zodlebud · 04/05/2015 23:33

Thank you LooksLikeImStuckHere. There's a lot to be said for the smaller class sizes and smaller school in general. We are perhaps thinking that our eldest in particular may well do better being towards the top of the class at a school like this and be really stimulated by everything else going on, than being in the middle or bottom at a highly academic school. To be honest the most important thing to me is not the school results, but that each child is getting the top grades for their personal ability, are being stretched where they need it and supported when they are struggling. League tables and results don't show this.

The two grammars we have so close but just out of bounds are Dr Challoners and Aylesbury High.

OP posts:
LooksLikeImStuckHere · 04/05/2015 23:09

Some girls go to Pipers because they haven't got a place in a Grammar school, following the 11+ exam or because their parents don't think they will get the place.

However, many others go because the Grammar school (and by that, I'm assuming you mean Wycombe High) just isn't the right school for them. There is very little in terms of provision for girls so it's Wycombe High or nothing! A large, girls only grammar isn't right for all children.

Pipers has an excellent reputation and I've seen many, bright girls go here and achieve extremely well. I don't think they would have achieved as well at the High School.

What I'm saying is, it depends on your DDs. Pipers really is a lovely school and if your children are inclined to be academic then I think it would support them well.

(Primary school teacher in the local area).

HTH!

Original poster
Zodlebud · 04/05/2015 23:01

My eldest is in Year 3 but we are currently considering a house move, hence why we are looking at secondary schools right now. We want single sex for at least 11 to 16 but live in a bit of a funny area for schools. We are just outside the catchment areas for two of the Bucks girls grammar schools, and have no state girls school nearby. Independent options are Berkhamsted, Pipers Corner, Abbots Hill, Royal Masonic, St Albans Girls and (at a push) Habs Girls, but all but one of those are at least half an hour away. We haven't seen all of these yet so don't know if they offer the same sort of vibe.

Pipers is sounding like what we were feeling - there is no reason why a clever child shouldn't do very well there, but it's perhaps not the first choice for the higher achievers. I think we are veering away from the academic "power houses", having already discounted Wycombe Abbey as it just didn't feel like "us". They are at a prep school that we love and we chose it on the basis of gut reaction. I'm hoping we'll have the same enlightenment next time around!

Pipers did say that places are offered in priority of date registered and the entrance test requirement was to ensure all girls are meeting an average level of achievement. Like I said, it was all the enrichment stuff that really appealed - the girls giving the tours just buzzed about it and we got a really good vibe.

A lot can change in the next few years but if we move even a few miles from our current location then our list of potential schools is reduced due to the commute. We just want to make sure that if we decide to move that we are happy with the options in that area.

OP posts:
Millymollymama · 04/05/2015 19:15

My neighbours children went there and one went to Oxford and one went to UCL both to do medicine. They would be highly unusual though and they came from a medically connected family where first class work experience was on offer. I do think bright girls will be fine but there will not be many of them and therefore completely different to Wycombe Abbey or the local grammar schools. This was always the school of choice for the girls that failed to get into the grammar schools and did attract arty and theatre types. Very few go there from Godstowe Prep in High Wycombe for example but it has worked hard to up its educational profile which at one time was similar to a good Bucks Secondary modern. Pipers now has its own prep school and it is more difficult to get in at 11 plus than it used to be and plenty do not get in. I know of parents of mildly SEN girls being disappointed.

What age are your girls? It also caused a big stir when they did not automatically take all their own prep school children into the senior school so you may want to know what the current position is. It is a very popular school but obviously not stellar educationally.

bronya · 04/05/2015 13:38

I know someone who left to go to the nearby grammar for sixth form because it was more likely to help them achieve good A level grades.