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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Anyone looking at secondaries in Gloucestershire?

41 replies

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 14:37

Just been told my daughter should definitely try for grammar so bit stuck and not sure what schools to look at!

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cantkeepawayforever · 19/09/2017 22:46

Sorry for misunderstanding. It wasn't clear from your post re Chosen Hill whether it was a school hat was close to you and you had a realistic chance of accessing, or just one you thought was good.

You would be surprised / shocked how many treat the list of schools in a county as a 'menu' to choose from in their application form, rather than starting from where they live and looking at which schools they have a reasonable chance of getting a place in! Apologies again.

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 22:29

Yes just started year 5 so another year yet before need to make any decisions.

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CotswoldStrife · 19/09/2017 22:27

The Grammars take from a really wide area though, so wide that it's drawing complaints from people near them that their children are missing out while pupils come in from much further afield.

I went round Stroud HS, they accept pupils from over 80 primary schools!

Is your DD just starting Yr5, OP?

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 22:25

I'm not quite sure why you thought I was 'picking good schools off a map.'

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Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 22:24

I'm only looking at school we are in catchment are for. Yes would be a total waste of time otherwise.

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cantkeepawayforever · 19/09/2017 22:23

Which is your nearest school - ie the one that you are guaranteed a place in? It is not much good 'picking a good school off the map' if in fact your chances of getting a place are zero as you are outside its normal admissions distance and are not a sibling.

CotswoldStrife · 19/09/2017 22:22

Chosen has open days/evenings next week if you want to look around.

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 22:07

Looking at non grammar schools, Chosen Hill looks good?

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Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 20:50

Thats good to hear. Stroud is probably a bit too far for us though.

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Land0r · 19/09/2017 20:39

My DD has just started yr7 at SHS and is loving every minute. Very impressed with everything so far - good teaching, very clear homework expectations and lots of extra curricular opportunities (mostly through lunchtime clubs rather than after school).

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 16:42

Thank you. I've heard pates is very pressured. Yes good point about Crypt could be intimidating to be a year 7 girl with lots of older boys My DD is small for her age.

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BeyondThePage · 19/09/2017 16:36

Yes crypt will take girls into Y7 from Sept 2018 - they will be the only year of girls there below 6th form til the next year's intake, not sure I'd like that. My view is tempered by the fact that we went to see it for - mixed - 6th form and the vibe was somehow wrong for us. DD is going to Tommies - boys grammar with mixed 6th which suits us well(she went to a local comp for GCSEs).

Would go to all the open evenings if I were you, work out the logistics of getting there as well as the general feel of the schools. Pates was by far and away the most successful and modern of the schools we visited, but DD would not have been happy there even if it was the only school she could go to.

Take a look at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/13567/sixth-form-booklet-2017-2018.docx - gives an idea of the open evening dates - SOON.. end Oct/start Nov for the first lot...

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 16:07

Not sure. I don't think so. Also I think crypt is going to start taking girls?

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BeyondThePage · 19/09/2017 15:48

Gloucestershire has 7 grammars-
1 mixed - Pates Cheltenham,
3 boys and
3 girls - the girls are Ribston Hall (SW Gloucester city), High School for girls (N Gloucester city) and Stroud High School (Stroud).

Don't know if Tewkesbury has any closer in Worcestershire?

Whatshouldmyusernamebe · 19/09/2017 14:54

We are glos/Tewkesbury not Cheltenham

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BeyondThePage · 19/09/2017 14:44

Cheltenham/Gloucester area?

Would do the test for grammar, there are Pates, Ribston Hall, (Denmark Road) High school for girls. Other secondary schools/academy schools tend to depend on your catchment.