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Original poster

Townley (Bexley) v Dartford Grammar for Girls (Kent) v St Michael's Catholic Grammar (Barnet)

107 replies

mcinesi · 19/10/2019 09:02

Hi there
My daughter has recently passed her 11+ for Bexley, Kent and St Michael's in Barnet and we are now in the enviable position of having to rank them for our CAF .
We visited all 3 schools, my daughter liked them all very much and they are all roughly at the same distance (1 hr) from where we live,.
I was hoping for some help to try and understand their main strenghts and (if any) weaknesses, and more broadly their key differences (i.e. clearly size is one of them...).
Looking at recent years GCSE results, the top performing school would be (I believe) St Michael's, followed by Dartford and finally Townley, but obviously there is so much more than exam results to consider.
Thank you in advance for your help.
M

OP posts:
Ionacat · 19/10/2019 21:15

I don’t know St Michael’s. However the reason people are asking the distance is that both Dartford and Townley are both great schools and therefore if there was much of a difference in journey time or ease of journey then it would make sense to go for the easiest and quickest journey and also to make it easy for her to get to see her friends socially. (She’ll get an amazing education and experience at all three by the sounds of it.) I’m ex-DGGS and we had quite the social life outside school mainly centred on Dartford.

Original poster
mcinesi · 19/10/2019 15:51

Thanks Peteneras, this is useful. We loved St Michael's when we visited, and you are right, smaller size and great academically. I am just a little concerned that because of size, facilities may not be as good (i.e. sports / music / drama / etc.).

OP posts:
peteneras · 19/10/2019 14:48

I must admit I got a mild shock when I saw these three schools mentioned in the same basket. I don't know the Kent schools at all but I'm very familiar with St. Michael's - my DD went there many moons ago and that was the one and only school that I was aiming for her since she was born. A friend's DD just started there last month too. The distances between these three schools are poles apart thus my "mild shock" - no disrespect to the Kent schools as I said I don't know anything about them. I note you said for you the travelling time is roughly the same. . .

But St. Michael's wouldn't be a "mistake" should you opt for it. This is reputed to be the country's best Catholic school academically speaking. It's a small school - used to admit only 96 girls annually for ages but beginning this academic year a further 20(?) is accommodated. Good luck in your choices!

Original poster
mcinesi · 19/10/2019 14:44

Thanks ChloeDecker.
Just to clarify as I keep getting comments on distance, etc.
We don't live close to any of these schools, pretty much in the middle of them all (isle of dogs). Distance is only relevant for Townley, as the other 2 schools rank students by score and we are confident to be offered a place based on my daughter's scores. For Townley, there is of course a chance to get in based on distance anyway, as you never know how waiting lists move after national offer day.
So, going back to my original question, I would like to hear if anyone has direct experiences of Townley v Dartford for example, as they are not too far from each other. Also, if you happen to know St Michael's Catholic Grammar even better.
Thanks, m

OP posts:
ChloeDecker · 19/10/2019 13:34

I have experience of Townley but am surprised that you are looking at schools such far distances away from each other. I mean Barnet, as far north of London as you can go and Townley and Dartford, as far south as you can go! Those distances will make a difference to what she gets offered, unless she is a 180, as you can’t live close to all of them (unless you are mis-using addresses).

However, in answer to your question, your daughter would be fine at either Townley or Dartford Girls. Go to their Open Evenings (which are soon) and see how she feels about them.

Original poster
mcinesi · 19/10/2019 13:27

Thanks scrunchSE18. I am really just enquiring about the schools (strenghts / weaknesses) - journey time is pretty much equivalent and regardless of the probabilities to get offered a place, one needs to rank the schools in order of preference...

OP posts:
scrunchSE18 · 19/10/2019 12:04

I’d really consider how easy the journey to each school really is and what time start of day is for each. What time will she need to leave home each morning? For the Bexley school is she in the top 180 and so guaranteed a place? Good luck with your decision.

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