Chislehurst School For Girls

Hi @juneyb I am currently a student at this school and I'm extremely pleased with all my classes and (most) of my teachers. there are some girls, especially in older years that are not the best role models for new year 7 joining the school. But other then that, I think the school teaches very well and has a overall good impact of young girls.

Hi, I'm compiling my list of schools too. We were also very impressed with Chis Girls for the reasons you gave. I have a friend whose daughter is there in year 8 and loves it. She's in the grammar stream.
It's my daughter's top choice!

Thanks I had not twigged this about Bullers. I confess I do not get the Bullers love. My son was there for a bit but we moved him when a place came up elsewhere. Defo not our cup of tea. I was really impressed by how confident all the girls at CHSFG were at the open day and I met lots. They all seemed very comfortable in themselves. Also really liked the headmistresses speech (normally these things are so meh).

CHSFG is now under the umbrella trust for Bullers. They are 'sharing' teachers and enhancing learning experience across the three secondaries. It can only be a good thing for CHSFG which still suffers reputationally from its Beaverwood days.

Thanks so much juneyb glad your daughter is happy.

Just bumping this thread again as went to the open evening last week and was pleasantly surprised. Just wondering how those with girls currently there are finding it really.

My daughter is in the Y9 grammar stream and it's pretty much as described on the school website. There are 2 grammar stream forms in her year and they are taught together in that form group. They are expected to do additional project-type work and extra curricular activities.

Thanks so much @juneyb
if anyone else has any input on the school it would be great to hear
we’ve driven past and the site is lovely and dd likes the uniform so that’s a plus ! Does anyone know if there is options there for girls to take more like 9 or 10 GCSEs? Many thanks

So

@juneyb thanks so much for your response ! how does it work with grammar stream do they do some lessons all together and some are streamed or mix form groups or a mixture ? The thing that worried me most was old reports of bullying but I’m wondering if this is now dealt with much better as I know it happens everywhere. Great to hear your DD is doing well. Thanks so much x

Bumping to see if anyone has more info on the school ? We are new to area and DD been offered place. Can’t make up my mind,
lots of conflicting reports ! She’s fairly able and I think had we been in the area longer we would have tried for a grammar wondering if any feedback on grammar stream in particular ?
thanks

Nothing yet

Just logging on to see if anyone knew the recent Ofsted outcome ?? Thanks !

Hi, DD started there in September, so far its been really good. She has settled in well and is receiving support (she is dyslexic). No issues so far and I do like the way they are teaching her, there is a lot of visual stuff, posters arty creative stuff that she really likes and is good at. She loves that she gets achievement points for good work and effort and she is really engaged. She has made some nice friends already. She is quite sporty also and is enjoying the sports clubs. So for us, it's a thumbs up (for now anyway) its still early days though so cautiously optimistic at the moment.

Hi, I have no real issues with the school. My daughter is still extremely happy there. Lots of school trips organised abroad. My only issue is that sometimes they don't give you enough notice about things such as payment for trips, or auditions for school plays. They can also hold it against you if your child doesn't take part in any of the activities they hold after school or during the lunch hour. Lunch hour activities mean they don't get a chance to eat. They acknowledge that my child is already involved in after-school activities she loves that have nothing to do with the school, but don't seem to understand that doing too many activities can take a toll. I'd rather my child be fully invested in one or two activities than be doing several and hating them because they are so tired. Also, I note that they do a lot of girly activities, which I don't think assists a girl in the real world. I would much prefer that they teach self-defense than dance, but maybe this is what a lot of girls' schools are guilty of.

@Yale445 my DD didn’t end up going to Chislehurst in the end - a place came up at Darrick Wood so we switched. Her best friend went to Chislehurst and seems happy. Bit of a bumpy start with a fellow year 7 being unkind, but I think that’s sorted now.
@StressedOutMumBex how’s your DD getting on?

Bumping to see if anyone has any more recent feedback on this school ?

@StressedOutMumBex you're welcome.

My comments are just based on our experience - though dd friends and parents are equally happy - but I hope your daughters settle well and are happy at the school

@TangerineSloth I think 2020 was a really difficult year to transition, my son started his secondary school in Sept 20 and he had no 'in person' induction at all and virtually nothing to assist transition organised except an online tour of the school so I know what you mean, it was difficult for him.
My DD went to the induction day on Tuesday and she did do the CAT test, they said all kids would be doing it and all do it the same way etc and that it was really to gauge their attainment vs. trying to stream for Grammer. Was also told that the maths-watch was kind of the same but specifically for maths and also designed to get them used to doing their homework in an online format. Anyway my DD really enjoyed the day and I have now had several interactions with the SEND manager and the Senco there (all good). I will meet them in person on Monday so hoping all will be well. Thanks for all your insights TS.

I think sometimes they don't realise how incredibly daunting this transition can feel for all dc, let alone those with additional needs. Coincidentally I did meet the SenCo at a school event - she'd helped my DD do an assembly - and she was lovely, not that this is much comfort to you if she's not offering practical help at the moment. I think you have a new parents meeting next week which might reassure if you can make it? Feels a while ago now but I do remember the endless maths watch work and other summer work - tbh I thought it was set because the Y7s starting in 2020 had missed so much schooling and had had no induction days at all. DD did most of it but no reference was made to any of this work once she'd started at the school. The school seemed to put girls in classes according to primary school reports (no SATs that year either) then they sat CAT tests in October - but it was a strange year thanks to the pandemic.

I did consider saying no to the maths also, its a bit of a waste of time for us as well as my DD is dyslexic and struggles with tests in general. Initially they said that she did not need to do the CAT test they would take her SATS scores from Primary, then I got an email saying that they had made arrangements for her to do tomorrow. I will raise I again because if that is really to establish whether they are potentially grammer stream or not - we already know that she is not.

@StressedOutMumBex I have said my DD will not be doing either the maths or the cat test. They can’t make them I don’t think. Yes I think it’s for their grammar stream (well I know the cat test is) and my DD will not be in the grammar stream so pointless putting her through it and making her feel inadequate. I explained we’re trying to keep this transition a positive experience. They can test her maths levels once she starts. At primary she goes out for maths in a small group and that helped her, so I’m hoping they do something similar there. She’s been assessed by an educational psychologist and done these type of cat tests before so for her it’s pointless as the EP identified a fluid and spatial reasoning issue. So no point putting her through that, and they have agreed with me she won’t do it. I got no response on my email saying we’re not doing the maths but we haven’t been doing it. Neither has her friend from primary that is also going there. We’re just not bothering!