Buckinghamshire grammar schools

@jayab there is a process for 12 plus transfer in Bucks. [https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/apply-for-a-late-transfer-grammar-school-test/] Some DC who miss the eleven plus sit again a year later. However, it might suit your specific circumstances.

Dear TizerorFizz, I feel it’s really cruel of you to suggest I wanted something the school couldn’t give. The child became I’ll, they didn’t care. A complaint was upheld. I’m not sure why you’re so defensive? I never said they were bad schools, merely pointed out that there are issues which people know about not won’t speak about!
im done!

My point was that the school I moved her to, went over and above what the grammar wouldn’t even discuss! Because she stopped being one one their high flyers and became a problem, they didn’t want her any more. We complained and won, they said things would change. I heard they haven’t.
I just don’t want others going into these schools thinking their children will be well looked after, because if things don’t go to plan, they won’t look after them at all

@jayab If she is already 11 she would be year 7 in September so you have missed 11+ entry unfortunately. You need to ask LA which schools will have vacancies for a late applicant, but these will not be grammars.

LIZS, many thanks for your response. Will start a new year thread as suggested.
DD is 11 already and she completed grade 5 here on IGCSE..anxious as only a couple of months for year 6 to start and we haven't started the admission enquiry yet..

Not all issues can be resolved. Life isn’t that easy. We make decisions and if it doesn’t work out, we move on. You clearly wanted something the school could not give.

We’re going round in circles, I’m not asking anyone to second guess anything. But issues can only be resolved if people listen!

I don’t see why parents would second guess your issues. I also take it as a kind suggestion that a 6th form might not be suitable. We took our own view that a particular 6th form wasn’t suitable for DD2. Hindsight is wonderful but few DC have issues that cannot be resolved. If they cannot be resolved, most people would move.

You also can’t heed your own advice if it’s in hindsight!
prospective parents need to ask , how many pastoral support a school has on site at any one time, can be eye opening!
My poorly daughter was told by her favourite teacher ‘ you need to find another 6 th form, cos no one’s going to look after you here’

broke my heart.

Let me assure you, the two grammars I have personal experience of have not got a different approach now! Both awful, and only a few years ago.
I think most would understand not wanting to move a child, where to? New friends need to be made, new everything. And you’re already in a grammar.
As with not moving in years 7 8 or 9, family life became too much, and moving the children ( according to the grammar school) would be to their detriment. Also there wasn’t really a problem until eldest was in year 10, by then the other two were in. Was given nothing but advice which ultimately was in the interest of the school. Said two staff have now left, but I understand nothing’s changed.
like I said they’re good school for the right kids if all’s going well. But if not it’s a different story.
No one said anything negative about the schools before I sent my children, yet people knew there were issues. I just feel honesty is best

That should read: if you dislike a school, why keep DC there? Y7,8,9 is ok to move. 10,11 is obviously difficult.,

It’s not really personal to wonder why, if you dislike a school, you keep dc there. Too scared to move? Scared of what? Other peoples’ children? Ridicule? I don’t get that comment.

Im well aware schools can be poor in supporting DC. My Dsis was 15 when DF died 6 weeks before O levels. No one was remotely bothered. However most schools would have a different approach now. No one went to Oxbridge from my grammar. We were all considered non academic.

If someone had told me at the time I would have seriously considered Oxford options. But no one is honest, problems are glossed over.
so I’m just trying to say warn others that there are other schools out there that do things very differently

I just wish people would be more honest about how things really are. That’s the only way our kids can be truly nurtured and supported

Sorry, Everything!

Why are you getting personal?
my three kids are in three consecutive academic years, and were all happy until GCSEs, by then it was too late to move them! And as I have three years worth of close contact with many grammar parents, I know of many who had wished they’d moved their kids but were too scared to.All I ever said is that grammar education isn’t everything and doesn’t work for all.
Academically all mine were more than suitable, but they’re teenagers, family stuff happens( death of parent ), serious illness happened to one ( so 23% attendance) no support from schools whatsoever, as long as grades are kept high( which they were) they didn’t see any need for any real pastoral care.
basically my experience is that it’s fine if ever is fine. But you’re on your own if there are issues

@Littlemissprosecco
Why did you not heed your own advice? My DD got a grammar place (140 mark) but we chose elsewhere. I know others who did the same. I also know parents who refuse to accept DC are not suitable. They are like dogs with bones. Nothing good ever comes of it. I think parents need to think what truly is best for DC. You are not forced to take the 11 plus or keep trying for years.

I agree not all schools suit all kids. All I originally said was that grammars aren’t the be all and end all. Some parents move into grammar areas as they think they are, all I wanted the op to know is that not all children thrive there and all the happy smiley faces they will see on open days will be the kids who ‘fit’

My children have been in different single sex Bucks grammars since Year 7. They have excelled academically, have had a wide range of extra curricular and have made many strong friendships. I appreciate that my view will have been coloured by our own experience but it has all been positive and I can't see how they would have been happier elsewhere. Definitely not over-pressurised academically and they had lots of spare time to pursue other interests. I have seen a few struggle and some leave before sixth form but it tended to be the ones who were over-tutored, shouldn't really have been there in the first place and couldn't keep up. I can't understand anyone wanting to put their DC in that stressful position.

Not in Bucks, they don't. A handful every year, and most of them are swapping one grammar school for another (ie some girls go to the boys Challoner's school because it's very strong on maths and science), but it's very few. You may well be right @Littlemissprosecco that not all DCs are as happy as it is made out, but that doesn't manifest in them actually leaving.

I totally disagree! I know many who have left unhappy kids in the 6th form, just because they’re Grammars!
A good friends daughter wanted to move, but her father simply said “you’re staying, it’s a grammar school”I think there’s a lot of that going on, but it’s all papered over, after all they are the elusive grammar schools!

As the grammars lose so few at 6th form, I would say most are happy. Square pegs in round holes can happen but I cannot think of any issues other than with a couple ludicrously over tutored DC who got in at 12 (in one case 13). Never ever should have gone. But parents are utter snobs. The grammar school was all about them. Not needs of DC. Who failed miserably!

If you dig beneath the glossy surface I think you’ll find many that aren’t as happy as you think. However moving them out before 6th form is a extremely difficult

I’m sorry if I was unclear, I moved my kids out of bucks grammars into an Oxfordshire comprehensive for 6th form.

I’m very well aware of the schools DC can get into . If Tring has a full range of ability, I would expect better results. It’s not as good as Waddesdon and similar to The Misbourne. They don’t have the grammar stream at all. The west of Aylesbury DC typically go to Mandeville. I was clear that the Aylesbury secondaries are avoided by many but it takes more money to avoid them in terms of buying a house. John Colet in Wendover also has a good reputation and supportive parents. Lots of Wendover DC do not go a few miles up the road to Tring because it’s perceived as superior. JC is very well supported by local DC and many do very well.

@Littlemissprosecco
There are NO comps in Bucks. Secondary moderns might well take DC who got 11 plus but didn’t want a grammar but generally the grammar stream is missing. Therefore they cannot be comps but say they cater for all abilities. That’s true but the top academic DC are largely missing. Plenty of DC are well served in the grammars. I know plenty who have thrived snd excelled. However over tutoring is the big issue. Parents push DC too much and then they cannot cope with pace or exams. If they need a slower pace, accept that and don’t choose a grammar. You can opt out. Generally most people love the grammars but parents need to think what’s best before GCSEs start.

Cherwell is very hard to get into. Lord Williams,Thame, is a better bet.