Kent Grammar schools

https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?t=59716&start=50

There are loads of threads on the Kent 11+ forum (link above, but not sure if if will get zapped) @expatinmys which discuss all of the pros and cons of both schools. I have/had 3 sons at Skinners' and we are very happy with their school experiences. (The eldest two could have chosed Judd but preferred the overall feel of Skinners')

Better to start a new thread with the names of the two schools in the title, expatinmys.

Hi. Just came across this thread. Does anyone have any information on skinners or Judd schools in terms of academic performance and general behavior?

Both Dane Court and CCGS are very good schools. I have 3 DCs who have attended a mixture of the two and I have no complaints about either school.

They don't have a "preference" for local children. Most of them just take anyone who passes the exam starting with nearest the school and working outwards until the school is full.

Start your own thread rather than putting zombie threads back in Active Convos, @dyslexicresearcher

It's just wait now...

In the unlikely event your dd doesn’t get into Dane Court, there’s always waiting lists and appeals. But if she winds up at CCGS, she will be fine. Honestly.

Thank, you, yes we do live in Thanet and assessed suitable for Grammar, but reading all about Pupil Premium, local authority kids have advantage, just scared that my daughter will not get it as we don't have any additional advantages apart for passing that test....tbh its long wait until March to find out

If you live in Thanet, your dc almost certainly will get a place at Dane Court, as long as they “have been deemed suitable for a grammar school.” They may have scraped a pass (which includes Head Teacher appeal), or have scored full marks - the actual mark is irrelevant.

I live in Herne Bay. Some years children from here get into Dane Court, but mostly they don’t. My dds all attended CCGS, and were extremely happy there.

Hi, how difficult is to get in Dane court Grammar school, anyone knows please? When school gets the kids names do they look at Kent test score to select kids?

I agree with @Panicmode1 re: the advantages/disadvantages (and re: the Skinners Headmaster's response to the crappy driving/parking around the school. Ed Wesson will write in the school bulletins about how parents should be more considerate with driving/parking and notifies them of the carpark nearby. Some people just don't think that applies to them!). My son is at Skinners. I think it's great that he can walk there and back, that he and his friends (most of them) live nearby (so it's easier for them to meet outside of school). I'd hate for my DS to have a long commute to school.

My daughter sits her 11plus next year and she wants to go to TWGGS. I'm hoping she gets there (also walking distance) or WOK (bit of a bugger having to take a bus, but hey ho). Otherwise, hoping for Bennett if she doesn't pass 11plus.

But most schools have a distance criteria so I can't really so a problem with Kent grammars having a distance criteria too? As surely the main purpose of the schools is to provide education for local children. The alternatives for us are secondary moderns with around 20% of children getting good GCSE English and Maths. I can assure you no one is driving 2 hours to get to those schools!

Did you say a 2 hr journey??

@LadyHalesBroach A fantastic school, less hothouse than the single sex grammars and the better for it. Coming to the end of 2 kids through there. New head (an old pupil!) is ace, wish we’d had him for more of our time there. It’s a great community, results are good and if your kids are well motivated then they will do very well.

Hi has anyone else got any more feedback on WOK? We too visited at open day and were super impressed but the Ofsted report on bullying does worth me. Is it really true the problem started and ended with the head and now she is gone the issues are resolved ?

@SussexMumofOne beware of marketing....there are plenty of girls at TGS with MH issues, just as there are at TWGGS and WOK. I have friends with children in all of the mentioned schools and there are issues with them all, and the levels of support given - you need to choose the school that suits your child best, and talk to existing parents if you can. Yes, they all have pastoral leads and say they deal with things robustly - but it's different once you are in the schools themselves, and obviously every child is different.

(All four of mine have been or are currently at west Kent grammars. The head at Skinners' does try to stop parents parking - they pay no attention to the constant pleas not to park like idiots and to use the free car park - it's the same at TWGGS and TGS - in fact any school really.

With regards to the OP's question - having priority for local children was partly driven by funding - it costs KCC a fortune each year to facilitate the 11+ testing, many of the candidates are OOC with no chance of getting in, and the schools are asking for funding for buildings etc - so KCC made some of their capital contributions dependent on taking a larger % of local children so that local council tax payers benefit.....(I'm not saying I agree - that's the argument they have put forward).

The traffic in and out of Tunbridge Wells in the mornings and evenings is horrific, so I guess they want to reduce congestion, allow local children to walk to school and have local friendships. When DS1 started at Skinners' there were children coming from London and the south coast - they were exhausted by their commutes, and couldn't do stuff at the weekends, or be part of the school community in the same way. It's been lovely for his brothers to have friends they can get to on a bus or walk to easily.....

@SussexMumofOne, that’s fantastic! I think TWGGS being the only non academy left really shows in lack of building maintenance. The girls proudly pointed to the music practice rooms and I’m thinking… TOGS have installed state of the art soundproof practice rooms… really can tell there’s been investment in their facilities. There was a sense of brimming pride from the parents and girls in the open morning that made me smile. We are thinking more in practical terms of travel. One school is 5 min walk a day, the other involves 2 hour commute of walking/trains.

@Nekoness We almost didn’t - we know several girls who go there and they all love it, we spoke to them about the bullying and they all said the same, ‘the head was the issue and now she is gone’! It is worth seeing in my opinion.

We saw TGS last night and this is now our firm favourite. Our DD just seemed to fit in there and was confident and happy walking around and engaging with both the students and teachers. We felt that the way they teach MYP snd IB worked really well with our DD’s learning style and believe that the school was able to offer the most in terms of resources and bringing out the best in their students. They have a strong focus on mental health and well-being, which is as important to me as my DD’s education.

Interesting about WOK. They must be really trying their bestest. We didn’t even consider it, given the horrifying bullying that lead ofsted to step in.

Anyone thinking of applying to Cranbrook? How does that compare to TWGG etc?

@Nekoness yes we thought the same. We were not very impressed. WOK tour was fantastic, interactive, lots of teachers to speak to, great resources and a welcome gift bag! The students at TWGGS didn’t seem as happy somehow?

Ooo, thank you! They added more dates since I last looked. Popped over myself now as am shocked how scruffy it is compared to Tgs. Would be interested in your view when you toured both.

@Nekoness not we are going to the open morning at TWGGS today which starts at 11 and the open eve at TGS which starts at 17:45.

@SussexMumofOne, are you getting personalised tours? Toggs open morning was yesterday and Twggs was a while back. If you’re getting 1:1 tours, love to hear your opinion on what you saw and how they compared. It’s so different to open mornings and evenings.