Watford grammar boys v.s. private schools (MT, HABS)

Hi @Smilingapple a year on - how is your son finding Watford boys? Thanks so much!!

That's amazing! Thanks for sharing

I was interested to re-read the thread too and hope the boy made a choice that has gone well (I am sure every school in the country has some bullying and it is hard to stamp it out).

Hi @Smilingapple , which school did you choose and is your son liking it so far?

Also I have heard that when it's near GCSE time, a lot of the kids at private schools have extra tuition outside to help boost their results. Is that true?? Thanks!

Ironically this is more the case for my friend at Watford Boys than at our school.

But some parents were obsessed with tutors from early prep school onwards although I never really understood why as the teaching was very good.

I have had two at MTS (we also had a place at Habs) and know quite a few parents/boys at Watford Boys (we also play them regularly at sport) . Happy to answer any questions (one son is still at MTS).

I have a ds at Watford Boys, had a dc at another local state, and have friends with children at all of the local state and private schools.

I am very happy with the Boys School. I haven't heard any stories about bullying or gangs (not saying there aren't any, but I haven't heard any mention at all from ds).

Academically, it's solid. Good ethos, teaching is generally good. It has a fantastic music department, which is why my ds is there.

And, yes, I have many friends who sent their dcs to MTs or Berko or RMS because they didn't get into the Girls or Boys, so that is definitely a thing around here.

I don't like SCDs. I know many dcs who did experience bullying, and my two were adamant that they didn't want to go. Again, just my experience.

Saying all of the above, my eldest dc went to another local state secondary by choice, and is now at oxbridge.

Guess the answer is, don't overthink it tbh.

As a past student of watford boys between 2014-2019, I would urge any parent not to send their son here. The level of care pastorally and socially is disgusting, this may be different to what you experienced, but you must think about how the school gets its funding, through the influx of students and so would do their best to paint best picture possible. I have two younger brothers in the school currently who tell me stories of students getting “jumped” or attacked by other students in various years. The gang culture is becoming infamous and was prevalent in older years before I joined and ever increasing since. Some teachers are brilliant and really do care about students academic and social wellbeing, however I would argue these teachers are in the minority. From an academic standpoint, the school is good, the results speak for them self, as a public school they produce good results, held up through certain talented students. However, socially the school is terrible and the amount of bullied students and/or victims of physical attacks is crazy and seems to be increasing. I myself was bullied and subject of various attacks not just from students in my year, but older and younger years. My siblings ran into similar troubles and have different stories everyday. I understand from the open day that you were very impressed with what you saw, however the students who showed you around were in year 8, it is compulsory to do this for the school, and if there are bad reviews from parents from what the students may have described they are given after school detentions for “serious misrepresentation of the school” however, these students I would argue fir the majority are speaking truthfully. I know this was certainly the case for me and my brothers (one of who is in year 9 now and thus did the open day last year).
I have done my best to give you as much of an insight of the school from the perspective of an ex-student and current students. I would recommend the private schools if you are adamant these are the inly school in consideration. From a public school perspective, St Clement Danes is probably the best public school in Hertfordshire and NW London for a variety of reasons

Also this happened before the pandemic - in 2019, not last year.

We live locally so know this story. I would not call it a scandal - and I feel badly for the school, who was extremely unfortunate that a member of its grounds staff took advantage of his tenure, and used the home provided to him in good faith, by the school. The caretaker was part of a ring that was supplying to the counties (not to the students). It was a huge betrayal to the school and the community.

The school handled it as well as these things can be handled, and I was impressed to hear from current parents that Habs discussed it sensitively with older DC, about the real human story, cost, and tragedy behind what they were hearing about someone who was part of their community.

www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/18782300.former-haberdashers-askes-boys-caretaker-jailed-drug-ring/

@PeekabooAtTheZoo different perspectives and all that but in South Bucks RMS and Berko are generally the fallback options for girls if they don't pass the eleven plus for the Bucks grammars. For boys the fallback is Berko. The grammars there are pretty good at turning out rounded DC.

I am not considering grammar schools unless we really can’t manage private fees. For me it’s not about the results, it’s about the extracurricular activities, good facilities, guidance and the fact the students get to construct an identity beyond their exam results.

I wouldn’t consider a selective state school because I went to one and my whole self esteem has been tangled up in my (plentiful) academic achievements. The education was good, but that was all I got.

MT looks fantastic as does Habs for DS although I’m watching what they do with the scandal that came out last year and if I had to pick right now, would probably send DD to RMS or Berko girls instead.

What about Parmiters they have spaces allocated for musically talented children

Actually I wasn't the one saying Watford Grammar (which is not really a proper grammar as it is not entirely selective) has better results than the academic private schools. I just assumed it did not. Someone else might have suggested it did.

I don't agree that only those who could not get into the not really a grammar school Watford grammar only go to private schools in that case. Lots of London parents have more than enough money to pay fees and prefer to pay fees. My children and I and my siblings have never been to a state school. That is not because I have anything against them but we just don't need to and I think many of the children in the more academic private schools WOULD get into Watford grammar.

Habs boys 2022 got about 52% A star at A level. Watford grammar only got 25%.

It is not really a fair comparison as Habs is 100% a selective school and Watford grammar is not however.

I have nothing against Watford grammar by the way. I just was putting the pro private school point of view.

If your DS is not super academic I might go for independent option. My children are very academic and they are at full grammars but they are in the top handful in their year groups and get enough individual attention and challenge because of that. Friends with less academic DC have opted for independents similar to the ones you mention and are happy with them. Also, music wasn't a big thing for mine. They play music to decent grades but it was has never been of special interest for them. That might push me towards independent too.

The main difference is wether your child can get into the Grammars.. If t hey cannot they tend to go to Private.
This persepctive comes form having a chkd at the Grammar and also talking to collegaues who have friends at MT.

Although to be fair Watford Boys leans very much towards middle class parents too.

There’s more to diversity than ethnicity though.

I agree the private schools in NW London / Hertfordshire often have white pupils as a minority (certainly our local private school does).