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Original poster

Didsbury High reviews

30 replies

wehethey · 30/12/2022 16:50

Hi all, looking for some insights on Didsbury High.

Eldest goes to secondary in 2.5y, (currently in y4) and an opportunity has come up to move into Didsbury High catchment. We are currently in Chorlton. I don't want to pursue the grammar route, child is bright but not goal orientated and I'm not a fan of the tutoring etc, however I've heard very good things about Didsbury High, Laurus trust etc. Currently Chorlton High would be the local state option. I know next to nothing about researching high schools, how to compare etc as she's our eldest and we haven't done it before so I'd be grateful for any insights/pointers.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
wehethey · 02/01/2023 18:17

Thanks both. It’s is a gamble. Wanted to do this fairly anonymously as there’s a huge stigma of looking for ‘better’(?) than CHS. ‘It was good enough for my kids…’ etc. plus a lot of creative types in chorlton with creative kids who I imagine would thrive there, as I believe it has a creative bent?

Is DH up to y9 currently? So still 3y before they publish results?

Does anyone know how I can compare schools? There should be SATS results is that right?

And do we know when offsted will assess?

so many questions 😵‍💫

OP posts:
chipshopElvis · 31/12/2022 13:17

Fairly local also and don't know how useful this will be as I don't have direct experience of either school. We didn't list Didsbury as a choice due to its reputation of being very strict, we didn't even visit as it was also a little far so that may not be fair. We did list Chorlton as it seemed more relaxed but with good results. Children attend neither of them and Chorlton was also at the bottom of our list mainly due to distance.

ClandestineResponse · 31/12/2022 12:35

I guess CHS is more of a known entity as an established school - so you will get a bitter idea from others whose kids who have been through it if you can find them. They also have a new bit - CHS South - which I know nothing about!

ClandestineResponse · 31/12/2022 12:32

Ok I’m local - I was waiting to see if anyone would respond and if I could come up with a neutral/helpful response!

If your child is bright, compliant and can understand when to just crack on and get their head down then I think Laurus is a good fit. Some things to bear in mind - it hasn’t had an Ofsted yet so look out for that first one, and it is still under capacity rn so it will
potentially change quite a bit over the next couple of years. No GCSE results as yet, does have a 6th form.

CHS is a funny one - mixed experiences I would say. Is Whalley Range in the mix?

At the end of the day choosing a school is a gamble and pupils/parents can have a shit experience at an outstanding school and a good one at a Good school, or even RI. Didsbury probably isn’t going to fuck up your kids (more than any other school) but it (as in the trust) does have a vibe that not everyone gets on with. Really hard to say if it’s worth moving for that or not!

Original poster
wehethey · 31/12/2022 09:56

Bump!

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