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Secondary education

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Original poster

RGS Newcastle

41 replies

Minniemoos · 30/03/2008 14:41

DD is currently at an independent girls school and is thoroughly miserable there...imagine the movie "Mean Girls" but without the happy ending!I couldn't move her earler (she's now in Yr 7)because it was physically impossible to get her to Newcastle (my prefered choice)but I've since moved house and although it would be a bit of a trek, I could probably get her to Newcastle now.Does anybody have kids, particularly girls, at the RGS in Newcastle?I'd love to hear how they're finding it there.

OP posts:
Loshad · 16/05/2008 13:01

They are indeed Tortoiseshell, go on, tell me your age to see if we crossed over - i'll go first shall i - 43, dsiss' who were there are 45 and 41.

tortoiseSHELL · 15/05/2008 23:58

Ooh Minniemoos and Loshad - I wonder if that is the school I went to (and YorkieGirl as well?). Are the girls very green????

Zazette · 15/05/2008 23:52

Are you hellbent on private? the comp in Hexham is supposed to be very good, and not far by train from Stocksfield.

Loshad · 15/05/2008 22:52

No I live in North Yorks now, and mine are all boys anyway. But i've heard from several sources about the bullying, including two children of friends (one an old girl) who removed their dd's because of it!
Will keep thinking hat on, but your choices are somewhat limited due to your location - Newc or Durham really. Bet there are some other children nearby lurking in the woods - we live 20 miles form the dss' school and there are another 4 families in our village whose dc's also go to their school. Keep going with the Jam

Original poster
Minniemoos · 15/05/2008 18:16

I agree with your mother!It was a lovely school when she started but it just seemed to get bigger and bigger.Seem to be new girls starting all the time - curious to know if they've ever said that they were "full" to a potential new pupil? Are your kids at school in Durham too? It's interesting you've heard of the bullying there - there's definitely not the "family" atmosphere there that they like to promote.We've talked about maybe staying for another year or so and then moving - like you say, she could get the train herself then and maybe there would be other new starters from prep schools.In the perfect world, there would be some similarly aged boys or girls living locally who are already there that she could meet in the meantime.God, I'd better keep going with the WI then.Any other ideas Loshad? They'll be gratefully received !!

OP posts:
Loshad · 15/05/2008 12:07

I used to go to your daughter's school minniemoos, and loved it there and there was a great atmosphere, but have several reports of bullying there in recent years - would not have been tolerated in any way when my dsis's and I were there (my dear mother's theory is the size increase and push for better exam results has seen pastoral side slip).
RGS is a very good school, know a couple of the teachers there. New uniform thing a bit odd imo - changing balzers/colur every other year nearly but that's a side issue.
DA not as good academically RGS, though head has good reports.
Advantage of RGs is it's proximity to tube station, and although your dd may be too young for that now, you could always keep her at current school say until end of Y8, then move her and she could train it in by herslef.

Original poster
Minniemoos · 13/05/2008 18:07

Thanks for all the posts. DD a tiny bit happier at school and I know how up and down Yr7 can be but we're still going to look at other schools in Newcastle.Unless we choose DA, transport will be a problem - doing the school run myself would involve HOURS of driving.Nearest train station is Stocksfield so one school mentioned the possibility of finding an older "buddy" to chaperone her on the journey.The other alternative is to find someone to lift share with or who drives into Newcastle every day.Not as easy as it sounds, living in the middle of nowhere as I do..In search of this elusive lift share I've had to start networking and have joined the village WI!Bloody hell, the things we do for our kids........Well at least I now know how to make jam

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Mam1 · 12/05/2008 10:17

Hi

My daughter is in year 5 in RGS junior school and is the happiest little girl since moving from her previous primary school.
I also have a son in RGS Senior school who is very happy.

May I add that the teachers and staff are very approachable at the RGS. I would recommend

Bethtinne · 08/05/2008 20:02

Hi
Am trying to get settings changed so I can get in touch!!! am rubbish and failing so far!!

jicky · 07/05/2008 17:10

My niece moved from Central High to RGS for sixth form and was much happier there I think. Think nephew was bullied at RGS a few years earlier. dh went years ago and seems quite normal.

Original poster
Minniemoos · 07/05/2008 16:47

Apparently, if you change the options in your email setting so you can accept messages from other people then I'll be able to send you my email address.It'll be free for you!!

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Bethtinne · 07/05/2008 13:21

Hi
I am going to try and contact you off list (using mumsnet) about DD's problem-thanks for your kind thoughts!) but in the mean time about schools-Dame A is unusual in that boys and girls are taught sep. for most academic subjects but are taught together for some and lots of the vocational stuff. They are on the same site and are all together when not in class. DA's is the school that my son wants to attend sadly DD failed the exam!!

Original poster
Minniemoos · 04/05/2008 10:52

Just realised - I posted a similar query on the "education" section and I did ask about DA school.Typical of me - posted then checked and found out the boys and girls are taught separately so crossed if off my list!The little I now know about it has all been v positive so maybe it's time for a rethink.Gonna get to the bus stop a bit earlier next week and "pounch" on the parents waiting there to quiz them.Poor buggers, they'll think I'm the village loony and I'll end up with a restraining order slapped on me!!

OP posts:
popsycal · 04/05/2008 10:00

DOn't know much about it but it does have a good reputation
It is the first private school that comes to mind if I think about private schools in Newcastle

Original poster
Minniemoos · 04/05/2008 09:55

Thanks for the post - I'm a newbie here too!Is DD any happier at school? Mine's not if it's any consolation Have discovered there's a bus to Dame Allans that picks up from our nearest village.Travelling to and from school is a big issue for us because of where we live - right on the border between Co. Durham and Northumberland.DD has been at school in Durham since nursery as up until last year we lived much nearer Durham.She now gets the bus to school - which incidentally now picks her up from the same spot the DA bus picks up!No way would I have moved this far out if the bus hadn't come this way!!to be honest DA wasn't a school I'd considered because I've been having serious 2nd thoughts about single sex education.I'd always been in favour of it but the girls just seem to be getting bitchier.I can't decide if it's just DDs school or are all girl's schools going to be like that? She's very clever so academically she'll be fine at any school but she's very quiet, into her reading, music and animals (we keep unusual breeds of animals on the farm here as a hobby).All of that is branded "weird" by the other girls.Grrr .Her Dad reckons it'll just be the same at any other school.I'm losing sleep over the whole thing!!
I don't suppose any of this helps your dilemma but sometimes it helps to know there's someone in the same boat as yourself

OP posts:
Bethtinne · 20/04/2008 12:43

Hi
I have just joined Mumsnet and you are my first contact!!
My own DD is in year 7 so I have looked at the schools in Newcastle.
Sadly I don't know anything about RGS but from chat to others and experience with eldest DD,a v popular and good school is Dame Allans(mixed). Many pupils from my middle dd's school( v good RC primary) went there. Others went to Westfield (girls only). My eldest went there and did very well and was very happy. La Sagesse has just closed and Central(girls only) has a reputation for academic excellence but is known as a hot house.
My choice would have been DA but DD failed the entrance exam!
Her father took me to court to prevent me sending her to Westfield so she has been forced to attend the RC High school where she is deeply unhappy in the lowest tier!
I am going to put a post on the board to try to get some feedback on our poaition later.
Hope this helps!

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