Meadowhead School Sheffield

AFAIK it wasn’t a school site before but I believe it was built to replace Abbeydale Grange

Bullying, also not such a good pastoral system. Which of course is linked.

Yeah, King Teds is an odd school.

Part of it’s catchment is from the ultra posh bit of Fulwood and the leafy bits of Broomhill. I think that’s where all the university lecturers and doctors must live!

It has a big bullying problem though. And l live near the lower school. The behaviour of the kids coming out at home time was awful. Always causing problems in the nearby shops. The shopkeepers hated them. They were so horrific on the bus once p had to contact the school.Shouting and swearing.

Tapton also nearby didn’t present these problems. But l think they are much more identifiable as in uniform.

Anyone know what school used to be where Mercia is? I grew up there but don't remember what it was called

Yes, the decline of Bradfield is particularly notable.

@Hallamlass I wonder if we work in the same school 😂 if you received an email today with a rather funny graph leave an emoji in your next comment 😂
If that makes no sense to you then we’re safe from exposure!

Mine weren’t historic.

I taught in one of the schools in SW Sheffield. Meadowhead and Bradfield have been struggling for about 7 years. They were good schools prior to that.

Agree. These are opinions based on current performance from at least 2 posters who work in at least 2 of the schools mentioned currently.

(Mercia is only interested in A level students who are aiming for Harvard, Oxford etc.)

This is absolutely true, but they have a very mixed intake in the pre-GCSE years and I think put a lot of effort into supporting, nurturing and teaching the less able, or less keen, pupils. This is borne out by the p8 score for the disadvantaged cohort, which was the best in the country.

But what do the less academically inclined pupils do after that? I've no idea.

Not historic. I teach in one of these schools.
The p8 scores: top Mercia, then High Storrs, Tapton and Silverdale, etc.
Very bottom? Bradfield and Chaucer.

The thing is, I suspect that some of the comments on this thread refer to historic situations with schools. Newfield Green was pretty awful but not any more. Bradfield was a good school at one time but not currently! Tapton, High Storrs and Silverdale always used to be the top 3 schools for exam results, but last year were beaten into a cocked hat by Mercia. Meadowhead used to be awful, then it was fine, and now it's ??

My DD went to a couple of Sheffield secondary schools and we looked at a lot more, but I don't think there's much point commenting based on that as it was many years ago and things can change!

King Edwards is the only local authority secondary in Sheffield, having fought hard to resist academisation. A former boy's grammar, it still has one of the highest Oxbridge entry rates in the city.

Two of the four children of my neighbour go to Mercia. They are pretty out of control at home but have adapted to Mercia's strict regime without a murmur. The school is modelled on Michaela in Wembley - the singing each morning, lining up in the yard, silent corridors, zero tolerance behaviour policy, teacher tracking, family lunch with conversation topic. On progress 8, it's third in the country (it's first GCSE cohort was last year) with deprived pupils achieving at the same level. Clearly it works for the pupils who go there but I do wonder how its 6th formers will cope with the freedoms of university. (Mercia is only interested in A level students who are aiming for Harvard, Oxford etc.)

They top the p8 rankings, so they're doing something right.

The only secondary schools I would recommend are King Edward's, High Storrs, Silverdale or Tapton.

I would avoid Meadowhead, only ever heard negative things.

Mercia is not my place. But if you want a vegan lunch and no speaking at all in corridors and ‘teacher tracking’ in lessons, then it’s the one for you. I think it’s now one if the top 5 schools in the country.

It may not be that important in the overall scheme of things, but Mercia school meals are actually pescatarian, not vegan (though they will cater for vegans!)

The "silent corridors" rule is not enforced throughout the day, I think it's only when moving from one lesson to another, and not (for example) at the start/end of break and lunchtime.

Sorry! I live in Ecclesall and also teach in the SW!

I know l was just reinforcing what you said.

Op l taught at one of those schools. There was always some movement in y8.

Yes I know. That's my point upthread.
I also said that 30% of properties bought in the last few years are from people moving up from the South East.

Population of Sheffield since 2019 has risen by about 15% after being stable for years.

Mainly in the SW of the city.

@Ermintrudewasinnocent Late to the debate.

Handsworth Grange, in the south east of Sheffield, hasn't been mentioned but it's 4th on the list of 'oversubscribed' and part of the Minerva Trust, along with High Storrs, Stocksbridge and Ecclesfield. A nurturing ethos and effective behaviour policy but tends to get overlooked as it's not in the affluent south west or in the 'avoid' category. It was outstanding but has slipped to requires improvement because of communication over a new locked lavatory policy. Might be worth an enquiry though.

A friend's two boys recently left Meadowhead. She was really concerned about the school's reputation before they went but is thrilled with the school and how it has responded to the different needs of each.

Yeah, I’m guessing from where you are it’s either Forge or Stocksbridge for comp?

l live in SW Sheffield and taught there fir 25 years.

Try for Tapton/Silverdale, they tend to be the top, but swap places .
High Storrs
King Ecgberts
King Edwards ( at a push)

l wouldn’t consider another school. And not Meadowhead. They had a bad rep a few years ago.

Mercia is not my place. But if you want a vegan lunch and no speaking at all in corridors and ‘teacher tracking’ in lessons, then it’s the one for you. I think it’s now one if the top 5 schools in the country.

Some of the pupils are awful! I actually went to All Saints and it’s always been the same.
Huge issue with certain groups with gangs which was the same when I was there. If you’re local you’ll remember a high profile murder in the late 2000s. Similar issues now as when JM was a pupil.
Miss Siddall who I think is now deputy head is brilliant. Staff retention is good but they’re usually over subscribed like Notredame.

As in - Bradfield school is not located in Bradfield village

That's RC, isn't it? Is the entry criteria different? The Head is quite good, although they have had problems with a particular cohort.