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Original poster

Magna Academy-Poole

18 replies

MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 13:39

Does anyone have any recent experience of thoughts on Magna? We are choosing secondary schools and although I have my reservations it might have to be Magna.

  • It used to be one of the strictest schools in England with regular news stories about their rules and detentions.
  • It had a different head and I don't think it's so strict.
  • I think it takes mainly from the nearby estate? They used to focus on "raising aspirations."

I'd like them to have got into grammar but I'm not sure that will be the case.

OP posts:
Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 15:49

Bumping for after school crowd!

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 16:44

Different head at Magna now. Not sure it has a catchment area either. It’s popular and oversubscribed but I think the priority is siblings then everyone else by distance. There is a large housing area nearby which has quite expensive end and a less nice end. But there will be kids going there from across the town I should think. I Don’t know the school personally but a friend went to the opening evening last year and gave me this info. Comments were: modern facilities all brand new, very light and bright. In top 5% of schools, seem really focused on academic achievement and excellence. Got the impression it's ideal for someone who likes a bit of order and discipline. They are known for being strict and the rules shown at the open evening weren't at all unreasonable but unlike other schools they really do enforce them.

Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 16:46

Ofsted Outstanding by the way. It’s definitely a good school now.

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Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 16:56

Thanks. We're going to the open evening in a bit. I don't think it's as strict as it was/I've heard don't think they enforce the detentions each day for homework for example but it's third hand rather than someone I know!

I think the top 5% is a progress 8 rather than high achieving. I'll just go and look up the distance.

OP posts:
Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 16:56

Ps where did your friend go in the end?

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 17:09

They chose Poole High in the end which is further away for them than Magna but they got in via the academic stream test. After viewing both, and the grammar, they felt PH offered more music etc and seemed a bit more “fun”!

Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 17:10

I’ll be going through the same process in a few years. What are your other options/choices?

Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 17:15

Similar really. She is supposed to be sitting PH academic stream test on Saturday but she really doesn't want to go to PH (too far away/buses/too big) so I don't think she will be keen too. I quote liked Poole High but could see her liking when she's older but being completely overwhelmed in yr 7. We're not in catchment so would only get in on academic stream.

We're really hoping she passed for grammar as that's where she wants to go but aware she wasnt overly happy with how the test went on the day.

Just off to see Magna ....

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 17:19

Magna is smaller than PH. I know people with kids at St Edwards who are happy but you need to live very close or apply on faith grounds

Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 17:22

I think she's seeing Magna as smaller and preferring it- I am just not sure about it!

I just looked up distance and Magna is 1.04 on distance last year (so mainly the estate and some from Ocean ) and St Edwards just under a mile. I don't think we're close enough to St Edwards sadly as I've heard a lot of positive things about the school!

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 17:43

I think Ocean Academy are priority for Magna after siblings

what is your catchment school?

Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 19:41

Our closest is Magna which is why we're looking at it (it's probably our only option if we don't do PH academic stream!)

I enjoyed the open evening more than I thought I would and it is a nicely laid out school.

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/09/2022 20:18

I think it’s a good option, there’s certainly some others to avoid in that area!

Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 20:31

Yes there's a few which don't fill up which could be worse!

OP posts:
Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/09/2022 20:31

Thanks for the encouragement 🥰

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 29/10/2022 17:29

Did you come to any decisions, OP?

Original poster
MagnaQuestion · 29/10/2022 18:04

Hello!

Yes my daughter passed for grammar thankfully. However I was actually really impressed at open evening. It's laid out well, there's clubs (I don't think clubs were really a thing in the detention days of previous head) the parents talk didn't even mention detentions so I think it's got a different ethos.

All the children that showed us work were polite and it had a good feel to it so I wouldn't have a problem with it as a school and it does get results.

It doesn't offer gcse music every year, doesn't have a proper orchestra or I guess the demographic on the whole that want one maybe which was a downside. But she plays out of school anyway.

OP posts:
Reallycomplicatedpants · 29/10/2022 20:42

My DB is on the SLT at St Edward's - nice to see such positive comments!

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