To ask for help re Bucks grammars/uppers

[curiousandclueless]

I am relatively new to the Bucks area and looking into secondary schools. We obviously have the grammar system and then the non grammar options. But can anyone tell me more about any of the following:

Dr Challoners (boys)
Chesham Grammar
Royal Grammar School (Wycombe)
Amersham School
Holmer Green School

Are some of the grammars more strongly academic and others more sporty/arty? Or are they all very academic?

How good are the non grammar options if DC don't pass the 11+?

I'm trying to get a feel for each of the schools, their ethos and vibe and which might suit DS best. Will obviously attend open events but any "inside info" would be much appreciated!

Holmer Green is an horrendous school. As in all strongly Grammer areas, the non selective schools are very weak. That's just the way it is.

The schools you have mentioned are very spread about though?

Do you mean in terms of results or the way the school is run?

All of these schools would be potential options for us (we are in catchment for all, although not sure re RGS....)

Hi Curious,

I grew up in Bucks and went to one of the all girls' grammar schools. Here are my general opinions on them all, these are based on the people I know who go there and the general stereotypes of them/ what other mums have said to me about them! So kind of inside knowledge, but please dont take my words as gospel as I'm sure others will say different to me!
Dr Challoners (boys) - very good school, a lot of middle class go there, quite sporty and academic, less arty
Chesham Grammar - more arty, they care a lot about their pupils
Royal Grammar School (Wycombe) - VERY sporty, they have more rugby leagues than I can count and hugely encourage sports in Y7/Y8, and are very keen on anything cadet/army related too. Most boys who attend seemed to think they have elite status. (compared to for example, John Hampden)
Amersham School - I dont know much about this as I dont know anyone who went there
Holmer Green School - poorly performing and seem to have a lot of issues surrounding teachers and managing bad behaviour. I've heard a lot of bad stories and I know a boy who attended this school and was severely bullied and the school did absolutely nothing to help him.

Within the last 10 years or so the best comprehensive school generally was The Misbourne, that is the school I would have attended if i hadn't pased 11+

I hope this helps!

Thanks reservoir, that's really helpful. Don't know John Hampden, I will look it up.

What you have said sort of backs up what I had thought, but it wasn't based on much, so it's great to get your insight!

My knowledge will be somewhat out of date as i/people I know attended those schools some time ago now.

Challoners very much a middle class school, sporty and academic.

Chesham less noticeably middle class, less sporty and more arts/performing arts but still strong academically

RGS gave off impression that thought it was a private school

Amersham was one of the better comps

Quite a few people I knew who were near the border chose to go to Clement Danes in Herts if they didn't pass 11+

I disagree actually. I'm in Bucks, I have 2dc in non - grammars and I wouldn't say either of the two my DC are at are weak. For the one Dd1 goes to there is a lot of competition,because it is good. There is a minority that are poor, there is one out of 5 in my town that is. Visit them. Get a feel for them.

Inflagrante are your DC at one of the schools I've named or the Misbourne or are you further afield? I have to admit the post above declaring all non grammars in Bucks poor did shock me a little. Really good to hear from parents of DC at non grammars as how do I know if DS will pass the 11+, and what about the kids whose parents can't afford tuition?!

I canny gauge how hard it is to pass the 11+ having never been through this system myself or with a DC. How bright do they need to be to pass it? Is it only "top of the class" kids that get through?!

Thanks Jager
I've heard good things about Clement Danes. I think they need to show a gift in a particular area (music, creative writing etc) to get in, or that this helps. I might be wrong though!

I’ve got one at Chesham.

We were in the outer catchment in Herts when we applied. We were in west Herts and were looking st the watford consortium schools. Looked around Chesham as a back up and they liked it more than the watford schools so moved here. I know the intake area has shrunk a lot since then. We wouldn’t have got in for the September 19 intake at our old address.

We liked Chesham because whilst being v v academic it also seemed to have better pastoral care than Wbgs which was our original first choice. It just seemed a nice place to be. So far our gut instinct seems to have paid off.

I also went to a grammar school in Bucks and very much agree with what reservoircats said. All the grammars are good schools generally but seem to have different types of people in them so would depend what you want for your child.

Challoners seemed to have a lot of students from very well off families - a little posh.
Rgs seemed to be the most sporty - lots of rugby and they had their own cadets a few years ago. They had a small amount or boarders last I know most of which were kids with parents in the army.

Have you considered John hampden? I thunk that was a really good school but had boys from more mixed backgrounds.

May just be my personal experience but I found it hard to keep up financially with most of the people I went to school with and it did affect me. My parents were pretty well off as well but lots of CEOs children in my year, people with 3 Aston martins etc... obviously don’t know your circumstances though.

Heard quite a lot of bad things about Holmes green though.

My sisters child just started at secondary and have heard lots of good things about Chalfont community college being massively improved and now one of the best non-grammars in the area. Let me know if you have any other questions!

As for 11+, half of my year when I was at school passed but think it does depend on the primary school. I had 2 hours of tutoring from a family member at home to help.

For 11+ I was in the highest set for english and second highest for maths, everyone who passed was either in the top second or second top set for english/maths if that gives you some idea of the difficulty? I've heard its changed twice since i did it though.

Agree with @princessmum1 about competing in school. A lot of the girls had HUGE houses with Porsche's etc and I was from a fairly normal background wealth-wise, no designer cars, a modest 3 bed semi etc etc and even felt poor sometimes compared to everyone else!

John Hampden is a fantastic boys grammar and every boy who went there that got on my school bus etc was lovely, which contrasted to the RGS boys!!

I agree with what others have said about the grammars.

But both my DC where in the top groups for maths and English at primary, but just couldn't show this enough in their 11+

they are in a Comprehensive which has pushed and offered them everything they need. I think the results for GCSE this year have been very good obviously the percent getting 9/8 is smaller than the grammars (although in a previous year they were the same as a nearbyish grammar) because their intake is of all different levels. Also they have a wide selection of choices for GCSE. Including triple science and computer science. I've heard there is a shortage of computer science teachers across the country so some school can not offer it as a GCSE subject.

They also have an outstanding 6 form.

So I don't agree that all non grammars are poor.

Thanks for all replies, really helpful.

Interesting to hear so many positive reports re John Hampden, definitely going to check it out. I suspect DS would favour co-ed but at the moment want to consider all options.

DS's school don't set for subjects so I don't have an idea of him being top set etc. He is able and bright certainly but not top of the class. His school don't seem to have the chat to tell you whether you should be going down the 11+ route or not (I know some schools that do). Might try to have an off the record chat with his teacher from last year.

Also really good to hear from parents with DC at non grammar. There seems so much hype around the grammars and it is good to hear "real life" accounts of the alternatives! Thank you all.

I went to one of the girls' grammars in Bucks so my knowledge of the boys' / mixed schools is second hand. But I had the impression, like PPs, that RGS had a bit of a superiority complex. I wasn't aware of a greater sports focus; John Hampden seemed equally sporty to me. JH also seemed a bit more mixed, demographically. Obviously there are pleasant and unpleasant people everywhere but my non-English friends at RGS had a harder time than those at JH (but that's a very small sample). Are you in the catchment for Borlaise? That's a good co-ed grammar in Marlow.
Re comprehensives, if you're open to Catholic school, some of my relatives had really good experience of St Bernards. Found them very supportive academically.
You used to be able to buy practice books for the 11+ tests - these might be helpful either to practice or to get an idea of what level your DS is at.

I went to Chesham when it was still Chesham High and not Chesham Grammar. But it was 25 years ago so not able to advise, as I should imagine it has changed a lot since then.
BUT.
I'm now pretty high up in the medical profession, about to complete a masters and looking to do a PhD.
Two of my best friends went to Amersham then to Chesham for 6th form (I don't think it's called that anymore..?) and they are both in eye-wateringly well paid jobs these days.

Non grammar are not all poor in this area! Go to the open evenings, speak to the kids (and parents with older kids already there, you can tell who we are ) and get a feel for them.

The Amersham school is excellent and has a really good reputation. I know a lot of families with children there and all are very happy with it. The head teacher is very strong and has high expectations for the pupils.

I agree with reservoircat. I went to challoners quite a while ago and while both my parents are professional (teachers) a lot of girls were rich with brand new cars at 17 etc. The boys school was similar but not as posh (snobby!) as the Wycombe boys schools.
My brother went to misbourne (which was excellent then) then chesham high and has now just finished a masters in science.

I think generally all the schools in bucks are very good.

Misbourne was looked at. But we're 2 stops away by train, and the chances of getting in were slim. And why fight it when the stop between home and Misbourne had Colet? Ds' school (Risborough) was rated needs improvement. However the SEN support for him has always been excellent, and it's now joined forces with a grammar, so can only go upwards.
I'm very happy with the non-grammar options, they're both an excellent fit for my dc

Thanks for further responses, I am so glad I started this thread and am benefitting from all of your insight and experience!

Went to Amersham open evening last night, really impressed actually. The head was fabulous. I found the pupils cheerful, happy, positive about their school. DS also really liked it! Will continue with other open evenings, and speak to as many people as possible over the coming months.

Do the non grammars tend to take many (if any) from outside catchment? I'm wondering if it's worth considering looking at non grammars we are not in the catchment for.....

Actually same question re the grammars. We aren't catchment for John Hampden, although not very far outside. Is it worth considering or do we stand no chance?

It depends on the school. Your best bet is to look at least years figures. Remember to take account of bulge classes - Dd1's school did this for the current y8 & 9. While you research out might be worth looking round. Also, remember there's a lot of movement right up until September with appeals.
As an anecdote, from what I've heard from my DC, their peers who scraped a pass, who who have classmates who scraped in have then found grammar tough. A good comp will stretch the able.

I have DC in Chesham Grammar & Dr Challoners. Both absolutely first class schools.
Chiltern Hills Academy (Chesham) also vg for those who don't know pass.
Approx top 20% will pass 11+.

Ooh I went to DCHS too - shout out to the others in this thread. And sorry for hijacking op!