shrewsbury school

[wsdfghhgfd]

opinions on shrewsbury school? I've heard some rumours that its dropped a bit in terms of academic performance especially last year? looking for a more academic boarding school

Shrewsbury is a broad church as they say, focusing on the whole person. But if your child has academic ability then the school will help them succeed to their fullest.Plenty of Old Salopians in the top universities each year including those external to UK. Both Heads of School are heading to Harvard this coming academic year for example.

That's an amazing achievement for any school @OxfordAcademicMum. The support for US applications was very lackluster at DS's school.
Shrewsbury school must be doing a great job.

I would have thought more academic than Shrewsbury in the West Midlands would be Rugby / Oundle.

Recommend Oundle. Will really stretch you academically and in all other aspects. Ethos is "hard-working" and "driven". Broad church, but really pulls the bottom up to the max who are middling academically and stretches the top level which are Westminster level.

Well I used to hear it was quite good academically too but apparently that's slipped in recent years - can anyone confirm/refute?

My understanding is Shrewsbury has quite a broad intake. We've known some v clever, diligent students go and do very well. Equally their lazy brother came away with almost nothing. We also know some academically quite weak students go. Pastorally anecdotes would suggest it's not the best for girl boarders. We decided not to send our daughter.

Rugby or Oundle?

I have two DC at Oundle. I would describe it as an academic full boarding school. It is moderately selective at 13+ and at sixth form, anyone not trying their best will be given 10 months notice to improve their diligence or asked to leave for sixth form. Sixth form joiners require a high academic benchmark currently. Leavers are rare as the warning usually has the desired effect. It’s cool to work hard there. Anyone not trying hard is very much looked down on by other pupils. As a result, even the most average academically seem to exel. Out of five tiers (sets) at gcse , the top three streams will get mostly 9s with a sprinkling of 8s at set 3 and then some 7s and maybe a 6 at the bottom tiers. By a level most are aiming for As and A*s. Bs rare. No one expects a C.
I think rugby school is similar in outlook.
Uppingham would like to be but they still don’t hire attract the most academically able children as yet despite a push from admissions to improve academic calibre.
I have no idea about Shrewsbury so cannot compare.
Oundle seems to be a very stress free academic environment. My distinctly average ability child seems to breeze through GCSE’s with very high expectations and not stressing at all. Quite different to the academic ability displayed at prep school! Oundle has definitely made my dc blossom academically.
Hope this helps.

Oundle is not in the West Midlands, or anywhere near Shrewsbury

thecricketers fair enough but comment still stands.. ps I didn't say it was near Shrewsbury..

@wsdfghhgfd where are you ‘hearing’ all these things from? Reputable sources, research that you’ve done or gossip? Have you visited any of these schools?

from current students at Shrewsbury. In any case its own results page shows 16% got 9s at IGCSE. Maybe I'm speculating but I find it interesting they only displayed IGCSE results and not gcse results

Are you talking about Oundle or Shrewsbury dropping? I feel like Oundle focus on A/A at A level not A-B nowadays.

A star /A. *

How big is the cohort?

What percentage sit IGCSE rather than GCSE, and why?

Yeah this is correct. I was a middling academic that I would say is now pretty clever thanks to Oundle, much more driven. The school makes many realise they’re clever and talented, you just need to put the work in. Highly recommend an Oundle education.

IGCSE is known to be slightly easier than the new 'reformed' GCSEs after Gove re-did then and nicer with the boundaries - that's why a lot of priv schools do them. That's why I find it suspicious that they're taking off GCSE results. I think Shrewsbury is like high 100s but no way close to 200 for their Y11. That being said, a 16% nine rate is not particularly impressive for 14k a term. Whether that was post covid shock or not I do not know. But it definitely does well in sport just not so sure about grades.
https://inews.co.uk/news/education/igcse-private-school-benefits-education-reform-386152

I’m amazed that they would opt to go for an easier qualification! I certainly wouldn’t be impressed if my child was put in for that!

if the standard of education is that good, surely they should be achieving top grades at a more rigorous level of assessment.

IGCSE was harder then Gove made all GCSE exams harder.

To be honest, this is why just looking at grade percentages isn’t useful. It needs analysing always. Lots of schools will offer easier subjects to get more A*s in, some encourage higher tier students to take four a levels and invariably one will be a b increasing b percentage but not necessarily meaning school is less academic then there are people with American uni offers that don’t even try for their a levels because they don’t mean anything - some also do BTECs and include them in a level grades. There are other reasons why grades are the way they are.

Always analyse their grades, and just get opinions from students and parents from the schools on how academic they are. Also ask education consultants they normally best to give advice on which is most academic that is unbiased.

My grandfather who was born in 1911 went to Shrewsbury 🤣he went on to Cambridge and was a successful businessman in his time. Probably not the most up to date reference though. I felt compelled to reply though as I remember him talking about his days there (including getting a sore bum from rowing before they had sliding seats)🤣. Good luck! I hope whatever you choose works out for your child 🙏

Shrewsbury is lovely, kind and friendly school. Great head and beautiful campus. It isn't an academic hot house, and achieves in-line with other large independent schools.

Muchtoomuchtod

For 14k a term 16 percent nines isnt so bad, also in 2022 they got 72 percent nine to sevens which put them above marlborough college so i wouldnt say that it is bad, i would say that generally schools have better performing years than others.

Muchtoomuchtod

For 14k a term 16 percent nines isnt so bad, also in 2022 they got 72 percent nine to sevens which put them above marlborough college so i wouldnt say that it is bad, i would say that generally schools have better performing years than others.

i completly gsce on average they place 101 and in 2021 they got 89 which isnt so bad.