Buckswood, Battle Abbey, Moira House

[WhichSchoolDilemma]

Any info on the above? Or anywhere else in the area within 20 miles of Battle?

Claremont senior school has opened this year. Open day on 14-15th oct. It's in Bodiam for year 9 up and on prep school site on a21 up to y8. I know several peope who have sent their children to Buckswood and they seem very happy with it. Lots go to Battle Abbey the only bad thing I have heard is the old buildings make space quite tight.

Try Ashford School. It's been winning a lot of accolades recently.

Hi, I live in Bexhill and currently my yr 8 son attends Claremont Prep. We are in the process of registering at senior schools for 2012. Buckswood is a no go for us and isn't particularly highly thought of. Their results are very low, although they do have a high number of foreign students who (I've been told) do not take GCSE's thus making their results in the league tables look a little disappointing.

Battle Abbey was one of the seniors schools we were interested in. Obviously its premises are small and the possibility of enlarging (and updating classrooms in the Abbey) is pretty limiting. It is small and it fosters a real family approach, where everyone seems to know everyone. I've heard its pastoral care is brilliant. Yet again its GCSE and A levels results for 2011 put it high up on the leader board.

my sons prep school have this September opened their own senior school department in Bodiam (in what was Bodiam Manor Schools premises after they closed last year) We have visited this site twice now, once just after Bodiam Manor closed and Claremont purchased it, where the vision for the school was announced and then last week, now the school has been completely refurbished and brought up to modern secondary standards. We were thoroughly impressed and have signed on the dotted line. It also means that both my children will have a continuity in education.

Moira House (MoHo) in Eastbourne is fantastic! well it was when I attended there many, many years ago! As an all girls school, we were always encouraged to succeed and push ourselves in areas that were normally dominated by men. It was always a little bitchy (all girls normally are!) but any problems were always handled excellently by the teaching staff. Its in beautiful surroundings and the views from Tadd art were always amazing.

If you are looking specifically at Senior schools, have you looked at Eastbourne College and St. Bedes as well?

www.claremontschool.co.uk
access to prep and senior site
www.battleabbeyschool.co.uk
www.eastbourne-college.co.uk
www.stbedesschool.org

any more info just shout

I have a daughter at Battle Abbey. I'm extremely happy with it both academically and pastorally. She came from a state primary and has fitted in so well and I have aspirations of sending my other children there too.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about it.

Thanks all.

I am going to visit some of the above. Have got the prospectus' on line for Buckswood, Claremont and Battle.

Will look at Ashford too.

What I have heard about Buckswood, I love! I think the issue with the gcse is that the foreign students as well as some British do take the IGCSE, and therefore when the results are published in the league tables it would only count the gcse's, according the the government website. And wow what a uniform!

Also noticed that quite a lot of the claremont pupils have joined year 7 this year which I thought was odd considering they have their onw senior school now as you say.

Claremont looks great. The fees seem to be cheapest of all the schools, which is always good !!

Is Battle Abbey a bit more academic than the other 2 above?

I have one child who is pretty academic and one who is sporty, but would like them both to go to the same school.

Moving from kent to Battle area soon, so wanted to get the info on schools. Ashford may be a tad far out, but certainly worth looking at.

St Bedes recommended by anyone?

Hi again,

Your academic child would most probably achieve well at Battle Abbey or Claremont. Its hard to say what results will be like at the senior school as it is so new. One advantage of Claremont is that it being a traditional prep school all pupils take CE which is equivalent to a foundation GCSE. Claremont originally was always a feeder school for Battle Abbey Senior (although they do have their own prep school in Bexhill) and a lot of the teachers at the Abbey when we visited prior to filling in application forms said that often the Claremont students were at a higher level because they had entered at year 9 through CE route. As I mentioned earlier, their GCSE and A level results are quite outstanding and I have lots of friends with children there and a fair few from my ds's year will be attending there as their siblings are there already.

St Bedes is noted in this area for being a very sporty school, especially the senior school, which starts at year 9 on the Upper Dicker campus. The son of the founder of St Bedes Senior is currently the head of Claremont Senior and his father is on the advisory board! St Bedes is very good with dyslexic students too (might not be relevant!) It is however a huge school and I was advised by my sons prep head to look somewhere smaller for him where he can really shine (namely Battle Abbey - This was before the senior school at Claremont was even heard of!)

As for Claremont senior, well at the moment its an unknown really. However it has attracted some very strong teachers from outstanding public schools and obviously has lots to prove with its first cohort. Places at the school were limited to 40 and the area it is in meant that it services a few big Kent prep schools too and not all Claremont students got in!!

Buckswood is the cheapest school in the area, Its fees are £3474 for yr9 where as Claremont are £4000 and Battle Abbey are £4675. They also offer very competitive scholarships too, especially for equestrian and sports. Sorry but the uniform is a big turn off for me!

How old are your children? are that at the age to enter scholarship examinations as they are all starting in November shortly. Our house is very stressful at the moment with CE mocks coming up and scholarships to prepare for, very stressful.

Good luck with choosing. Have you visited any of the schools yet? You get the best idea by visiting. and hearing what the students say when out of earshot of staff!

oh thanks for all the info cows. very helpful.

one question about claremont. The original school down in hastings , is that going to stop at year 6 now. I see it was until age 13, so now with the senior school starting at year 7 i am confused as to what is currently happening!!

If you say there are only 40 spaces for the senior school at present, what has happened to all the children who were in year 6, now in year 7. Was there not a space for them. i.e have they closed down the year 7 and 8 at hastings and moved it up to bodiam but with only a few spaces for those years.

Not even sure if that makes sense, but have been in touch with Buckswood this morning to make appointments and they were saying that children come from a wide range of local schools and there were alot of children just started from Claremont Prep.

Next stop will be Claremont, then Battle Abbey. I keep being drawn back to Buckswood because my children seem to enjoy looking at their website!

Wrt the fees, year 7 bucks is 3475 as opposed to year 7 claremont 3100. I have heard on the grapevine that extras at Bucks include books and one needs to allow at least 600 per child per term for any clubs et. What would this compare to Claremont, do you know?

Will be back with more questions no doubt and thanks for all the help.

Hi
I will attempt to answer your questions! At the moment years 7&8 are on the Hastings site. I have heard a rumour that they will move to the Bodiam site but this has not been confirmed as far as I'm aware. At the moment there will be no spaces for 7&8 as such as I believe they have a full number ( again I maybe wrong!). I know that the contract that we signed means we won't get our deposit back unless DD finishes y8, I'm sure lots of others are the same.

I had wondered about uniform as it is different for the prep and senior schools. So if someone joined in y7 they would have to change uniform in y9. This maybe why they are looking to move y7 up to Bodiam- not sure this would be popular with the current parents!

Clubs- currently at the prep school there is an activities session on Friday afternoons. There is a range of clubs. One free outdoor games and the others of varying prices eg chess club is around £30 per term and riding club is £180 per term. Some clubs run on other days of the week. At the senior school they have co curricular activities . There was a timetable on the website but I can't find it now! They have to choose 3-4 activities. I have seen the timetable but I can't remember all the details. I think there were free activities and some more expensive ones.

We have not had to pay for books at the prep school and I don't think you have to at the senior school.

Other expenses - school trips usually 2-3 times a year. The prep school also goes to St Omer every year. Each year group spends a few days there every year that is around £180.

Hi Mousetours and whichschooldilemma.

Mousetours are your children at the prep? My 2 are in yr 8 and yr3.

The senior school, like St Bedes for example starts at year 9 and always will do. Entry at the senior level (ie yr 9) is full. Claremont in St. Leonards will remain as a prep school so will always go up to yr 8 and Common Entrance. In effect 2 different schools (but not!)
Year 7 and 8 will never move to the Bodiam site but will stay on the prep site. (don't worry mousetours you wont be going to a diff site!) If you choose for your child to start in yr 7 they will do 2 years at the prep school and will be taught the CE syllabus which also prepares them for the 13+ to Cranbrook (Grammar school in Cranbrook, Kent boarding and day) and then they will move upto the senior site at Bodiam for year 9. At present yr 8 and yr7 are full as well as yr 9. My daughters year is nearly full too. Entry into year 9 is like applying for a whole new school btw, I've just had to pay a further £200 application fee for ds place there in Sept 2012. (uniform can be easily bought from the 2nd hand shop, Ds has had 1 boy start this year in his class into yr 8, I met his parents today and they'd got everything from there and looking forward to buying all new next year)

Never had to pay any extras for books etc. As mousetours said, only extras are activities on a Fri afternoon (compulsory) but there are free options as well as golf, kickboxing, cool crafts, nature club which cost.
Then on other days there are chances to swim, cricket, football and gym after the core time of 4.30 end. Prep is also free at Claremont till 6. Not sure if Buckswood charge or even Battle Abbey for that matter. Moira House, day girls never did prep on site, as it was always after dinner.

regards fees, I was comparing senior level prices ie year 9. sorry to confuse everyone!

I know of 5 students who left Claremont after yr 8 that have gone to Buckswood, not sure that counts as lots (btw Buckswood head and Claremont head 'fell out' after Claremont announced they were opening a senior school! Buckswood head had his 2 children at Claremont and promptly removed them a year ago when it was announced!! - the politics of private schools!)

As Mousetours said, there is the St. Omer trip and a pgl trip in yr 8, which costs a small fortune, although they are not going to the Ardeche this year due to extortionate price rise, think it might be Devon for a week!

Theatre trips etc are always part funded by the FOCS. a group who raise extra money for the school.

Good luck with your on going search. Hope you and your children enjoy Buckswood. Are they going for a taster day?

oh that makes alot more sense cows wrt to it starting in year 9. The website is confusing there. Now it is clear, st leonards up to and including year 8 always, then over to Bodiam.

The head of buckswood to you mean TF the Headteacher? As opposed to the Headmaster/owner Sutton? TF is leaving at the end of this term. He was/is head of the senior school. Interesting about the fall out !!!

We shall be meeting him and the Junior Head who is someone else completely but forgotten his name for the moment.

Yes, going for a taster day after we have visited next week.

Good about the extras for claremont, especially when we are talking 2 children (2 small ones to follow!) because I do like to know in advance of extras. At least a rough idea to allow for.

Mousetours, thanks for your info, very helpful.

Thanks for that CowsGoMoo. I've only been hearing rumors so I wasn't sure what was happening. I'm going to have a look at the senior school at the open day. I was hoping that the senior school would just follow through.

I have 2 at Claremont. One in y5 and one in nursery.

Hi Mousetours and whichschooldilemma,

Ah mousetours, so we probably pass each other each day on way to sign out! I can't believe that my ds is now in yr 8 and coming to the end of his prep school life.

The Bodiam site is fantastic. We visited it with Mr Perrin just after Claremont had purchased it and given the 'vision' of what it would look like by Sept 2011. We went back last wednesday for a year 8 open evening and were astounded. The place was lovely and our student guide (ex Marlborough House girl) enthused about it. Ds has made his mind up that that is where he wants to be. (my sil works at the senior school!)

Whichschooldilemma So you have more little ones to follow. Claremont offers fee reductions too for those that follow (and this will continue into the senior school too Mousetours) At present I get 10% reduction per term for my yr3 dc.

Yes it was TF! They weren't happy that there would be more competition for senior places at affordable prices!

If you do have younger children as well as just senior level then of course, look at
Battle Abbey Prep, Bexhill (v.small)
Charters Ancaster College, Bexhill
St, Bedes Prep, Eastbourne
St. Andrews Prep, Eastbourne
Moira House Junior School, Eastbourne

If you are planning on moving to Battle, then there is the possibility of the grammar schools in Kent too.

Tunbridge Wells Girls
Judd
Skinners etc all go from the 11+

and Cranbrook (boarding and day) from 13+

Also the state provision in Battle is good too, Claverham Community College is OFSTED rated as 'outstanding'

Good luck with the taster days x

A year down the line, I'm in a similar situation - in Bexhill and looking at schools for my daughter to join age 11 next year.
Where did you send your children in the end? Can anyone report back on Claremont - we like the junior school but have not yet visited the senior school
thanks

Hi, well my son started Claremont Senior School this September and is loving it! So glad we made the right decision for him and we are overjoyed with the progress he has made already.
If your dd is going into year 7 next year, then you have a choice of Charters Ancaster in Bexhill which goes up to yr 8 and does CE. At Claremont, my sons class had an influx of students in year 7 to the prep, and all students followed the CE syllabus and have moved up with him to the Senior school site.
The prep school site has 2 open mornings shortly, 5th and 6th October, 9.30-1.00 and the senior site has an open morning on 13th October, 9.30-1.00.
Come and have a look around,I'll be there on the sat morning at the prep as my daughter is doing extra match training!

Hi
I agree with all Cowsgomoo says. My daughter must be in the same year as yours as she is in y6 now. Come and visit next weekend. My daughter is doing the extra match training too.
We will be looking at other schools for secondary, more to be nosey than anything else. We looked at Battle Abbey last weekend and we weren't that impressed. They didn't make much of the sports facilities and many of the after school clubs seemed to be homework clubs rather than other opportunities. It is highly likely that she will continue to Claremont Senior.

Don't discount St Bede's! Fantastic school. Yes the senior school is big with 800 pupils but It feels like a much smaller school. Would certainly recommend if you have a sporty, drama or art loving child, or even a quiet, intelligent lad like my DS who positively thrived there. He didn't attend the prep in Eastbourne, however most of the pupils move from the prep to the senior school.

Seems to get a fair few from Claremont joining in year 9, but that could change if the senior school is as good as reports say it is. Good luck with your search & don't rule out all girls as that may well be the right option for you DD. My DD moved from a coed school to an all girls school & loved how she could enjoy science without boys shouting out & ruining the subject (her words). She had frind's at Moora House who spoke highly of it. This would be 2-3 years ago & I don't think much has chaned in that time?

Hello,.can I ask how big Claremont senior school is ? We went to see battle abbey and buckswood and found them rather small and insular. Is Claremont bigger? Also do they set from year 7. Rather worryingly battle abbey don't.

Just seen,places are 40 per year,bigger than battle abbey then.Also quite a lot cheaper !

Thanks Cows Go Moo - I missed reading this before the Open Morning on Saturday - we went and I've put DD down for the scholarship exams. We are going to visit the senior school next weekend too. Do the kids find the CE very hard work?
Yes, Mutteroo, we've looked at Moira House too, and dd likes it. I think it would be a great choice for any girl wanting to focus on science/engineering etc, and we were very impressed by the librarian!
Plus we have St Richards/Claverham to check out this week.
Not sure about St Bede's, just because it is that little bit further I think.
Naughtymummy, we liked the look of Battle Abbey just because it is small - DD is coming from a small school, so anywhere will seem big to her!

I went to Moira House many moons ago and even then, it was a forward thinking girls school and my dd may well go there when the time comes.
Common Entrance is the equivalent of foundation level GCSE and can be a little tough. It does get the students into a correct work ethic from early on and is a great predictor of eventual GCSE results.
I was unimpressed by Battle Abbey. Its buildings are wonderful, (imagine going to school in such a historic place) however its small, the premises cannot grow much more due to its historic location and I know from friends children there at the moment that the school have rented rooms above shops in Battle High Street to be used as classrooms. It is also a top heavy school with a large sixth form (mainly boarders) .
St Richards achieves fantastic GCSE results and is a fabulous school but is only for Catholics. Claverham in Battle is also good. rated ofsted outstanding. You've missed their open evening but they have open mornings shortly.
My son will be at Claremont Senior school this weekend as a guide. He truly loves it there (even I'm surprised by how much he enthuses over the place)
Dont forget there is also Eastbourne College. We decided against St Bedes/Eastbourne College because of Saturday School and for my ds they were just too big, bit whats right for us doesn't mean you shouldn't take a look!
Good luck to your dd for the scholarship exams. Have you booked her a taster day?
and good luck in your search. Having been through this in the past year, I know it can be a hard time making such an important decision.
naughtymummy, yes they do set from year 7. hth

Golfwidower. Im not sure I like you saying that my son who attends Claremont Senior is strange and not at all academic and wouldn't fit into other schools!
For your information, my son was offered scholarships (of a higher value) to Battle Abbey and at 11+ was offered a place at a Kent Grammar. He chose to remain at Claremont and we are incredibly pleased with the school.

Its one thing to make comments on a school but another to start attacking the students who attend the schools.

As for the senior school at Claremont, the current Year 10 who will take their exams in Summer 2014 are full. My sons year has a few places and the current year 8's who will move to the senior this September are almost full with only 3 places left. Rumours that the school will close are just that. The school has just been granted approval to build a new sports hall which will contain 4 badminton courts, 4 indoor cricket nets, a full size basketball court, fitness gym, extra classrooms and changing facilities. This will be completed for September 2013 and the original school hall is being thoroughly modernised to include full auditorium seating, sound recording studios, full theatre, stage, boxes etc.
The sixth form building, I believe starts in 2014 with it being ready for the sixth form starting in Sept 2014. Its an amazing design building linking the 2 main teaching areas of the campus and is light and airy. The school has a very strong leadership team with Mr Perrin as head of the senior school and Mrs Durrant as head of the Prep. Where did you get the idea that there was no head?
Feeble Keeble didn't get his nickname for no reason!

And before you ask, I do not work for the school! so am not a PR advert for the school.
I work in education and have given a fair comment on all the schools that the op asked about in September 2011 including the state provision.