King Edwards Witley/Duke of Kent/Box Hill/Frensham Heights

[Labro]

So, today, following the bombed pretest, I've been given the following suggestions:

Hurst
Lancing
These are 'difficult but possible'

King Edwards Witley
Duke of Kent
Box Hill
Frensham Heights

So, opinions please.
The axis seems to have shifted somewhat (Brighton is likely to be 'impossible' and is deemed the most selective school his prep send to) so please be gentle.

I don't get how he can be deemed scholarship level (80%+ CE) and then have Box Hill suggested which targets 45-50 although exactly same happened with ds when his head suddenly got cold feet on the basis of SENCO reading an Ed psych report. Would IB suit him ? Box Hill very think outside the box and outdoorsy with middling results imho. Hurst isn't particularly academically selective.

Bit confused by that list TBH, they are all classic 'can't get into an academic school' options.

How about Hampton?

Assume you have been given that list because your DS needs to impress academically to get a substantial bursary and your head is basing his level on the "bombed" pretest.
I do think you need to find out for yourself what your DS is capable of without the stress of a pretest and without relying on the prep's judgement. You could do that by doing some equivalent pretest papers at home or finding a tutor who could assess him and what his gaps are. Gaps can be substantial when teaching has been poor. On the basis of that you will have a better idea of what is the best secondary environment for him.
I might be missing something but is moving to an area with a good state school supplemented with tutoring a possibility? He could always aim for a selective private sixth form. Would that be better than trying to find the best of what may be inappropriate private schools for him?

Hi Summer,

State is a possibility though the main reason for going private in year 5 was because the state options are very large and not that great at secondary, moving would be an option though then got the lottery of available places.

Thats what I thought Patpig, didn't strike me that the head was trying very hard for a solution!

Hi Labro
Is anything else going on with your son? I saw previous posts where you mentioned bullying. Is this stopping him reaching his potential. I also saw his Dad isn't too helpful. Is he leaning on your ds. To encourage him to fail academically? Seems odd to go from being a top acheiver to rather low expectations so fast. If you go for a less academic school I would make sure there is a good cohort who get A's and A* and go on to good unit's as well as those who getting a c is a fantastic acheivement . So that if his academic mojo returns he can excel. Sorry that's supposed to be uni's

Hi mary21

What would be classed as a good cohort to get A's and A*'s percentage wise?

It sounds like your head is playing it very safe by suggesting these schools especially if your going to need a scholarship/ bursary.
The idea of moving again for the 6 th form sounds good or how about going back into state ed. for yr 9 he might find it easier to move into a big school when he's 13 rather than 11.
I don't wish to be a profit of doom I think you should also speak to your bursar about next yr as your DS is now unlikely to get into a big name they may start wondering if he "deserves" a bursary. Morally of coarse he does and the school has a duty of care but money and morals don't usually go together.

"What would classed as a good cohort to get A'a and A*'s percentage wise?"
I looked on the website of our local well known boarding independent but considered by most on here not to be very academic, CE pass mark 50%. Nearly 60% of GCSE grades were A and A*. Don't know how good that is. But it gives you a bench mark I suppose.

You don't need to be particularly bright to get A's and A*'s these days.

One school I know where the head told me they don't really have any bright children they get 60% A*/A.

The top places are 90%+.

The second-tier schools tend to be about spoon feeding technique to get impressive GCSE results, they aren't really about stretching and going beyond the syllabus.

Although I'm a great supporter of selective education as far as Im aware bright children will do well in most reasonable schools. So if your DS managed to get good GSCE results then he could get into an alternative independent school for A level when good teaching perhaps is more essential?
I notice D of K only goes to 16 so they perhaps would be in a better position to advise you if you did this than a school which goes to 18 which might want your DS to stay especially if he's receiving a large bursary.

Frensham very "trendy" and a bit alternative- good for art/drama etc