Schools in newton abbot v Bude

[Jem1709]

We currently live in newton abbot but also have a place in Bude where we spend weekends. Thinking about moving to Bude permanently and looking at St Petrocs. Bude primary hasn't fared well in ofsted and out of catchment for Stratton. Does anybody have any views on St Petrocs? If we decide to stay in newton abbot we are looking at stover (if we can't get DS into either canada hill or st michaels - both of which have outstanding ofsted, although we may decide not to apply if we visit and don't like them). So thinking about stover as a backup or possibly as a first choice. We have visited and it seems nice.
Any constructive thoughts on either? I don't want to hear how great blundells, exeter school etc or any of the other prep schools are that aren't local to me. I don't have time in the day to spend hours on the school run so can only consider the schools in close proximity to us.

HercShipwright, I woulddoubt, unless you are in Stover that you have any idea what the results at stover are. The do not publish them. Neither can you know how well the children do in relation to their ability.That is not published. In fact, even I am not sure I know that and I have seen all the exam results for Stover for the last five years (and that is something a lot of parents do not get to see).

Also I think you are very rude and presumptive. I have not said anywhere that my DC are in Stover to keep them away from your kids. I have explained clearly it is convenience and it is a good school. ( just as the OP points out she does not want to be told about Blundells because it isnt in her travelling range).

If anyone claims to be impressed by the local grammar school results, I would suggest they are blinkered because in fact neither boys or girls schools do well considering their selective intake. They are very poor.
The other local schools are just awful.

I have a freind who has a daughter at Teign. Her daughter is top sets - and yes, for her it works, although she has had some problems with the teachers there. I have heard some stories about pupils in other sets. She also told me that had her DD not settled at Teign she would have sent her to Stover. Teign is nearer for her and cost of Stover would have made their lives difficult on their income.

All Iam saying here is that we can alllay claim to knowing someone somewhere who does OK.

In fact, any DC who is able will do well even if you put them in the worst school in the country, but that would not excuse the educational experience they have in my view. I want my DC to have a good experience, not to have to get on with it in a class full of noise and disruption and in a school of problems. Having to get your head down and close your ears and eyes is not the kind of experience I want for my DC. It was one I had myself and not one I want to see them have.

Ah bless I look at teaching quality myself."A class full of noise and disruption" what a crock,methinks you need to get out of your ivory tower and visit.

And the results are published on the gov site so no escape.
TBGS seemed to score pretty high on said list in order of rank.

HercShipwright , I am sorry but there is no need to be so rude I think. You seem to feelthat making personal iunsubstantiated somments about me ( as a Stover parents) means that you can devalue anything I say.

I would like to know how you feel so well informed you can comment on a school you clearly do not like and clearly do not have an DC in.

It would be fairer if you actually made informed comments or just said your piece and got out. I have said myself there are things I do not like about Stover but at least they would not be trying to put my DC on some SEN register just to get additional funding when there was nothing wrong with them ( unlike my friend DC at the local state school who had her DC labelled so the school could claim additional money and it seems for no other reason. The DC was doing well , was top of her classes and showed no signs of problems at all. That in my view is scandelous).

Retropear, I dont need to get out of anywhere. I have spent 22 years teaching in state schools and so I know the score well.

I could tell you what TBGS does with those who will show their results up - but, I bet you already know.

Of course Stover publish their exam results - here they are: www.stover.co.uk/library/client/Documents/examinations/Stover-School-GCSE-and-A-Level-Examination-Results-2013.pdf

If anyone claims to be impressed by the local grammar school results, I would suggest they are blinkered because in fact neither boys or girls schools do well considering their selective intake. They are very poor.

can you explain a bit more.the two torquay grammar schools acheived 100% and 99% A-C grades at GCSE,how is this poor.

Retro I think that the refusal to acknowledge the official stats is the most annoying thing about Stover parents really.

Kitten You are trying to dissemble (but not very successfully). That much is clear. Pointing this out is not rude. Trying to pretend official stats don't exist or are 'manipulated' is quite rude, though. Your comments about SEN are despicable and ill informed - it is in fact very difficult to get additional funding for kids with SEN, especially high performing kids with SEN. If you genuinely have a friend with a top of the class child who has been allocated additional funding for SEN(!) she must have very complex and evident issues indeed. Since there is no additional funding for quite severe dyslexia, dyspraxia, ASD for high performing kids any more.

I neither like nor dislike Stover, the only things I have said are that their results are atrocious (they are) and that the key driver for going there must be social snobbery since it can't be driven by educational considerations in the light of the well known and publicised official stats.

Indeed chantaan - and Colyton - which would be accessible for anyone going to Stover from the Exeter side - came top in the league tables for GCSE. The Plymouth grammars did pretty well too, significantly better than Stover.

Her you took the words right of my mouth.

Most schools I know are far too busy battling to get statements for those that actually need it to have time to waste on those that don't.

can you explain a bit more.the two torquay grammar schools acheived 100% and 99% A-C grades at GCSE,how is this poor

Firstly, you need to ask another question. Do those figures represent all the year cohort? You have no way of knowing if that is the case.
They got results with those who they allowed to sit the exams. Read between those lines.

Secondly, a grammar school is a selctive school. I would accept nothing less that 100% pass rates at A -C in GCSE. The pupils are selected at 11+. They should not fail anything.

Retro The thing is, if someone was honest and said 'my child isn't bright enough to get into the grammar schools or Exeter/Maynard and I don't want them to board, so Blundells is out, but I want them to have small class sizes and I can afford to pay so that's what I'm going to do and anyone who doesn't like it can contemplate the fact that my taxes are still paying for their kids' schooling at the same time as I pay for my own kids to go private, and be thankful for that at least' I'd respect that. I'd still think they were perhaps a bit snobby and not doing the best thing, possibly, educationally, but I'd respect the honesty.

I actually have a good friend with a daughter at Stover and that is EXACTLY her view of things. And I think - fair enough. Of course, she doesn't try and pretend that actually the school is the best school in Devon and the grammars are all lying about their results.

As I said upthread - the only reason people have a down on Stover is the things that some Stover parents say.

I,m not reading anything between the lines,I have knowledge of the school just as you have knowledge of Stover, and I believe their published results to be true and honest.I believe that I couldd have not paid for a better education that my dc has received at Torquay Grammar.

HercShipwright - since when has it been rude to state something you know to be the case? I know that my freinds DC was statemented because they wanted the money.

Of course,when the shoe is on the other foot,you can be rude to me - thats OK isnt it? .... Well, I dont think it is.

I send my DC to a school that the OP askedabout. all I can do is tell her my reaasons and as peak as I find on that. Beyond that it is her decision.

Personally, I would think more highly of you if you were able to say that your views were in any way based on your personal experience and you gave your reasons - laid them out honestly.

Anything else is bad mouthing.

I have been honest about my reasons for liking Stover.

Err - they didnt tell you about the kids they entered for exams in another place then because they realised they would not pass and would likely upset the exam profile?

I am saying nothing more now because I will be as guilty as those I have criticised if I start to tell some home truths about other schools which are considered just so good

I have explained very clearly and in words with fairly few syllables what my issues are regarding Stover.

As have other posters.

As always happens in these threads, it's quite clear what's going on.

I doubt the OP is being helped by any of this, aside from seeing at first hand the sort of group think that goes on with some schools. She has also been pointed towards the stats so she can make up her own mind, really.

OP - good luck in making your decision.

HercShipright, I said quite clearly why I left my DS at Stover despite his passing the 11+. It was simply because he does not like change. He was happy at Stover. He knew the school and the teachers and we left him there. The pupils are generally polite and well behaved. My DC do not come home and tell me stories of what went on today when some pupil threw a chair or kicked off in class. The classes are small, generally well disciplined, good teaching standards and DC of any ability can get on and do their best. Thats why my DC are there.

As I also said, it was convenient for me. I had three DC in school at that time and one school drop was better than running around three schools.

Nowhere in that is there anything I consider snobbish. I dont know why you assume it.

Stover has done well by my DC and whether you think its a place you only send "failures" or not, they will do well with DC who have ability and by children who do not as well.

I have explained very clearly and in words with fairly few syllables what my issues are regarding Stover.

As have other posters.

As always happens in these threads, it's quite clear what's going on.

I doubt the OP is being helped by any of this, aside from seeing at first hand the sort of group think that goes on with some schools. She has also been pointed towards the stats so she can make up her own mind, really.

OP - good luck in making your decision.

Pehaps you could cut and paste it especially for me Herc, because I seem to have missed it?

The thing is, if someone was honest and said 'my child isn't bright enough to get into the grammar schools or Exeter/Maynard and I don't want them to board, so Blundells is out, but I want them to have small class sizes and I can afford to pay so that's what I'm going to do and anyone who doesn't like it can contemplate the fact that my taxes are still paying for their kids' schooling at the same time as I pay for my own kids to go private, and be thankful for that at least' I'd respect that. I'd still think they were perhaps a bit snobby and not doing the best thing, possibly, educationally, but I'd respect the honesty

Is this what I miseed? Well, I didnt see it because Iwas busy posting .

So, you are saying, if I may be so un PC, that Stover has a pupil intake of mainly "thick" kids? You may well be right. Decent ordinary parents who care about their childrens education and whodidnt get their DC into grammar or selective schools do send their DC to Stover ( together with a few like me who do it for convenience). Whats wrong with that?

In the light of that then, their results are good.

I actually have a good friend with a daughter at Stover and that is EXACTLY her view of things. And I think - fair enough. Of course, she doesn't try and pretend that actually the school is the best school in Devon and the grammars are all lying about their results

I dont think I have said this, or anyone else on this thread. I have said pretty well what is above - given the non selective intake ) and much lower ability level intake) at Stover, their results are good. They teach " thick" kids well - and bright kids even better.

For you to try and comparethe results of Stover with selective schools like Exeter or the grammar schools is poor form. Its rather like comparing a local FE college with Oxford isnt it?

So Herc, you are saying you would not send your DC to Stover because Stover takes in DC of lesser ability and you only want your DC educated with clever children?

Who's the snob?

There are a couple of smaller state primary's in Newton abbot, all saints marsh & bearnes, not with outstanding ofsteds thou. Decoy primary I believe has been rated outstanding but is a large if not the largest primary in Newton abbot.
Also the 2 church schools, St Joseph's (catholic) & Wolborough (CofE) to consider.

Thanks for your very mixed and passionate views! Perhaps I should make my position clear. I happen to live in the catchment area of a pretty poor school. ( according to ofsted and I'm happy to be led by their findings). So I can apply for other state schools which are better - provided I like them. But the chances are we won't get in there. There is no snobbery involved here. We earn a good living but I would much rather spend our hard earned cash on providing for our old age and going on nice holidays to repay us for our hard work! But I'm not prepared to send DS to a ropey school just because we are in it's catchment. So the only alternative is to go private. And stover is the closest prep school. I may be criticised for not being prepared to spend 3 hours of my day on the school run . I'm sure many parents would. But I won't . Life is too busy and our family life would suffer as there just aren't enough hours in the day. DS is bright , happy, well adjusted and will have ample support at home. I'm therefore not precious about sending him to the most prestigious school or spending days procrastinating over league tables. I'm confused why so many are so scathing about stover, and would have found it more helpful if people who had direct experience of their child's education there (many thanks kitten, I have found your comments extremely insightful). However i have considered everyone's views and it has certainly given me food for thought.

Incidentally we went for a second look at st petrocs in Bude earlier. Lovely school, great academic side, very sporty , family feel, small school . Nothing snobby about it but feels like a proper prep school. Will definitely send DS there quite happily if we decide to take the leap! Not seen any league tables but they seem to have a no-nonsense, yet caring, approach to educating and caring for little ones - and close to beach, loads of outdoors and sporting activities. Just lovely....

SantasLittleMonkeyButler Living in the local area, I don't think Bude to Plymouth Grammars would be doable. The roads around here aren't very fast, so the journey would take about 90mins each way (possibly more given you would have to drive across Plymouth in rush hour). As far as I am aware there will be no direct public transport after March this year, as Western Greyhound are withdrawing their service.

Also, in my opinion Torquay Grammar school is nicer, and quite a few children make the journey from Newton Abbott so there is the possibility of making local friends.

To be fair op you asked for thoughts(which you were given).If you'd stated that Stover was the only school you were thinking of and only wanted positive info you would have had different answers.

I think posters have been quite helpful,informative and have presented you with a wealth of info in which you can make up your own choice.

Surprised that within NA it would be impossible to get your child into either a Good or Outstanding state school.Many Satisfactory schools wouldn't be deemed as 'ropey' either.A lot is expected from state schools these days.

I would visit as many as you can.You may be pleasantly surprised. Teign has been praised by Ofsted for it's calm atmosphere which I have certainly witnessed every time I've been there.I have to say in my dc's Satisfactory primary most times I've dropped in you could hear a pin drop in class rooms and they are pretty tough on disruption.

I think many parents who use private education have a skewed Daily Wail view of state schools which doesn't reflect reality. Alongside actually getting in there to visit league tables,Sats results and Ofsted reports are there to help parents and all part of a jigsaw.The more informed you are the more chance you have of making the right choice for you.You may not deem this information important but many parents do which is why you were presented with it.

Anyhow hope you find a school that ticks all your boxes.Choosing a school can be scary(and time consuming)we're currently wading through secondary options.