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.

First time I've seen TQBG described as 'mediocre'

Also, at the very least, maybe they will get MN to close down threads which are so disparaging to specific named schools. They might even consider getting the posters banned too for deformation.,I would apply that to your wild accusations you have made about the Grammar Schools.

It might be worth googling for what Roy Pike actually said because you have distorted the facts of that case.

I understand you have dc,s at Stover,you are pleased at the teaching there and want to defend the reputation of the school but why do you have to do it at the expense of the two local Grammar schools,both producing results Stover can only dream about.

Kitten,your posting of the "liberated" A level results made me look at the Stover website and as I thought the best results are nothing to do with local children,the most popular A level ? Chinese,so we can guess who got the semi decent maths A levels cant we,oh lets have a look, at the named individuals who the Head praises,not exactly local Devonian names are they,so the best results are clearly from foreign children imported into the school for A level,so lets them strip them out so you can compare like with like with regard to the local state schools.
Its that sort of window dressing that I find laughable,just as I was delighted to read on the website that gifted and talented Stover musicians had attended a workshop with Steve Knightley from Show of Hands,lovely photo of them all with him,looks like it took place in a very good music room,mmm,but thats not the full story is it?,the event actually took place at Mount House(hence the decent facilities) and lo on the MH website a photo of Steve Knightley with pupils from all three schools that attended and the three schools are named.Its that type of pathetic attempt to be something the school isnt that is laughable,why try to pretend this was some exclusive event for Stover,sad and pathetic.

For the OP ( Jem), I just thought you might like to know the inspection report is out and the school has been rated as Excellent (thats Outstanding in Ofsted) i There are 14 "excellent" grades and a minority of "good" judgements. Excellence includes teaching , pastoral care, safety and welfare, governance and management.

The report also points out that the pupils achievements are in line or above national averages compared to their ability. It also points out that the majority of pupils and parents are positive about the school and its outcomes. The report also says that the A level results for girls are above the national average for girlsin selective schools ( Stover is not selective) and comparable to the national results for boys. GCSE results were also above national averages for ability levels.

Not that any of that will kill the schools dessenters. But as they are not parents , teachers or inspectors of the school you might want to question their motivations.

Best of luck with your choices.

Care to link as all I can see is an ICSI report.

Can only support averyyoungkitten's last post. The only way to choose a school is to go and visit, meet the staff and the children and decide what are your personal priorities.

An ISI report is not an Ofsted report.

Er..no, because independent schools are inspected by ISI, not Ofsted! I can assure you that the procedure is rigorous, detailed and pulls no punches if anything is found wanting. In my career in both the state and dependent sectors I been on the receiving end of both ISI and Ofsted... Not much to choose between them.

Whoops, typo - meant 'independent'!

Jem,

Sorry to throw a curve ball, but have you considered the new free school Route 39?
It seems to be have generated some interest locally...
www.route39.org.uk/transport

Oops, sorry that'll teach me to skim.
Just realised you are looking at primary..
Backs out of thread in an ungainly manner

Are you reading the same report as me,the one on the schools website?Because there were 14 excellent grades and 11 good,that is not a minority of goods.
I could pick the rest of your post to pieces because some of what you state bears little resemblance to the actual report but you will only ignore the true facts just as you have done throughout the rest of this thread.

Really Chanatan, you are quite pathetic now, as indeed are some others.

I can understand that you want to defend your position ( as you said to me above). But to do so in this way does not do you credit.
.
When only two grades have been awarded ( the school did not have any unsatisfactories or satisfactories , or acceptables or any other grade awared) and there are more of one grade than another, then the grade that has higher number is by definition the majority grade and the one with the lesser number the minority grade.

Its a bit like when someone gets elected, they do so if they get the majority - the biggest single number of the votes and anyone who gets less is defeated.

When top grades are given to teaching standards and the inspectors say the pupils achieve better than the national averages in selective schools for their abilities, thats good enough for me. I pay my money for that - good teaching and the best chance I can get for my DC.

Thats how I view it. We can all have an opinion and your posts are no more valid as an opinion than mine ( less so probably since you are speaking of a school you do not know clearly. I have only expressed opinions of schools I have experience of), please stop trying to make yourself seem as if you know so much more. Thanks.

I am sure the OP is capable of making up her own mind now.

It might be worth googling for what Roy Pike actually said because you have distorted the facts of that case

wrt distortion of any facts, it might also be worth remembering that the Head Teacher had to place a disclaimer in the local paper and on his web site because of those comments. I think that says enough about how inappropriate they were without you needing to defend it.

I know this is an old thread but would be interested in the OP decision and progress.

Whilst not directly related I saw this thread reappear over Easter and didnt have time to reply.

wrt Stover, which took up alot of this thread, in case it is not known already, Stover now not only have an excellent ISI report published across nearly all areas, (especially excellent in teaching and in patoral care which I think are two key areas really) and they have a brand spanking new excellent Headmaster at the helm.

I unashamedly post this in response to all the previously negative comments from those who know so little but say too much in my opinion.

At only 40% 5 A-C GCSEs going by the Telegraph league tables the results are still a lot lower than the nearest 2 none selective state schools- shiny new head or not. Personlly I think anybody would be crackers to spend thousands a year when there are two schools down the road getting better results- for free.

Interesting coming across this thread as an ex St Margaret's girl with a sister who attended Torquay girls....

My parents chose St Margaret's partly for same reason a previous poster mentioned Stover - all the girls tended to be polite to prospective parents and come out as good all rounders. It also had an outstanding rep for music at the time by piggy backing on Exeter's facilities. This suited me as I was a drama and music girl and bright but not hugely keen on studying. Maynard would have sucked the life out of me.

My sister was the opposite and very study-orientated. She isn't into music or drama but has just graduated with a first from Cambridge. It was a very intense environment, with lots of the girls in tears when they didn't get 100% in everything but pushed and gave the right teaching my sister needed (no extra tuition).

What I'm trying to say is I think those on the thread who have children at Stover will be doing what is right for their DC. I have come out of my schooling with the view that private isn't worth scrimping for unless it could help your child for a specific talent or need. But for some children that's way more important than the As and A*s.

But there are so many good state schools to choose from. Unless you have money to burn I just don't get it in this particular area.

Of course St. Margrets, another school which was so argued over here on MN at the time. I felt for the pupils and parents when the school closed. Similarly of course Stoodley has now closed too. I understand from my DD that a number of girls have moved from Stoodley to Stover.

Of course Stover is still there despite Mr. Pikes dreams and of course he too has gone now (retired). Stover soldiers on so it must be getting something right.

Much as I hesitate to say I told you so (which I also did when Mount House was closing), but, I told you so.

As for the local stateschools, some MN commentors need totake their rose coloured tints off and take a good look at those local schools.

Um one could say ditto to Stover.

Local state schools with a far more challenging intake are trumping them.

I'm guessing it's recruitment drive time A very.....kitten.You post re little else than to push Stover.

You post re little else than to push Stover

I am not "pushing" Stover, I have DC there. I tend to only speak of things I know something about and I do not litter MN with my views on things I do not know about.

From what I gather anyway I do not think Stover needs pushing. There have been many new pupils starting according to my DC, not all from Stoodley and a fair number from local state schools so I think the word has already got out about those challenging schools you mention.

Independent schools do not recruit according to some term timetable, they take pupils in all year round.

I’m moving to Bude and looking for schools for my two children age 7 and 3 can anyone advice me? I’m just on my way to visit them all in the morning. If you go by ofsted reports there either not up to date or. It great, having said that guess you can’t go on those reports all the time as schools change so much. I just want to find out any info from a parent as this is a good indication. Especially as I’m completely new to Bude!! Many thanks