DEVON PRIVATE SCHOOLS. Shebbear, West Buckland or Kelly?

[manorhope]

If you are moving to the North or West Devon area and considering an independent education for your children, or indeed a rural boarding school, there are three interesting choices in the area, all of which we have visited and sampled.

1. West Buckland School. Good facilities and results, but we found the place quite harsh, unfriendly and bleak. The children were smart, but rather distant, looking tired and a bit low in spirits.
2. Kelly College. Majestic buildings on the edge of lovely Tavistock. A feel that the place had seen better days and maybe struggling to maintain numbers. Children looked fairly happy, but a tad untidy. Moderate results, but in all lacking in sparkle.

3.Shebbear College. Out in the sticks, but a real sense that this place is the rising star. Children looked smart, confident and very happy, showing that extra polish you tend to find in more famous establishments. Good results and lovely peaceful campus. Out of the three we thought Shebbear College emerged as comfortably the best school at the present time. We chose it and so far its been fantastic. Further afield is of course Blundell's, which we thought was great, but too far for us. Finally, there's a place in Bideford called Kingsley. Not wanting to be unpleasant, but I really wouldn't bother. Just a few experiences, which I hope may be of interest.

There are loads of great state non selective schools(containing kids with self assured confidence and charm )in Devon

Anyone who genuinely believes that is really kidding themselves and trying to kid the rest of us. (of course the comment may well be tongue in cheek.)

Schlerderabbey indeed - but those schools haven't been mentioned even though they are far more relevant to the thread. Which is odd. I don't know anyone at the Plymouth grammars although I know adults (former colleagues) who went to them back in the day. They are still well thought of, aren't they?

There are some good non selective state schools in Devon, certainly. It's a big county. It would be a strange person who was familiar with all the schools.

I know severalpeople who work at or have worked at DHSB and PHG. I am told both now have some behavioural problems.Not big ones but issues non the less. DHGB is still considered the best. The two girsls schools less so I think. But it is comparative when you consider the alternatives.

No stateschools ( and similarly no housing areas) in Plymouth can be considered "good" - as I was once told by a council tax officer. Certainly I would say without exception the Plymouth Comprehensives are all subject to a highly mixed and challenging intake. The biggest worst kept secret of all time is the falacy that Plymouth is left with any good schools.

As for other parts of Devon, I cannot speak with recent knowledge of North Devon but I dont think Biddeford has improved any Certainly the Barstaple schools are still challenging. Torbay and S Devon are certainly poor that I can say.

of course not everyone can private but I think those who can try and find a local decent day school

last sentence - I think my keyboard needs batteries - Of course not all can afford private but those who can try and find a decent local private day school.

Biddeford has not improved.

Torbay and S Devon are poor- utter baloney!

Scleroderabbey I bow to your knowledge of Plymouth schools. But it's probably worth remembering that Plymouth is an LEA all by itself. It isn't actually in Devon. In an educational or local government context. There are some good state schools in Devon.

Barnstaple, Braunton, Ilfracombe, South Molton, Bideford, Tiverton; all pretty similar as far as senior state schools are concerned. Pilton was a rare exception under Mark Juby the previous head but now it too is lost in mediocrity. I hear really good things about Uffculme, but that's pretty-much it for the whole of North and Mid Devon - caught in some kind of time warp and failed social experiment.

SeagullsAndSand, I am proud to have survived a comprehensive a lot grimmer than Grange Hill. Like everyone else on MN, I'm determined that my DCs have a better start than I did. I can't speak about Torbay etc, but from where we live there is such an unbelievable gulf between the private day schools and state provision it's an absolute scandal.

Anne this introduction of an isolated grammar is only likely to be explicable on the basis that you do indeed have an axe to grind, most recently as an ex-parent.

Unfortunately, as someone with an interest in admissions to top unis, I can say with some confidence that you are ill informed on the current state of admissions.

Furthermore, almost no grammar or indeed indie school has its middling students emerge with the results you describe. Perhaps four or so in London, no more.

The results I describe are based on the news, exams and destinations sections of C's website.

You will find a number of RG unis, including Bristol, being quite open about their methods of recruiting kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, in large numbers, and it is quite clear what this means for grammar and independent school applicants.

I have relatives with DCs at Tiffin in west London. Fourteen applicants per place, sure, but a vastly higher Oxbridge proportion too.

My DCs are currently in secondary school. They did not apply to Colyton (too far away). I went to Oxbridge and I am involved with my old college's 'outreach' to we poor and uneducated West Country bumpkins. Thanks for your thoughts on my background and motivations. I hope your involvement with university admissions doesn't mean you'll be 'helping' my DCs any time soon.

Anne you can have no possible reliable info on any school's 2014 results unless you are an 'insider'. The info isn't out there in the public domain. Anyone who cites the stats that you do is an insider, possibly disaffected, possibly not.

Other than that, all that I can say from a uni perspective is that contextualization makes a difference, but only a limited one in the nature of things, and that funnily you're not up to speed about Bristol at all. Its newest policy of using contextualization could in fact mean that rubbish private schools get as much advantage in admissions terms as equally rubbish states. Which is not great, tbf :)

Are you able to be open about why you feel so strongly about this particular school?

So sorry. That was supposed to be :(

2014 A-level and GCSE results are all out there; you just have to look. Colyton managed 83% A•/A for GCSEs this year, for instance. Great result. Well done to the students and staff.

No, not an insider, just an interested parent.

As I keep repeating: I think C is a wonderful school, and a real credit to everyone concerned.

I just think things are stacked somewhat against their 'middling' kids.

I think it's grossly unfair. But it's how it seems to be.

And I love your use of the latest edu-speak for politically-driven discrimination, "contextualisation", which is the 'stealth' version of what the previous government was up to with the Access Csar etc.

I have been extremely open. I remain amazed at the reaction to me raising Colyton. It's as if all its supporters are so used to seeing it denigrated that they can no longer read what's actually being written.

Sorry to quibble Anne but in uni admissions terms 'contextualization' is old hat. So you are a parent at Colyton? I thought you weren't? I've no idea if the numbers are correct for 2014 but no one knows precise Oxbridge numbers at any school less than four weeks after results day if they have no connection to a school. What were Exeter School's numbers for example? Or St Luke's? Or Kelly's? Let's forget Tiffin, it's not in Devon.

To take up your point about contextualization, why on earth do you perceive it to be unfair?

Also you claim (using Colyton as an example) that 80% of grammar school kids are disadvantaged, but by the same token you would have to concede that the 20% (using Colyton's unconfirmed measure) who do get Oxbridge offers get those offers despite the disadvantage of contextualization. Contextualization doesn't distinguish within a school, only between schools.

I really do think you misunderstand contextualization. I also think you misunderstand the stats from comps around Devon. How many Oxbridge offers (your measure, not mine) were achieved this year across all Devon comps? Presumably you've gathered those stats in too? They'd be interesting, in context, given what you say about the disadvantaged middle :)

No I am not a Colyton parent, as I said two messages ago.

Colyton's 14 Oxbridge places I mentioned previously are the 2013 number, from their website, and that is one in eight of last year's upper sixth. Although their website does not carry much on 2014 yet, they did issue press releases on the A-level and GCSE results days, which you can read on-line in a number of local newspapers, giving the overall performance stats and also the number of pupils getting 12 As, 11 As etc; and commenting on university destinations.

Exeter School seems to have published a subject-by-subject A-level and GCSE breakdown for 2014, dated on the day of the respective results. 82.5% A*/A at GCSE, for instance. Exeter also name their successful Oxbridge entrants (and talk rather proudly about a cricketer called Ben Green).

Kelly, with the merger etc., has not got around to making much public, although there are individual results in the press...

Quibble away. You seem disgruntled that a mere parent can access the magic numbers. It's called the interweb or something.

No Anne on Saturday you said in 2014 there were 14 Oxbridge places at Colyton, quite clearly. Which is why it seemed strange. So how many successful applicants were them from Exeter School or Exeter College or Kelly this year? Why focus on just one particular school? If you're analysing data, presumably it's from a cross-section or all? Please share. This is a Devon wide thread after all. Context is all! :)

Re "contextualisation".

Of course, no right-thinking person could possibly argue with the principle... but then there is the practical reality, in terms of the destination outcomes for this group of talented, hard-working grammar school kids. The upper-sixth former in the 25th percentile at Colyton, in all likelihood, has been out-performing the 1st or 2nd percentile sixth-formers at other Devon state schools since they were 11. Yet, you tell me, who's going to get to Oxford?

You're right, I did say that. I got the years confused. It's 13 going to Oxbridge from Colyton in 2014. At least, that's what the Head told the press on A-level results day. 79.6% per cent of grades at A-levels A* – B too. Excellent.

Anne, because you raised the subject of the independent, selective Exeter School, I've just flicked on their website. It lauds five Oxbridge offers. How big is their intake? It will certainly be more socially and financially privileged than a state grammar - with all the consequences that has for success - but less disadvantaged by contextualization in uni admissions, assuming its results are less good.

Thanks for the correction Anne :) Since you're deep into minutiae, best to get it right.......

It's the bottle of red that I'm deep into. .

Goodnight!

Anne, because you raised the subject of the independent, selective Exeter School, I've just flicked on their website. It lauds five Oxbridge offers. How big is their intake? It will certainly be more socially and financially privileged than a state grammar - with all the consequences that has for success - but less disadvantaged by contextualization in uni admissions, assuming its results are less good

If you're pointing out that the implementation of contextualisation seems to be unfair on Colyton, then I'm definitely off to bed now, delighted that you've got my point!!!

Torbay and S Devon are poor- utter baloney!

NO! THE TRUTH. But you do not want to hear it said. I KNOW my Torbay schools. Dont try to tell me or feed others that line.