Yeovil Schools

[gardenlove01]

Hi, am moving to Yeovil area soon and was hoping someone could tell me more about schools in area. In particular Chilton Cantelo. They have a new head and wondered if it has changed much since the old one left. DS 13 DD 10 both met him few years ago and was going to send them then our move got delayed any helpful feedback much appreciated.

I think they are struggling for numbers so I would only go for it if you are happy with very small class sizes and the associated limitations on sport and drama.

What other options are you considering?

We just moved here too- it is great!

We have moved around a bit because of work and my kids education has suffered a bit. Small classes would help them I feel. What do you know about the sport as last time I was there although they are small they competed at a resonable level. Has it changed since the old head left? Not really thought of anything else as we fell in love with the place when we visited a few years ago.

If you really like the place and think it would be right for your children then go for it!

As I say, we are new to the area so don't know a great deal about the local schools (although DH and I are both in Education so I expect we will get to know them quite well over time). My only info about Cantelo comes from a friend who went for a job interview there and research the school quite carefully. She had to turn the job down though, so no further information!

I hear good things about Leweston though only take boys up to 11.

If you're looking for independent schools you could try the Park School in the centre of Yeovil. If nothing else, it would give you somewhere to compare Chilton Cantelo to. From what I hear, the Park School is on the way up but I have no personal experience.

Good luck with your move.

I have not heard much about the park but worth a look. Am sure they were even smaller and sport... football, rugby etc was not as good. My son is a keen footballer and been on the books at a few clubs. We did think Millfield but was put off when we had a tour and met some very rude children. Thanks for help. Might see if anything comes up on here before booking a couple of tours.

Are you not considering the Sherborne schools?

Not really thought about it to be honest. I thought they may of been quite expensive.

Milfueld is one of the most expensive schools in the county, about £30k pa

Sherborne schools are better.

Chiltern cantelo is a sweet nurturing school but not particularly rigorous or demanding academically.

Look at Bruton schools too. Or Taunton?

Nilbyname have you visited these schools?

Nephew attends chiltern cantelo, he's a sensitive lovely boy and has dyslexia. He's doing well there.

Lots of friends attended millfield.

Kings in taunton is good. Have visited and friends children attend and like it.

I would save your money and try to get your children into the Gryphon. Its an extremely good state school in Sherborne. Results better than the Park or Chilton Cantelo which are 'private schools lite' IMO.

The sport is pretty hopeless at all three. If sport is important to you then you need to consider independent in Bruton or Sherborne.

I work with the majority of schools in the South Somerset area.

The best state schools are Hugh Sexey's in Bruton which is a state boarding/day school, Huish Episcopi in Langport and The Gryphon in Sherbourne. For Sexey's you either need to live within 1 mile of the school - to qualify for a state-funded day place - or be academically selected to attend the school on a boarding basis. Selection is tight for the latter option but if successful, expect to pay around £8k a year - about half any independent in the area. They have excellent results - in the top 100 state schools in the country.

The three independent Taunton Schools are Kings College, Queens College and Taunton School. Kings has the best reputation for all round traditional private school culture and excellent results. Queens has the best recorded A'level results for the area and out of the three has the best Learning Support Department. The culture here is very relaxed though and the school could benefit from a change of leadership. The new Director of Studies is trying to drive some important academic changes to the school. Taunton is a bit of hybrid of the two but I never hear anything, good or bad, about it.

Chilton Cantelo is owned by the Cognita Group which means there may be a heavy focus on profit and less on pupil achievement. It has always appeared to be very boot-campish to me, lots of attendance in military cadets etc.

Park School is very average, although this year they did post some good results.

Maybe if it's the idyllic country house school feel you are after Clayesmore would be a good bet. You don't say if you will be able to choose where you live, but if so you could go for somewhere like Sturminster which would be a short school run for Clayesmore.

Thank you all for all your help. Going to a few you have suggested next week. Made contact with someone through football who knows south west quite well. Said Chilton offer the best for Football while still looking after them in an academic sense. Millfield good but often academic side can suffer. Other schools concentrate on other sports rugby etc as well. Will let my son have a look at them and then see what he thinks. If Chilton offer two terms football I think his mind will be set and will be difficult for him to choose any other going to take him there last!

i don't know the Somerset schools, other than Kings & Queens which my cousins went to years ago and did very well.

But I just want to say, my son was a fanatical footie player, played for loca club etc. and i have sent him to a school that doesn't play football - only rugby, rowing & cricket !

Initially he was furious, but is now in the U12A team and completely loves rugby. I wouldn't say he has forgotten football as he still watches hours of it on tv, but I thought he would never forgive me, and actually it's turned out fine.