Worcestershire Schools

[Backtobedlam]

We are looking at schools for our 2 DC's at the moment as we are not happy with their current school. The ones we are looking at are:
RGS The Grange
Bromsgrove
Winterfold House
Kings Hawford
Abberley Hall
A local state school (rated outstanding)

One child struggles, the other seems to be very bright, they are obviously very different characters so may need different schools and we could do this if necessary. Any thoughts/opinions appreciated.

That's quite a geographical spread, are you sure that you want them at different schools? (thinking of the school run)
RGS, Bromsgrove and Kings all go through to 18 y.o. Winterfold and Abberley stop at 13 y.o.
W and A therefore have the most incentive to prepare you for the next level. The other three will hope that you keep paying the fees stay with them to Y13 but, on the other hand, they have to live in the current, competitive, cutthroat world - the days of lower school children automatically getting into the upper school are long gone.
Which state school?

Thank you for your response, ideally I would prefer them to be at the same school but they are very different characters so possibly could do some combinations (eg Bromsgrove and Winterfold, or RGS and Kings). I am possibly leaning towards Winterfold as seems small and would get more input, interesting what you say about preparing for the next level. I'd rather not say the state school as it is in a very small village...however, the class sizes are large which is the only thing really making me think about private.

I've known families who have been to Winterfold and they seem happy with it, though this was several years ago so I may be out of date. However, it's been the same Headmaster since 1999 so there's no reason to assume change.

Thank you, that's reassuring to hear. Just gets very confusing looking at so many different schools and weighing up pros/cons.

there is a new headmaster at Abberley who apparently is doing great things. Definitely worth looking at.

A friend has a DS at Winterfold and is very happy with the school. He has been there about a year and a half, and has made great progress after being bullied at his previous school

Thanks very much, great to hear others opinions

What are you doing for Secondary - staying private or going State? What is State like where you are - two tier or three tier?

I would like to go private for secondary, but one of my concerns is older dc may struggle to get in further down the line as most are selective. I think younger dc would probably be ok doing state and then sitting exam at preferred secondary. We have both 2 and 3 tiered system locally so have a degree of choice there.

What ages are they now? Abberley could work well if you think they will need different schools at 13+ - they deal well with a very wide ability spectrum (no academic selection) and have a good reputation for matching children to secondary schools and then getting them in. PM me if you want more info.

I am also intrigued by the geographical spread - I certainly wouldn't want DC at the two extremes - the only pair that could potentially work would be RGS The Grange and Kings Hawford, but even that would be a PITA.

Ideally the same school for both would obviously be best, and make my life much easier. Otherwise one would have to go in wrap around care, and the other not. Like you say though, would only be possible with certain combinations.