Seaford College, Ditcham Park, Hurstpierpoint, Portsmouth High, or St Edmunds.... any reviews good or bad?

[HappydaysFundaysMum]

Hello there, New to the area - renting, we are rushing to visit and choose a few schools to select for entry in three years time from now..... though exams to enter are this autumn/winter, so we need to be quick. If you have any hints or experience please do let me know. DD has aspirations, dyslexia, SPD, enjoys the outside space for break times and loves to move around. Enjoys horses, dogs and drama. Thank you.

Seaford College - our DS just started, so this is early insights rather than based on long experience. Staff, kids and parents have all been v friendly. Comes across as down to earth - Kids have been inclusive and welcoming which we've seen as v positive sign about the ethos of the school. Communication so far v frequent. Lots of activities to sign up for - and pupils seem to be encouraged to take advantage of them all. (Not my DS thing but lots of music and drama options.) Bit early for me to comment on academics, but based on feedback from other parents, and recent GCSE results they seem to do well by a mixed bunch of abilities - they have a focus on "personal bests" rather than just top results. One of the reasons we picked the school as think that approach will work well for our DS. Given it's a school that has a mixed ability group, including many dyslexics, their English GCSE results are in particular v impressive. Grounds are gorgeous - means nothing about the quality of school of course, but for a child who likes running around outdoors, there would be lots of space! Definitely worth a look I'd say. It is on the up I understand - a few years ago there wasn't much competition for places, now they are oversubscribed I believe (However, don't know if that means people who want places didn't get them, given that many people apply for multiple places.) Also, been investing in new buildings - new sports hall last year, and other new buildings this year. I would check number of girls - I know this was a challenge in recent years but think numbers have increased and they have openly said they have improved provision for girls (sport etc).

Thank you. That was a very quick reply and very comprehensive. I'm just a bit concerned about the pressure of entrance tests as it was for this very reason that we chose to move down here a year ago. It now seems that all schools do this and I really don't want to add pressure when it can be avoided. Do you think the teachers share their enthusiasm for their subjects with the children? So much is down to the teaching. I'm really glad you've been able to share so much positive information about Seaford. It's been really helpful. Thanks so very much.

We will apply and take it from there. Thanks so much once again.

You have my sympathy re pressure of applying. We started looking when DS in Y5/6. Was fairly relaxed as we were applying for non selective schools and thought he'd be fine. By the time the application process rolled round, competition for places had increased, and I was terrified he wouldn't get place. I know Seaford now have pre-testing - which ultimately is probably good idea given that's what other schools are doing. However, they say they do not decide solely on academic performance in the test. Pretty sure that is true as seems unlikely that DS would have got in on that score. So while they are selective, they are not solely academically selective.

Sorry - didn't answer your question re teaching. I don't know yet! Let's hope so!

Hi there - I am a mother of two teenage girls aged 14 and 13. Both absolutely love Portsmouth High. There is strong leadership and teaching standards are excellent as is the co-curricular offering. They particularly enjoy the clubs and variety of sport on offer. Both very different - my younger daughter has dyslexia and the school great at supporting her work on the IPad (and recognising her strengths - recently got a Sports scholarship) so whilst it’s a strong academic school they are supporting her well. Older daughter has an academic scholarship and enjoys all on offer. They say they “love that all the teachers know them and they get to know all the girls”. They both loved the horse riding club too. The entrance exam was dealt with in a non pressurised way (we felt) but our second daughter (with dyslexia) came in via the junior school so that helped her confidence. I can’t recoomend it highly enough.

Thank you so much. We have had a tour there already but I was reluctant to apply until we've seen the other schools. Especially as it seemed there is so little space to play during break times at Portsmouth High. How do your two travel to school? Our DD would need to take a school bus.
So very helpful and great to know that they both get the encouragement they need. Thanks so much.

I'm going to second both the above posters.... Portsmouth High and Seaford stand way out in your list, so I'd go and see those two.

Portsmouth High is strong academically but very inclusive. It's really friendly and very good for 'girl power', iykwim.... small enough so everyone knows everyone, but big enough for friendships to work out well.

Seaford College is non selective, but due to its recent surge in popularity, it does pre test, but more to make sure they have the right mix of children in each year. Because of the broader range of academic ability, they might not be as aspirational for girls in particular, but they do focus on personal improvements and effort as well.

I have lots of experience of both and they are both kind schools with excellent teachers. They are different as one is rural and one in town, the fees are quite different and obviously Seaford is co-ed. I would say both could cope with supporting additional learning needs (and both have done for my dc). You should go and take a look and see which works for your family....

At secondary level, I wouldn't worry about 'playing out' at playtime. It's all a bit more sloping around with a chocolate brownie

Both schools have good bus connections, but PHS also has the advantage of rail nearby which my dd uses.

Thank you. (where do the brownies come from?)

We are fortunate to be walking distance but plenty of their friends use the school minibuses and trains. Also I wouldn’t worry about lack of playing space - they kept so busy over lunch and use all the sports facilities locally. Another big plus for us is that this school is part of a much wider network - which is well utilised. It goes down to personal choice but really like the fact that the girls have ongoing support of GDST network behind them and they can mix with girls in other GDST schools. Best of both worlds - a family feel school in urban area but opportunities country wide when taking up all that GDST network has to offer. Taster days always a good way too to get a feel - good luck.

Brownies from the cafeteria at break

I'm another vote for Portsmouth High. We moved our daughter mid year last school year in year 5 from another independent co-ed school. We were looking for seniors but decided to come early as we were so impressed. Our daughter has settled in so well and so quickly. She has a wide group of friends and even though I was a little concerned about it being all girls and the issues that may cause, I am now a complete convert and would never go back. I cannot rate PHS highly enough. There are many reasons why we (and most importantly my daughter) love it. The teachers and in fact all staff are outstanding, helpful, friendly and inspirational and really get to know your child and ensure their learning is planned according to their needs. And most importantly I get the impression that they care - it's not just a job to them. The opportunities are fantastic - both academic, sports and co-curricular. With the backing of GDST there is investment in state of the art facilities, equipment and there is always something going on that the girls get to be a part of whether its a lecture, sports tournament or science or maths event. My daughter has a different club every day and is trying things she would never get a chance to at her old school. Whether it is sport, drama, music, arts, or science there is something on the co-curricular clubs list to suit everyone. Don't worry about the space - there is plenty and to be honest as someone who lives out in the country it is nice for my daughter to come in every day she even says she feels like she is 'going to work'. We currently drive in from the other side of Fareham but will be taking the mini bus after Christmas.
It was a big decision to move our daughter from a school where she had been since she was 2 years old and that was only 10 minutes walk from home. But the old school was part of a 'profit generating' schools group where costs were being cut, staff not replaced, teachers seemed demotivated and most importantly my daughter was bored. We knew we couldn't stay for seniors and had heard so many great things about PHS. I have to say it has lived up to its reputation. My daughter has got her 'educational mojo' back - she loves going to school, she does her homework without asking, she is enthusiastic and most importantly has grown in confidence, independence and is really happy. the transition was easy, no pressure - we did a couple of taster days and she was assessed during those days, with out even realising it - I was really surprised that after only a day they seemed to know my daughter better than teachers at her old school.

Cant comment on your other choices as we didn't consider any of those (I think we are the other side of Portsmouth to you!). Good luck with the search!

Some of the schools you mention are quite far apart. Hurstpierpojnt is very well thought of but rather academic and I think quite selective.

I can't speak for PHS but my DD is at another GDST school and so far I'm very impressed. They seem to have the right mix of "not too stuffy" but also quite challenging.

Thank you for your comprehensive list of supporting evidence on PHS. Really good to know. My DD is not always keen on spending hours on the fine detail on work, she loves being inventive in play - perhaps another side to dyslexia and memory issues. She does enjoy clubs though. Last year she was full up, this year it's mainly drama. She would like to try her hand at Polo in the spring time. I'm glad that the teachers are supportive and get to know the child. Mine might need a bit more help in processing ideas on paper for some subjects and so I'm wondering if PHS might be too much of a challenge. Though she is currently engaging in Science due to a great new teacher.

We too knew of another GDST, but that particular one was highly competitive and really keen on keeping up their academic profile. Piling on the homework etc I get the feeling that this one in Portsmouth is different, though I may be wrong.

St Edmund's (Hindhead) is really just an extended prep school. Very small and only to 16. All the children who can get in elsewhere leave at 11 or 13+. I would only send a child there who needs a lot of nurturing, perhaps has SEN or other needs. I would worry how it prepares children for life beyond and how they then cope moving at 16+ considering it really is just like a prep school that goes on!

VioletFlamingo, thank you very much for your thoughts. All worth considering. We will omit Hurstpierpoint as it really is too far away and DD will not board. We are willing to move a little north from where we are currently, south east of Chichester, but not east. Just one more to go, Ditcham Park, which had to be rearranged this week, on their part. Then we'll sit back and digest and have a good think. DD might need some SEN, and encouragement, but children can develop in different ways over the next three years, so it's a bit tricky to know where to go for the best. She is good at working out basic engineering, great with horses, and sports, Drama, but not good fine motor control, yet big on gross motor skills. DD always works really hard, but not great at processing onto paper. All suggestions welcome. Thanks again!

Hi OP
Based on your last post, my two minor insights 're SC might be useful (!?)
As mum of dyslexic DC I was told that lots of dyslexic DC do well there . I also know that seaford has a very strong polo team, for yr horsy DD!

You could get the polo at Cowdray near Midhurst also

@mum14ofteens a little late to the party but my daughter is sitting the exams for scholarships for PHS in January any advice? We really hope she gets it as schools in and around Portsmouth have gone downhill over the years. We loved phs but can only afford with a scholarship and bursary. Thanks in advance