Winchester: which secondary and primary?

[frangipanitree]

We will be moving back to the UK from overseas as DS1 goes into Year 7, and DS2 into Year 3. Heard lots of good things about Winchester state schools. Would really appreciate any views on which secondaries and primaries might be the best fit for my boys. We will rent when we move back, so have a good degree of flexibility in moving close to the schools which we want to get into (but need to be no more than a cycle ride from the station for a London commute).

DS1 is best described as "quirky"! He is clever and creative, but incredibly scatty (think eccentric scientist). He definitely benefits from fairly rigorous teaching which keeps him "on track". He's really interested in science, but also enjoys reading, drama etc. He's not majorly into traditional school sports (football, rugby etc) but enjoys more alternative sports (climbing, basketball, skateboarding). We're looking at both Kings and Westgate. I know both get good reputation, but would love to hear from parents who have recent experience of either.

DS2 has mild SEN (ASD). We would ideally like a nurturing / inclusive primary school for him (rather than anywhere "pushy" that is overly focused on SATs results). And we would obviously be looking at schools either within the Kings or Westgate catchments, depending on what we decide on for DS1. We wouldn't rule out a religious school (but aren't religious, so wouldn't go for anywhere which requires church attendance etc).

Any ideas / views / perspectives welcome!

Op I don't know the area so can't advise on schools, but are you planning to move for ds1 to start yr 7 in Sept 2019? If so the deadline for applications has just passed (if these are state schools) so you may have to take what you can get,ie less popular options.

If you move close to your preferred school tho you will be at the top of the waiting list if/when a space comes up. Hth.

There are 3 secondary schools to choose from in Winchester. I know two families who chose Henry Beaufort and both were I believe very happy (currently in second year at college). One has ASD and school was supportive. One very bright and came out with near perfect grades.

Westgate is now an 'all-through school' which may or may not appeal to you. The families I know who went through Westgate were very happy. A solid all round school is my impression.

Kings used to stream very visibly and inflexibly, I don't know if that is still the case, but personally I don't like that approach. I did know a family there too but they moved out of area part way.

Do check the Progress data for the schools. I think that there is quite a lot of self selection that goes on, but actually suspect all schools are pretty similar academically. In a lot of the country people would bite your hand off for any of the 3 schools

I don't know for certain, you would need to check the data, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could get into any of the 3 schools if you live in Winchester itself / within cycling distance of the station. (Provided applying as part of normal admission round).

Hampshire has the most confusing system of showing admissions data I have ever seen, however it appears that Henry Beaufort is the easiest one to get into, the last person admitted lived 17 miles away. Kings and Westgate are oversubscribed but everyone in catchment was offered a place.

As to other stats Westgate has an extremely impressive Progress 8 of 0.78, the others have very solid scores of 0.24 (HB) and 0.29 (King's). I think @TeenTimesTwo is right, most people would be very happy to have these choices.

Oops, forgot to post the link to the admissions data:

documents.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/SecondaryData2018.pdf

Hampshire has the most confusing system of showing admissions data I have ever seen
But the easiest to operate for parents

OP
Kings is getting its act together really well for ASD support
get into one of their feeders for Primary

please refer to school for breakdown isn't all that helpful really though.

True, but the Hampshire rules are devoid of church and exam tests and the catchment maps are on the council website so its easy to know where to move to be certain

only if you want to live outside the catchment do you need to check
but the out of catchment bus routes are often quite a giveaway !

Hampshire has the most confusing system of showing admissions data I have ever seen
But the easiest to operate for parents

Take your point about the church places etc. But most counties have a column showing "number refused", which makes it easy to see how hard a school is to get into. It took me a while to find out what I wanted to know in the absence of this.

But "number refused" could include kids who put the school on the form from the other end of the county and never had a hope - so its not a useful metric.

Hampshire schools have catchments.
If you live in catchment you get in.
If you live near the catchment you probably get in.
If you live far from the catchment you probably don't get in.

Thanks for all the replies - belatedly checking in!

We're moving back in summer 2020, so plenty of time. We will definitely move within the catchment area for whichever school(s) we opt for, so good to know that all those living in catchment get a place at the catchment school.

If we go for Westgate for DS1, then I assume Westgate lower school would be our first choice for DS2.

Does anyone know which primaries are in the Kings catchment? I'm struggling to get hold of basic catchment maps for Kings and Westgate (google only coming up with options to input a postcode and check which school is in catchment - no use as we don't have a postcode yet, and I want to see where the catchment boundaries are).

The linked primaries (listed on the schools' Admissions criteria) show you the overall catchment. So If you live in catchment for one of their primaries, you live in the catchment for that secondary school. Kings' include Stanmore, St Faiths, St Peters (which is RC, and so God is more important than where you live) Oliver's Battery, Hursley, Sparsholt, Compton All Saints. If you go to one of these primaries, but live out of catchment, you come after all in-catchment siblings, in-catchment other children - but before any other non-catchment DCs.

The PANs of Westgate's linked schools will exceed the 240 yr 7 Westgate PAN from when their primary section comes of age. I think that this will be for entry in 2021. So I'd make sure that I was living closer to the school than its farthest flung linked school.

Westgate Primary mucks up the neatness of the city's admissions, imo. Any pupil in the primary section is guaranteed progression to the secondary section, even if a family chooses to move a long way out of catchment. Great if that's you; not so for children in Highcliffe, Winnall, Twyford and Owslebury, who may no longer get into their catchment school, and with no obvious alternative within a sensible travelling distance.

Kings' and Westgate have both scrapped their out-of-catchment buses.

Kings catchment map
www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/findaschool/schooldetails?dfesno=4310
Westgate Catchment map
www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/findaschool/schooldetails?dfesno=4012

Thanks Lemonsole and Ta1kinpeace - checking out the catchment maps now.

We are moving to Winchester from abroad and submitted late applications, for Westgate primary and senior as that is closest school to where we live and in catchment. We have been told there is a space for my daughter at Winnall for which I should now submit an application. I was told by Westgate she i second on waiting list and so in accepting a place at Winnall dont want to lose out on the chance of her still getting a place at Westgate. Anyone any experience with switching?

It won't affect your chances of getting a Westgate place. Accepting a place at Winnall doesn't mean that you can't stay on other waiting lists. Having an in-catchment older sibling there will bump you higher.