Sheffield independent schools

[Toomanypuddings]

Hi,

I have two boys- one coming up to reception age and one younger. We live just outside of Sheffield. Can anyone advise on the differences -pros/cons of Mylnhurst vs Birkdale? DS is very bright but quite sensitive so I don’t want him to be crushed by somewhere too pushy but I would like him to reach his potential.

Mylnhurst and Birkdale are both mixed now- is Mylnhurst less academic?

@Toomanypuddings

Some are Catholic - which is part of the reason lots go to state school for Notre Dame (but also that there just are some excellent state schools in Sheffield like Tapton and Silverdale). But loads aren’t Catholic, probably most not?

My experience of Birkdale was as a pupil at one of the excellent state schools, but it’s all the same part of Sheffield so inevitably a lot of the pupils end of knowing each other from extra curricular activities like choirs/ orchestras / sport and then later on “extracurricular activities”

My knowledge is a bit out of date - I don’t know Mylnhurst’s new head, but I’m sure you can have a taster? They always used to offer one before signing on the dotted line. I’ve got 4 kids and moved about a bit, so used a fair few schools and the Mylnhurst parents were the friendliest bunch I’ve ever known!

I think we will arrange to look round both. Pros to Birkdale is it goes all the way through to 18 which I think it good for transition. Negative for me is that there are currently only a few girls.

It seems like mylnhurst might have a nice ethos but might end up leaving friends behind for y7.

I’m really looking for somewhere where it is seen as a positive thing to achieve highly but not in an overly competitive manner.

I wouldn't worry too much about the secondary transition thing as in my experience lots of children change friendship groups a lot when they first go on to secondary school. Classes are mixed up at many schools and new friendships are formed. Birkdale takes on a lot of new children in year 7 from a wide area, many travelling from further afield. Being new to the school isn't an issue at all, most are and lots don't know anyone at all when they join.

Dd went to a different (private) primary school and joined the (private) high school in year 7. About 7 or 8 girls went too but she very quickly made new friends. Whilst she is in contact with some of her old primary friends through social media they aren't her closest friends and weren't from year 7 onwards tbh. She moved again for sixth form - to the state school opposite her private school - due to subject choices. Again, she made so many new friends within the first week or two. Again she has stayed friends with some of her secondary school friends, mainly through social media and the odd meet up a couple of times a year, except for her very best school friend who she met in year 7.

So friendships made at primary often change at secondary even if they stay in in a through school.

I agree with @Abraxan I wouldn’t worry about secondary transition at this stage - you might not even want the same senior school/ it might not suit them by that point. One of mine moved schools for year 7 not knowing a single soul, and it was the making of him because the school was the right fit (and he left a 4-18 all through school to go there!)

@Abraxan

Do you mind me asking how you came to choose Ashdell at the time? How did you know it was the best fit? Inknow it is now part of Girls High but just wondering about the thought process behind the decision!

@Overthill

Can I also ask why you picked mylnhurst?

@Toomanypuddings

It was pretty simple, he has dyslexia which Mylnhurst (certainly then, don’t know about now) was brilliant at dealing with. But at the same time, they could also recognise how bright he was even though he needed additional support with reading. Also, on his taster day, it was so clear they fully acknowledged that little boys can be quite silly and that wasn’t a problem for them!

I’m also not fond of single sex schools for boys - they do better in co-Ed. Birkdale was a no for me, and I didn’t look at Westbourne because I’d already decided Mylnhurst was the right fit.

@Overthill

Did you start after reception? It may be y1 by the time we move.

@Overthill

Also not keen on single sex. Birkdale is a funny one now because it is co-Ed but many more boys than girls at the minute.

Yep, prep 1start

Birkdale must have gone co-Ed very recently? I hadn’t realised it had.

Yep autumn 2020 I think it went coed.

Interesting choice when it’s USP was being the only remaining boys school in Sheffield, maybe that isn’t such a seller these days.

It sounds like a lot of people do state until senior school in Sheffield so I imagine they wanted to increase their numbers. No boys schools left now!

From speaking to people who know Birkdale better than me I think it was down to numbers and money. It will definitely change the way the school has always been and I know some parents weren't happy with the decision as they wanted boys only to continue in secondary at least.

They've had girls in sixth form for several years and then started to accept girls into reception not too long ago / around the same time as Ashdell (the girl's prep/primary) closed/merged with the Girl's High.

Iirr Westbourne when we were looking for Dd the school has many more boys than girls, and girls often moved to the high school around year 7-9 for a range of reasons. I think it's now a more even mix, probably helped by the closure of two girls schools in the area over the past ten years or so.

Sheffield High is still girls only but the rest are now co-Ed.

[quote Toomanypuddings]@Abraxan

Do you mind me asking how you came to choose Ashdell at the time? How did you know it was the best fit? Inknow it is now part of Girls High but just wondering about the thought process behind the decision![/quote]
Gut feeling, pure and simple.

We did visits to Ashdell, Sheffield High, Westbourne and Brentwood as well as three local state primaries.

We loved the 'feel' of Ashdell and really liked Brantwood too, though liked the idea of a primary only school and making a decision at year 6/7 about secondary - children change so much from 3 and 11 and what might suit them can change massively.

SHS felt more impersonal as it was bigger classes, higher numbers etc. And Brantwood just felt a bit too small. Westbourne didn't have as high a reputation back then (Dd is 19y now) and was more boys than girls. We didn't really know much about Mylnhurst.

Gut feeling worked for us. We loved the feel on our visits. The staff bent down and talked to Dd - just 3 at the time of looking for starting reception a year later - and the girls in the classes looked happy and engaged and encouraged Dd to join in with their activities. The older girls (10/11y) who took us round were confident but not arrogant and spoke of the school with such warmth. It felt very family oriented. The class sizes were a bit smaller at 16-20 ish but not too small for our liking. This proved to be right - when her class teacher died one summer unexpectedly the whole school came together as one and held each other together. The school found a lovely older teacher who came out of early retirement to help nurture the girls through the shock and upset and then choose a young enthusiastic teacher to take over after a few months who had the same kind of enthusiasm of their old teacher but didn't try to be him - he took them through their entrance exams (no sats) and then helped them enjoy a last term or so of fun, nurturing and social activities, such as creating a 'rock' band for the leavers show, etc.

It worked for us. Dd loved her time there and has so many fond memories. When the school closed her whole class returned for the reunion and 'goodbye' evening to see their teachers, tour the school -and reminisce, as did the parents.

Although she's been to two other schools since (SHS and King Edwards sixth form) and is now at university she will always see herself as an Ashdell girl!

Ah, I miss those primary days!

Thank you for that’s really helpful.

And yes I think Birkdale going Co-ed will be down to numbers and therefore money. I suppose if they don’t have enough pupils then there’s not much choice but to go co-Ed. I think it will be a while before it is truly co-Ed though.

@Toomanypuddings I’ve only just seen your thread OP but wanted to add that we will be sending our sons to Mylnhurst. Eldest DS is starting at the pre-school in September and youngest will be following him next September. We also looked at Westbourne but ultimately got a much better feel for Mylnhurst.
My eldest DS has a speech delay and they have been brilliant with transition from his current nursery. The head is fantastic, we found her incredibly caring and the school very nurturing. To echo a pp, they seem to be very understanding of the fact that young children will still behave like young children. It didn’t feel like an exam factory to us, just an incredibly happy & nurturing school with staff that genuinely care.
They couldn’t of done any more to help my son feel welcome and I’ve met some parents who seem absolutely lovely & very down to earth.

I wouldn’t rule out MSM for senior school as they do provide transport throughout the city. I agree that you’d struggle to get into a state if you’re past application cut off, especially if you’re looking at either S10, S11 or S17 schools.
Hallam, Dore, Totley etc are hugely oversubscribed every year.

Hi, can I ask where you decided? I’m currently in the same dilemma. Love everything about birkdale but still not many girls (my girl will be starting school next September)! Heardbonly good about mylnhurst and I like that they have a preschool from age 3 but it’s then where do they go for senior, if they then go to birkdale for senior then should they have started there originally…. Help

We didn’t in the end as had the chance to work abroad for a bit so haven’t actually used any of the school. We will be back next year. Not sure whether to go state or private then to be honest as birkdale’s results didn’t seem particularly exciting compared to the state options. I don’t think we will go for mylnhurst as would require another school move.

What’s the proportion of girls in the pre prep? Could be ok if they keep them together?