Stroud High or Ribston?

[Scubadivinginabox]

Hi there,
Anyone with any previous experience of these schools - please help! My DD got into Ribston but we have found out that our first preference of SHS was just [i]one rank[/i] away. So I presume that if she goes on the waiting list for SHS she stands a high chance of getting in (aside from the girls with a higher rank who are on the waiting list for whatever reason).

The dilemma is that my DD now is edging towards Ribston. We loved the pastoral care there, the focus on the arts and that they really seemed to care about nurturing the girls' individual character as they grow. Stroud didn't give any kind of headmaster speech and we didn't meet the teachers and it didn't feel as friendly. DD is also worried that as she is at the lower end of the rankings she will find SHS more academically challenging.

This is further complicated by SHS being geographically closest (or potentially, we haven't moved yet but know we want to move to Stroud rather than around Gloucester) so DD could have a short walk / ride to school rather than a 35 min + bus journey. There's a lot to be said for being geographically closer but not sure if this should trump school pref.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

I can't help re Stroud high but we visited Ribston and thought it was a lovely school, kids travel from some distance away and there are school busses from Stroud so she definitely won't be the only one travelling from there. I'm sure both are great choices so I'd probably go with whatever you dd prefers

@hazelnutlatte Thank you for your thoughts. We feel very lucky to be in this position - although it doesn't make it any easier to decide. At the end of the day it's about the better fit for DD V ease of getting there.

I have extensive experience of both.

Both are academically really good. SHS suited dd1 and Ribston DD2. Dd1 is by far the more academic and I don’t think SHS would have suited dd2 (she actually went there for 6th form and hated it)

Your DD will probably be happier being the top half of Ribston than the bottom of SHS.

There are reasonable buses to Stroud from Ribston.

If I had to do it again I would probably lean towards Ribston for both. The pastoral care was better.

@Lunaballoonabear This is so helpful - thank you. SHS was what we always had in our mind and where she sat the test but it's Ribston that really impressed. It seems to be coming down to pastoral care V geographically easier.

@Lunaballoonabear Just wondering how your DD at Ribston got on with after school clubs and travelling back to Stroud later in the evening? If you don't mind sharing.