Abbey reading or Wycombe High

[Vs123]

Hi All,

DD got into both Abbey reading and Wycombe high. And I am confused where to send her. Any experience/comments to share?

Thanks
V

One is an independent school and the other is a grammar school. Both are academic and will get you great exam results. Have friend's kid at Abbey School reading and

I guess you need to consider the non-academic qualities.

Also if you have a place at Wycombe High then it means you are in the catchment area. Commute to Reading is 1/2 an hour and traffic can be quite bad during peak hours into town.

We are right in between so equal distance from both. Does your friend like reading abbey?

So you're on the hook for the deposit and first term of fees at The Abbey whatever your decision now - were you aware of that?

What is it that you're unsure about? If the cost of fees/VAT is an issue then definitely go state.

Are there any particular areas of concern around either school? They're both great schools.

Thanks, just want to know if Abbey is worth the money or not? I don't mind paying if there is a genuine difference between the two schools.

@Vs123

Abbey in Reading isn't Wycombe Abbey is it?! So differences aren't so great.

A level results are about the same. GCSE results are about the same too. Assuming you have visited the schools you surely could see where your fees would be going? If you cannot see much difference, save your money!

My DDs boarded and I really could see the difference between our local grammar and the lndependent school we chose! It was not all about academics for us. It was also about the arts, great encouragement to try new things and a huge breadth of opportunities to grow as a young person. You need to work out what matters most to your DD. What school does she prefer? My DD had strong views! As parents we agreed with her on the schools.

@Vs123 you really have to go and look at the schools again as no one here will have done the same comparison and none of us know your child?

If it's only about the academics then there's nothing in it but you must have thought the facilities/sports provision/pastoral care at the Abbey were special to have applied and then accepted the place? Why are you now doubting that?

But you need to look and decide quickly...

My friend's daughter is only in y7. Seems to be enjoying herself. Not too much pressure but am told that there is an expectation to achieve.

Not too strict. Many varieties of activities on offer.

Am told that some more aggressive ppl had left for other boarding schools.

Thanks all! I am going to see wycombe high next month. Abbey was really great and dd had loved it. But I don't know if its worth the fees or not and with the 20%vat hike, it becomes a stretch! That is why trying to get a view from all. Everyone talks about the overall development but do private schools really give that? And are grammar schools really lacking there?

@Vs123

Private schools have smaller classes. They also have more money per pupil so if you cannot see any difference, why pay? You should see some differences.

I don't understand why you haven't been to Wycombe High. They have an open evening in the autumn term.

@VS123 if you don't decide soon you might be liable for 2 terms fees at The Abbey even if she doesn't go there????

I have a DD at this school & it all started well, but now high staff turnover ( including the loss of several departmental heads), rising fees & VAT, and the clear favourites and Cliques ( which includes staff and pupils from the lower schools) are fueling anxiety amongst children & parents

On top of rising fees, expectations of pupils and parents to be ready to serve the school on demand for sports and open evenings, the school tolerates behaviour from Cliques. Last year thieves caused chaos across the school. Now a gang of students in years 9,10,and 11 are causing anxiety amongst newcomers, but it all went unpunished. simply because the perpetrators have been at the school since their nappies

Computer Science is a good example of the schools decline. No provision or support for this subject and the school has lost dozens of great teachers to other schools in the last year!

Pupil concerns are not addressed and recently a staff member was suspended over improper behaviour. Lastly, a gang of kids in the upper years had their data & pictures put on an instagram account and had fun poked out of them.

cliques exist and they include embedded staff who side with pupils thst have come through the primary schools. The school refuses to deal with thieving pupils ( who caused chaos last year) or others who bully newcomers! A horrible place thst costs 10k a term!!!

save your money

wow😱! thanks for sharing. Just to be sure, you are referrig to the Abbey School Reading, right?