Gx Grammar Schools

[FernSaidSo]

DH and are looking to relocate next year and we have DS 4 and DS 1.

DH went to Dr. Challoner's school and raves about it and has said for years that if we have boys he wants for them to go there.

We've been viewing property in Seer Green, CSP, GX and Amersham. There's a stunning cottage in GX we've fallen in love with. All great. Except we were speaking to a family friend yesterday who has a son that just sat the 11+ and she said apparently children in GX aren't getting places in Challoners? It's over subscribed?

Does anyone know if this is true, and are catchments shrinking?

Are there orher good grammar options locally?

I would be grateful to hear from anyone in the area in the know.

The stats here will tell you the furthest distance offered for Buckinghamshire schools over the last few years:
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-admissions-guides-policies-and-statistics/school-place-allocation-statistics/
It does seem that last year, only boys in catchment up to just over 5mi got in, and GX is a bit over that.

However your boys are still so young that there is no way of knowing whether that will still be the picture when they come to do the 11+ - there is a falling birth rate, DCGS may drop in popularity, a new housing estate may be built closer within catchment that places a lot of boys nearer, their admissions policies may change. You can’t be sure.

I’m biased, but my DS is at RGS High Wycombe and I think it is a brilliant school (and I’d say he is having a much better time there than his best friend is at DCGS - but that may just be down to how well those individual schools suit those individually boys rather than a reflection on the schools as a whole).

Incredibly helpful , thank you @RedKiteMaidenhead. So glad to hear your DS enjoys his school!

If I could go back in time, there are lots of things I would do differently in my life. One of them would be never moving to bloody south bucks and the grammar school system. I despise it . My kids passed but it’s so damaging and I regret it. What would you do if your kids don’t pass? Are you prepared for the amount of tutoring that goes on? Even if both of your boys pass, will it be the right environment for them? I will not encourage my kids to stay in the area if they have kids of their own. Mixed ability all the way

My friend lives in this area and I know that as her dc are approaching year 5 she is panicking. Apparently the allocations have all become much tighter in recent years, tutoring is now mega mega bucks, very contested and competitive (nearly all group rather than 1:1 due to capacity) and much more disappointment than she was previously aware of. VAT changes perhaps having some impact.

They are now (a bit hurriedly/belatedly) considering a move over the border into Herts.

Yours a quite young to be able to forecast the capacity/allocation issues or their abilities for when the time comes, but it would seem pretty foolhardy to go into this thinking you will have certainty of outcome. You need to know how relaxed you would be about more likely alternatives.

I very much appreciate the insights, thank you for sharing views.

Ultimately, the boys may not be academic, and if that's the case, we wouldn't pursue 11+.

I guess it's plan A, if all parties are able and willing, but we do need a back up plan for sure.

It makes sense to have a solid plan B, given how fickle and competitive the system sounds to be. Food for thought.

I agree with quertyagain. Avoid the 11 plus at all costs if you can. It will make little difference to your child's results but will cause you all stress!

I think if moving to a grammar area you have to be happy with the concept of the non-grammar option.
Personally I'm delighted to have ended up in Hants where we have an all comp system, as the threads about tutoring for grammar are scary.

Agree with @TeenToTwenties - you need to be happy with the sec mod option (or whatever it is called there) in a grammar area. Especially if your DC are so young that you cannot know how well they may do.

It makes sense to have a solid plan B, given how fickle and competitive the system sounds to be.

It's not so much that it is fickle as that your DC may not pass the exam. And a solid plan B sounds great – but what could it be in practice? Accept the sec mod, go private or HE. For a lot of people the second and third options are not feasible for cost reasons; which leaves you with the sec mod.

Personally I would hate the idea of my DC going to a school where the top 20% (or whatever figure) were creamed off to go elsewhere. But then I grew up in a grammar area and went to one. And saw very bright students forced to attend the sec mod and be double entered for CSE and O level (luckily not an issue now obvs). Just – you know, you need to be aware of the reality of what might happen.

By HE do you mean Home Ed? We can definitely count that one out for us!

Private also not financially likely.

Thanks for your reply, I've got my eyes opened quite a lot more now.

Yes sorry HE = home educate in this context.

So your only Plan B can really be the non-grammars. They may be very good of course and a great setting for your DC. But it's best to be aware.