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Original poster

Brighton College

55 replies

pastoralacademia · 08/11/2011 15:13

i am not from the area and I really need some advice regarding this school?

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Original poster
pastoralacademia · 12/11/2011 17:41

I want my DCs to thrive not to be drilled really. I would like them to achieve their full potential but I want them to grow up to be caring people as well.
Was there bullying when DCs were there? I am happy for you to PM if you prefer. Thank you.

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MABS · 13/11/2011 09:29

dd was certainly not bullied at BC, i just didn't like the etos there, much prefer hurst. But it depends on child , age? interests? where you live? etc

LIZS · 13/11/2011 10:14

Know of a family considering it for 13+ and there has been no mention of any such issues, despite them having contacts. Bullying is unfortunately present in all schools, it is how it is dealt with that matters.

MABS · 13/11/2011 10:24

very true Lizs

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 13/11/2011 10:28

Thank you for all your comments. I thought it would be much more laid back next to the sea and away from London :)

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MABS · 13/11/2011 10:34

laid nack and Brighton College are not two words i would ever put together to be honest, great school academically tho :)

bex2000 · 15/11/2011 09:03

Just have to come in on this, both as parent and someone who works at Brighton College! It just isn't true that letters are sent asking children to leave. Pupils at the prep school do have to pass Common Entrance, just the same as anyone else from outside, to get a place in the senior school at 13+, and I know the prep school head writes if he is concerned that a pupil is not going to pass, so they have time to find a senior school that would suit the child better. I can only think it must be one of these letters earlier posters have seen? I'm desperately hoping my DS gets a place next year, because in my experience it just isn't the school I've seen described above. Hope this helps - I know I'm not impartial, but I wouldn't move my DS there if I didn't believe it would be a great place for him to be.

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 15/11/2011 13:13

bex2000: Thank you for the feedback. Would you please be try to be impartial:) and let me know how does the school deal with bullying? How about the wellbeing of all the pupils? I am aware that pupils don't transfer automatically to the senior school. However some of what I've read here so far is worrying. Usually there is no smoke without fire!

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Original poster
pastoralacademia · 16/11/2011 19:34

I have done a bit of reading... Hurst seems lovely. I am going to fix some dates to visit.

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Vanilla109 · 16/11/2011 21:12

I?ve just read this and you were asking about bullying and for an impartial view. I moved my 2 children to Brighton College in 2009 from another local prep school (mentioned above)and have never looked back. My eldest child has gone from being bullied, introverted and permanently depressed to a bright, confident, happy and enthusiastic child. Brighton College has done wonders for her and has been so supportive since her arrival. She was so shy, her teachers were all made aware of this and have really worked to bring her out of her shell. The ethos in the school is really lovely and you should ignore the rumors and go for a look around.

Also I do not feel that there are huge pressures as aforementioned. Any child with a reasonable intelligence level, attitude to work and support from home will thrive at the school.

Given the recent exam results, the amazing pastoral care and the glowing report in ?The Times? on the 13th of November 2011 and, if you feel your children are intelligent there is really only one choice!

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 16/11/2011 21:24

Thank you Vanilla, I am pleased to hear that. We have been to the school on the open morning and we all loved it. I asked many pupils on the day and they seemed all to be glad to be there and happy. No one mentioned anything about bullying even when I asked. Some parents on this thread don't recall any. The letters? If these letters are sent before the senior school then fair enough but after a high selection?! Do you know of it? Thank you for your help.

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Original poster
pastoralacademia · 16/11/2011 21:28

I realise there is bullying everywhere. The way the school handles is the most important.

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bex2000 · 16/11/2011 23:39

Impartial, I promise! My son's currently at a really, really good local primary school, but as a bright, hard-working boy, he's been the target of a lot of bullying; right from the start, from reception. We looked at other local independent schools, but to me it's really important he's brought up in the real world, not shut away from it, which is what so many seem really to be about.

So this was a revelation to me: seeing all the bright, hard-working children at BC were really happy and proud and secure about who they are, all rushing about doing amazing things, but completely grounded, just made me want that for him. I know bullying happens everywhere in some form, but preventing it, encouraging tolerance and kindness, is really taken seriously. Anything that happens seems to be dealt with really swiftly, so for me - especially compared with what I see at his current school - it's just not an issue. I hope this helps.

rockinhippy · 17/11/2011 10:42

I'm pleased to hear that too Vanilla & Bex , I'm very interested in this too & its good to get it from a parents perspective, rather than DCs

my own DD is now at an age where it needs thinking about even if they are not shy etc, especially having seen our friends very bright, gregarious, G&T hardworking kids hit secondary School & go completely off the rails & all but give up on School :(

Bidwells · 19/11/2011 14:20

Gosh - shocked at some comments re BC. My son joined yr7 sept 2010. He is on the main campus mixing with the big kids whom they really look up to. Yes, the work can be challenging esp for a grade B/C student like my lazy boy, but there is so much support. My son emails his teachers if he doesn't get the H/W & gets a reply by return, usually requesting they meet up to go over it again and again if necessary. And some of the lessons are so much fun - I'd never dreamed my son would like music, the mad scientists put a whole new spin on learning, DT & art lessons are inspired and of course the sport is second to none. They all get to learn the language of the future - Mandarin. You will hear the HM talk of dedicated staff - well, you have to meet the teachers @ BC to know what he is talking about - I know that my son will reach his full potential because of them and grow into a well rounded individual, like his cousins who went to BC. Bullying - zero tolerance - I know.

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 21/11/2011 09:04

Bidwells: It is fantastic to hear all your positive comments about BC.
Would you please explain the last sentence 'Bullying- zero tolerence- I know'? Has your ds experienced it? Thank you.

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climategirl · 21/11/2011 23:16

My DD is also at Brighton College - and I think it is very good. The pastoral care is excellent -the teachers respond very quickly if there is a problem. I dont think you should put too much weight on a short conversation at A&E.
My DD has never told me about any bullying (and I have asked). Things have improved a lot since I was at boarding school.

rockinhippy · 22/11/2011 10:42

thanks climategirl & Bidwells your replies have been very interesting to me too - & no I wasn't putting too much store on a short conversation between 2 DCs in A&E, it did initially put me off, but I was more surprised our friends DD wasn't sent there, as was always intended by her Teacher Mum -

reading this thread & looking into the 2 local catchment Schools has made me think again, not least because another friends older & once also very academic, model pupil DD went off the rails on hitting Senior School & the support just wasn't there in a way that worked, the same Mum is now also looking at BC for her younger DD

& I've got to admit, though Private Ed doesn't really appeal to us as such, (all our own personal private Ed friends have wasted their Education :( & none have ever really worked & generally have a very entitled attitudeHmm) but we also realise that things have changed since myself & DH were at School, a lot more distractions & less Teacher power, so we are still seriously considering BC, I really like what I see on their website, again see happy polite DCs coming & going from there, we've a few years to decide, but reading your 2, far more experienced posts has helped a lot

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 22/11/2011 17:15

Hi climategirl, thank you for the feedback. I'm glad to hear that the pastoral care is excellent. It is as important for us as the academic side.

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onehackedoffmuma · 24/11/2011 18:38

My ds joined the pre-prep in September and so far I've been really happy with his progress both academically and socially.

I've found the environment to be far more nurturing than that of his previous school and all the other children have been incredibly welcoming and inclusive of him. I'm aware that at his age kids can chop and change their friendship groups frequently but ds has taken to his new environment like a duck to water.

I don't know if ds will go right through until he is 18 - I'm just taking each day/week/term as it comes and supporting him along the way.

I'm not sure that my comment is all too relevant given the fact my son is only in the pre-prep but I wish you the best of luck with your decision pastoralacademia.

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 24/11/2011 21:03

Thank you very much ONE, it's good to know :)

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luckylavender · 28/11/2011 19:27

I am terribly shocked by some of the comments on this thread.

Back story - DS 15 (U5) has been there since Nursery so Pre-Prep, Prep and College. This is his 13th year. We are not well off by any means but have sacrificed a lot to keep him there. He is bright but a little lazy and very sporty. He has had the most amazing time at school and has wanted to go to school every day of his life. He is challenged and nurtured in all sorts of areas and is proud of his school and the teachers and friends he has. I showed his this thread and he was very upset. He does not recognise the school that he loves in some of these posts.

It is true that some children have to leave because they cannot pass CE, it was always so, but the letter is not a surprise, there will be a warning and it is advice not a command.

In my opinion if you have an able DC who wants to be challenged then it is a truly excellent school. The kids are normal and happy and very polite.

Samsaraschoice · 03/12/2011 14:55

(Forgive me if I don't 'speak' the Mumsnet language. I'm not sure what a DC etc means!) but would love to get some feedback about bullying in local independent schools, particularly St Bedes, BC and Eastbourne. My child is at Eastbourne and has experienced a lot of ongoing bullying, main,y verbal and exclusion. The staff are lovely and very supportive but seem totally unable to change anything. Has anyone else had this problem? We are thinking about moving but don't want to make things worse.

Original poster
pastoralacademia · 04/12/2011 12:34

DS: dear son
DD: dear daughter
DC: dear child
DCs: dear children
DH: dear husband

I might be wrong but that's what I figured out so far, the rest just guess as you go. Good luck.

I will be watching out for any posts as I would like to know as well.

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Bakelitebelle · 04/12/2011 21:49

DD went to sixth form college with some ex-Brighton College students. They loathed the school which they found snooty and competetive and absolutely loved the state 6th form, (very short of money but some excellent tutors). They probably aren't representative though.