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Original poster

Brighton college vs Windlesham?

11 replies

Butterfly26 · 13/02/2014 01:56

Does anyone have experience of or children who go to BC or Windlesham?

I am taking my daughter out of BHHS juniors as she is very able (in everything )and is not being challenged enough, despite numerous meetings.

I like both Windlesham and BC, but my concern is although she is very able, I don't want her to feel too pressured. Windlesham seems to have a wonderful push for reading but is the maths equally supported?

I also have a 20wk old baby boy, which is why I am looking at co-ed schools. Thank you for any advice offered.

OP posts:
sasspuss17 · 13/02/2014 10:35

My experience of BC is that the reputation for unrelenting pressure is not deserved. My daughter is in Year 8, so quite a bit older, but I find the quality of teaching and pastoral care to be outstanding. I know a few Windlesham pupils and have not heard great things about their academic standards; if your Dd is very bright I would definitely go for BC.

Original poster
Butterfly26 · 13/02/2014 11:48

Thank you Sasspuss. It is lovely to hear how much your daughter is enjoying BC. My husband looked around Windlesham this morning and does not think it will suit our DD. We are registering her for Year 2 at BC and will register our DS at the same time. Sadly there are no year 1 places left for September...

OP posts:
Devonlover · 23/02/2014 08:16

Hi there, we are looking at schools for next year entry for our DS and have been considering Windlesham amongst others. I hope you don't mind me asking but I wondered why you decided against Windlesham for your DD in the end? Would be curious to know what swung it.
Thanks!

nix69 · 27/02/2014 22:32

We have just removed our child from Windlesham, we were not happy about many things there, classroom sizes, sporting facilities, education standards, no hot lunches, not adhering to their own policies on bullying etc, what you see on open days is nothing like what you get

brightonmermaid · 07/03/2014 06:55

just to put the other side across - we are very happy with Windlesham. Do wish it had hot lunches but it's a good fit for us.

Devonlover · 14/03/2014 16:52

Ah, yes the hot lunch thing. This really puts me off to be honest. Had visions of DS sitting down at a table with other kids having a nutritious hot meal every day during his early years at school, when the reality is they seem to perch on a bench somewhere with a packed lunch. The last time I went to an open day, I asked one of the teachers about it and she was very dismissive and said parents didn't want the school to offer hot lunches. Er, right. So we'd rather our kids ate damp miserable sandwiches from a box every day (not to mention the complete faff of having to prepare them...) Perhaps it's just me as others obviously don't mind.

dorisdoodle · 27/03/2014 01:17

They are two very different schools! I think if it's academic performance you are looking for BC is the answer (although IMO Windlesham standards are fine). BC also has good facilities. Windlesham is a smaller, friendlier and much cheaper option. However with the lower fees comes less facilities (and some space issues). We have a child at Windlesham at the moment, they are doing well academically and most importantly seem very happy (as do their friends). I think it's a gut instinct thing as to which environment would suit your child.

gardener321 · 14/04/2014 20:13

Might be too late to be helpful to you but Deepdene is your answer! Deepdene is a small, happy co-ed school and has EXCELLENT academic standards ! (most classes have waiting lists but you might be lucky if someone moves out of the area or something - so worth visiting)

Rios255 · 26/04/2014 13:04

I have children at Windlesham and would not recommend it at all, we are doing our best to remove our children from the school. I would agree with a previous comment that what you see is not what you get. I don't think Windlesham is academic at all, I don't think the education is inspiring, the class sizes are large, the classrooms very cramped, the bullying and bad behaviour is not dealt with effectively, the sports are poor to non existent if it rains. I do know a few parents who are happy with the school but I know a lot more who are not and the fact is a lot of children do leave the school because it just isn't that great.

archerabc · 28/04/2014 15:25

I also recommend Deepdene. We looked at all the independent schools in the Brighton and Hove area and we felt that Deepdene had the best academic standards and the most caring and positive ethos. It was definitely a good decision as our children are really happy at school and doing extremely well. In addition to the academic studies, I think Art and Drama are particularly good at Deepdene.

DavidJonas · 23/07/2014 12:08

Having experienced BC and having known a child that goes to BC. I think that, if you are looking for Academic or Sporting stronghold then BC wins at that. However, I have to warn you, BC is hard and they will push your child quiet a lot and if you are coming from a state primary/junior school into the first year of the senior school the change is noticeable and it will take a while to get used too. However, a lot of children there are not happy as to the education side of things, it might have good facilities but if you want your child to be in a good environment and happy then I strongly suggest another school. I don't know Windelsham but I've seen a few kids from there on my daily bus journey and they seem happy.

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