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Original poster

St. Bede's experiences?

31 replies

manontroppo · 20/03/2023 14:19

We're looking at St Bede's for secondary - does anyone have any recent experience with the school? We don't know a huge number of current parents at the school but have heard good things. Does anyone have anything good/bad to say about it? What are extra curricular activities like after school? Thanks!

OP posts:

Rysimo · 20/03/2023 14:25

Cambridge?

Original poster

manontroppo · 20/03/2023 14:40

Yep - does it not automatically put the thread in the right local chat?

OP posts:

gettingolderbutcooler · 20/03/2023 14:43

It's in my local Surrey one as we also have a St Bedes!

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 20/03/2023 15:14

Ooh maybe we have a St Bede's in Hampshire? It's popped up for me too. Or maybe it's appeared as it's a trending thread. Either way I hope you get your answer OP!

Rysimo · 20/03/2023 15:18

St Bede’s in Cambridge is fantastic. My eldest attended and I found the education and pastoral care second to none. Massively oversubscribed because of this.

Original poster

manontroppo · 21/03/2023 08:02

Oh that’s good to know, thanks !

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 22/03/2023 10:21

Suggest you contact them for a tour of the school.

Original poster

manontroppo · 22/03/2023 14:46

@BlueChampagne Agree, but I'd also be keen to hear from current parents as well:)

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 22/03/2023 15:27

Mine are as happy there as you can expect secondary school children to be at school! There seems to be a higher turnover of staff recently but I suspect that's the same in most schools.

cams33 · 22/03/2023 16:13

Highly recommend St Bedes. Currently have one child there with SEN and the level of special care and support he has received from every single teacher is just outstanding. The Head is super engaged and really cares about every child, as do the Head of Year, Form Tutor (and in our case, the SEN team). I wish it had a 6th form as we're going to be so sad to leave.

I think you can see the extra curricula clubs on the website (Curriculum - Extra Curricular - Clubs and Activities). Basically there are LOTS of music clubs, and then a varying amount of sports clubs, christian groups, as well as more special interest (dungeons and dragons, warhammer, chess, debating) and discussion groups (sexuality and gender). Lots of clubs are during the school day (because so many kids travel on buses), but a fair few are also after school. There's also an optional teacher-supervised homework club after-school (with biscuits) for those who may benefit.

Gobimanchurian · 22/03/2023 16:17

St Bede's in Manchester too!

TeaPleaseTa · 29/04/2023 21:37

@cams33 Do you find your child is affected by the seemingly strong push for academic excellence or are their needs seen as priority? My eldest has struggled there but I may get a skewed version of events due to their difficulties. My youngest has an EHCP and wants to follow their sibling there but I am undecided.

cams33 · 30/04/2023 07:11

We haven't found that a problem, and definitely feel his needs are prioritised. He has an EHCP and the SEN team communicate regularly and directly with us about his progress and the support they provide.

Original poster

manontroppo · 30/04/2023 08:29

@cams33 @TeaPleaseTa interesting comments, thanks! I did get the impression they are a very academic school - in fact, it’s hard to miss. What’s the homework burden like?

OP posts:

TeaPleaseTa · 30/04/2023 10:50

At times overwhelming but again my eldest has focus issues so others may find it fine. During Lockdown I think there was too much set alongside a lot of on screen live lessons and not only her but her friends were working full weekends to get through it all. When I mentioned it to a Head of Dept they quipped this was good.

snurtifier · 15/06/2023 21:57

I feel quite let down by St Bede's. We sent our eldest there partly because of its reputation for good pastoral care. He had additional needs relating mostly to social rather than learning issues. After one year they blithely told us he didn't need his statement any more because he was doing so well. It soon became clear that although he was coping academically he was having significant problems socially, which they were simply ignoring. We had numerous meetings with them where they promised to do X and Y to help him, and those things simply never materialised. His academic performance soon began to suffer and by the time he got to year 11 he was significantly behind.

Then the pandemic came along and they literally told everyone in year 11 "Tomorrow will be your last day at school. Bye then." They completely washed their hands of that year group. There was no follow-up at all.

The two other secondary schools we have direct experience of have both been much, much better.

Original poster

manontroppo · 16/06/2023 12:06

@snurtifier That's interesting- hope your eldest is doing better now.
We have spoken to a couple of people who have said "it's fabulous" and then gone on to tell us about the troubles their children are having there...

OP posts:

TeaPleaseTa · 18/06/2023 13:05

Currently my youngest (with EHCP) wants to follow their sibling there and given how they would likely behave in a school not of their choice it might have to happen.
I am just mindful of the academic gap between them and their peers and am not sure if the support there is enough to ensure their happiness/stability while learning?

TeaPleaseTa · 18/06/2023 13:13

I also note that the SENCO when @snurtifier had a child there is now two Sencos ago so hopefully there have been improvements in that area, I know this doesn’t help past parents. The current one is also about to move on so my eldest will be up to her fourth while on roll there.

cams33 · 18/06/2023 16:20

Yes, there have been a lots of SENCO changes over recent years - which is frustrating. However, we haven't found that to be very significant for our son because the staff in the St Hilda's room have remained relatively stable in recent years. In our experience, the St Hilda's staff (including the new deputy SENCO, who used to be the St Hilda's team leader) are the key SEN interface - both in terms of the people that my son has built relationships with and goes to when in need, as well as the people who communicate regularly with us as parents. I think I've only met the current SENCO once during their 12 months in post, whereas I'm in close regular contact with the deputy SENCO (e.g. emails, phone calls).

TeaPleaseTa · 18/06/2023 23:24

@cams33 That’s good to know as obviously there’s always a concern as to how much a new SENCO might change things. Hopefully her new role will mean the offer stays fairly stable.

Starlight09 · 29/10/2023 18:07

@cams33 thanks for your feedback. I understand St Bedes is very oversubscribed. By any chance would you know (or have an idea) from the last years the reached distance with the criterion for admission ?

cams33 · 29/10/2023 19:27

I don't know, although anecdotally I only know of current Y7 pupils who already had siblings at the school. You could contact the school admissions officer to ask?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 15/11/2023 18:47

Starlight09 · 29/10/2023 18:07

Admissions criteria are on the CCC website.
I know a family who are committed Christians, but not CofE, but they have always attended a CT Church. Their dc didn't get in but that was several.years ago.

lanthanum · 18/11/2023 21:30

I think they usually only reach the "CoE/Catholic" category, and not the "other denominations" one. I know that a couple of years ago, the initial allocations went about 9 miles for children without siblings in that category, but more got in after the offers went out, presumably because some families were going private and declined the place.

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