St. Bede's experiences?

[manontroppo]

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!

I just thought I would give my current impression of the school as I have had children here for many years and still do.

my older child who is now 18 and has an EHCP was fantastically supported by the SEN staff and teachers to reach his potential until he left at 16. He was always helped to feel included as were we at every point.

I have a younger child with an ECHP currently in their final year and I have frankly been shocked at the SEN provision during this final important year.

I would tell all parents considering their options to do their research carefully, meet with the staff and make sure you investigate what other options might available as there are some wonderful and enlightened teams available in other schools. Don’t be fooled by often outdated Ofsted inspections.

I have relative children at St Bede’s and through the other end at Hills Road. They have had an amazing education, of an enviable standard for a state school.

Pleased to hear your personal experience is a great one and I can certainly agree on the teaching.

I am sharing my personal views on the recent SEN experience however.

Yes, I don’t have any knowledge of that and my experience is not first hand. They got good results but they are of course not everything. I am sorry that your experience with your youngest has been so difficult - and different to the support you had before.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. To be honest, the recent SEN experience that I know of chimes more with that experienced by Sunflowercaterpillars' younger child. If I were to be cynical, I suspect they only want a certain kind of SEN....

However, given they are constantly changing admission criteria, I have no idea what our probability of getting in is.

I'm sorry to hear of negative experiences for SEN children at St Bedes. As I commented previously, I have a SEN child (with EHCP) who has been there several years who is thriving (after terrible experiences at primary) and who is wonderfully supported to reach their potential via an individualised programme of tailored support and good school-home communication. We hear horror stories about the poor SEN provision at other secondary schools in Cambridge and are very grateful to have found St Bedes as a safe haven. All that to say - each child and situation is unique, so best to ask all the questions and do thorough research in advance. If the child has an EHCP then they don't need to worry about the standard admissions criteria but parents should reach out to the SENCO and Hildas Room staff as well as visit during a normal school day.