St Nicholas School in Fleet - anyone know it?

[JoanneEmily]

Hi There,
Does anyone know anything about St Nicholas' School in Fleet? We are planning to move to this area next summer (hopefully) and I wondered whether spaces are normally available? My DD would be looking for a space in Year 4.

Also, does anyone have children at this school and do they like it?

Thanks!

Hi There and thanks so much for your reply. Interesting to hear that the junior school didn't do well in the recent inspection. Is it possible to see the report anywhere? Are they published at all?
Thanks so much for replying.

here you go - ISI website

www.isi.net/School.aspx?s=7032

Seriously - check out the local state schools too - primaries around here are really good and there are at least 3 outstanding secondaries too. Definitely worth a look.

Agree the schools are very good round here (mostly). Huge competition for the secondaries though - especially with the new building around here, like the massive Elvetham Heath development (the new primary they built there is totally oversubscribed). Now I gather that kids are having to travel miles to other secondaries, despite living practically over the road from one.

I know a few people with kids at St Nicks, and from what I gather they are very happy with it. They are putting lots of investment into the facilities too - like the new drama centre.

Agree state schools are good but classes are too large. I know some St Nicholas parents too and they say the school has a great atmosphere-the kids are happy and they get amazing results. Definitely top of my list for my girls-they start next September! Take a look at the inspection report -it is very good and better than all the other local schools.

Hi AppleRosy thanks for the input it's great to hear you are keen on St Nicks. We are in Scotland but hoping to get down for a viewing soon. The only thing bothering me is the fact there is no sixth form as that's not really something that happens up here so it's a bit alien to me. Do you see that as a big deal? I know it's a long way off!!

Thanks!

Hi JoanneEmily- all the state schools in hampshire finish at 16 and all our friends use the sixth form colleges like Farnborough and Alton which are in the top ten in the country. One of the st nicks girls used to babysit for me. She went there until 16 and then got 3 As and an A* at Alevel at Farnborough- now reading medecine at Somerville college Oxford. She gave me the low down on St Nicks as she went there from the age of 4-can you believe that!

Oh that sounds great then if it?s the norm to move on somewhere else for sixth form. That puts my mind at rest! I think it looks a lovely school. My DD is at a really nice school just now, it?s quite small but from looking at the prospectus there are similarities. She has been at her school since age 4 too and it goes right through to 18yrs! I just want to make sure our move is a positive one for her as well and certainly the facilities at St Nicks look good?better than where she is now in fact. My DD will be looking for a place in year 4 if she was to start there Sept 2011. Another Mumsnetter said that there are normally places at all year groups so I?m hoping this is the case. Do you happen to know how easy/difficult it is to get in? Thanks for helping me with this!

Hi JoanneEmily -they usually have a space or two but I expect it varies. The facilities are very good and our local amdram Starburst did Fame in their hall-I saw that and Ihave to say it was an amazing production. Might be worth asking for a prospectus?

Thanks that's great. I sent off for a prospectus and it's arrived and looks great. Our problem is not knowing exactly when we will move but I think I am going to send off the registration form so at least our interest is registered and hopefully it will be September 2011 that DD will start. Fingers crossed for a space!! Not sure what I'll do if there isn't one but I guess people have to give a terms notice if they are leaving so the school should know about availability around Easter time at the latest.

Thanks for all your input. Maybe see you there one day!

Sorry you had a bad experience -you obviously have an axe to grind. What you say is untrue -we have been there the last 7 years and intend to see our dd through. We are very happy with it and you can't argue with such good GCSE results! Good luck in your state school at least it is free - perhaps that is why you have moved!

Eh AppleRosy - You said above on 15th September that your girls would be going there in September - which suggests that you have not been there for the last 7 years???

No I have no axe to grind - but I tell the truth unlike you clearly. I said above why we moved - and it is not financial.

Bloody cheek!

Hmmm, Applerosy, methinks you doth protest a bit too much ... apart from getting your story in a muddle!

Hi,
Thanks for all the input, it's good to hear the good and the bad. From what I have seen/heard so far, it does seem a good school and the results are great. To be honest we are happy with our current school here in Scotland but no where is perfect.

I do understand that there are great state schools in the area but from reading a lot of posts on here, it seems an absolute lottery with regards to which school you actually get and that to me is a worry.

Anyhow, we will be visiting the school soon and I really hope we like it as on paper it's just what we are looking for, including the results.

Thanks again.