Does anyone how knowledge of Stockport Grammar Junior, Cheadle Hulme School Junior or Ladybarn House schools

[pinkjello]

We are about to attend open days for these three schools. I know Ladybarn is a prep and the other two go up to 18 but wondered if there was any main differences.
Can anyone tell me about their local reputations. Are they all equally difficult to get into? Is one clearly better that the other two? Would the parents be similar at all three? Are they all as academic as each other? How do their facilities compare?

Sorry for all the questions and thank you for reading.
PJ

Hi, DOTDS. All comments helpful, thank you!

I guess by small grounds I meant no masses of acres or woodland or all the things Ive set my heart on. CHS website says they have something like 70acres!

I don't really know much about HH but when we started looking I was told there are so many independent schools in this area and there's a kind of hierarchy. I haven't paid too much attention to that as it's not about exams results or elitism for me. But I do remember HH being one of the ones I was warned 'weren't that great'. The other one was near SG but I can't remember the name.

The other one is Hillcrest.

Both Hillcrest and Hulme Hall are great schools but not top-league academic places, they offer a wonderful education to kids who need more support than average for whatever reason.

Thanks again, NETBD! Yes, it was Hillcrest.

I'm planning to print off these threads to take with me so I don't forget anything. MN is great for this sort of thing.

There is also Ramilies Hall but i think that is similar to Hulme Hall in that they aren't in "the upper echelons" of independent schools in the area.

CHS has HUGE grounds but ut doesn't necessarily mean that they use them - just a thought as i obviously don't know!

We know Ramilies well because of nursery. If any of my 3 had SEN, I would opt for there without hesitation. That's their speciality and I have heard high praises from parents. However, so far they all seem mainstream and so classes of 12 and the specialist approach isn't really what I think my kids need.

I'm hoping I'll walk into one and know it's the one. Though that's what everyone told me about labour; that I'd just know! Cue last minute dash to hospital as I'd refused to budge because I wasn't 100% sure.

pj, sorry to hijack but have just been reading this thread. We live in the Stockport area, dd has some SEN and has always struggled in state school. I checked the Ramilies Hall website and it sounds perfect for dd, do you know anything about what the fees are like? I suspect we couldn't afford it but it might be worth looking into. I'd never heard of it before!

Not sure how recent this is.

Hi PB1, not sure the nature or extent of your DD's SEN but also look at Hulme Hall as mentioned earlier and Hillcrest.

Having said that, they are amazingly gentle and caring at Ramillies and because it's small I think the kids who go there just flourish. As I said, if any of my kids had a SEN which could be accomodated in mainstream then I'd definitely be seriously considering Ramillies.
HTH

DOTDS, that question about how much they actually use the grounds is high up on my list to ask.

PB1, this bit from their website looked interesting.

-Ramillies takes a particular interest in helping children with dyslexia and dyspraxia and has considerable expertise in this area. We are members of the British Dyslexia Association and registered with CReSTeD.

Some bright and articulate children can struggle when it comes to reading and writing. When they arrive here many suffer from low self esteem, having already spent a number of years in school, finding it difficult to cope and becoming frustrated. The supportive teaching ethos at Ramillies suits their needs particularly well.

We focus on and nurture every child's strengths and talents, and weaknesses are addressed positively.

look forward to hearing how you get on! presumably you want mixed co-ed, or have you looked a boys and girls schools like mgs, withington, manchester high and alderley edge school for girls?, kings school? do you know how they all compare? will have to look myself next year!

Thanks PJ - that's v interesting. Based on the figures linked to, we may be able to afford it. We don't live in CH though - about 7 miles away I'd say. dd has no specific SEN but she is on SA at her current state school and has an IEP. She is one of the youngest in year, and young for her age - tbh she could really do with being in the year below, but her state school won't do this (probably not their fault). She's struggled to learn to read and write - based on her SATS she's around a year or so behind in everything, maybe more. Since starting yr 3 the class sizes have increased to at least 30, we can only dream of classes of 12!

In your shoes, PB1, I would definitely move her as she will get so much more individual attention.

I actually think private education can be more beneficial for children who are of average ability or those struggling than for super bright kids. The super bright ones will get the pushing they need in good stste schools.

As your DD has no specific SEN, I's say definitely look at Hillcrest too.

Ohnoimlate, co-ed very important to me as I have 2 DDs and 1 DS.

Even if I just had the girls, I shudder at the thought of sending them to somewhere like Withington. It's so not what I'm looking for!

Why do you say that? Too pushy? Is chs more rounded then? What about the other schools man high, kings, lad school for girls have you heard much there as doesn't seem to be much information about them?

That's alderley edge not lad school!! These predictive typing drives you nuts

I don't know much about Manchester High other than it's thought by many people to offer a more rounded education than Withington. I know two women who went to WGS themselves and neither would consider sending their DDs their. They are pretty much the top performing girls school in the country and as such, they are hugely popular but they make no bones about what they offer. And that's fine if that's what you want, but it's not for me.

Kings, I think, is very popular but just a bit too far away when I have good options closer. Although a co-ed school, they educate the boys and girls separately until the 6th form. I don't really know enough about AEGS to comment as having a DS as well as 2 DDs, I didn't bother looking as any of the single sex schools.

I don't actually know that CHS is more rounded yet as I haven't visited. Just basing that on their website and what people have said on here.

It's funny; I've just read the thread back and at the beginning I was thinking that SG sounded like the one then for some reason switched to thinking that CH was the one. (advertisers dream ) I'm hoping that the visits will give me a feel or at least a better idea of what they offer.

Ohnoimlate, just been looking at independent girls school league tables and Withington ranks 2nd in the country behind one in North London. It's from the Times but it won't let me link for some reason. I'm sure if you google it.

I can add that I went to WGS and wouldn't ever send my DD there! I did do very well by going there in academic terms (Oxbridge etc) but I feel it was far too narrow in terms of ethos. They were basically only interested in the high-fliers. I had friends who failed their A levels there and went on to Xaverian 6th form college and got all As. It didn't suit everyone and was highly competitive. Most of us had an eating disorder at some point!!

Thirtysomething? So if you had a girl and wanted all girls where would you send them in the area? Interesting about wgs!!

I know you're asking Thirtysomething, but if I wanted a girls school I'd look at Manchester High for Girls simply because I've heard they're more rounded. Or maybe Kings in Macc as although they are a co-ed school, the boys and girls are taught separately on different campuses until 6th form.

However, If your DD is very academic and very sporty and you and her want the sort of hot house that WGS offers then you should go and see it. I'm sure it suits some girls very well.

Even if I had 3 DDs I'd still want co-ed so it just wouldn't be for me.

BTW, have you looked at the wesbite, mydaughter.co.uk? I think you'll find it linked from most girls school websites. It's a website for parents of girls who are keen on a single sex education. Lots of parents talking about their experiences and HTs giving their points of view. I'm sure you'll find it useful for pointers.

Thanks pinkjello def talking to you too that's really useful will look on there! Doesn't seem to be much at all on aesg?? Havent discounted co-Ed so would be v interested in how you get on on open days!

I'll come back and let you know how I get on and what I thought of each.

Have you looked on the AESG website? Do they have an open day coming up? November seems to be the season for them! Good luck.

Ohnoimlate - don't know much about Manchester High though when I was at WGS they always tended to be more "in" with the boys at MGS and generally had a better social life! It seemed quite academic but not overly so....
If I was still in the area I would send my DD to CHS as a first option, closely followed by King's Macc. Doubt I'd choose Stockport to be honest though if she was super-academic and musical maybe.....

My two go to SGS Junior.

Love it and so do I.

Senior school - most of my children's friends have siblings in senior school, my niece went there a few years ago, various friends went there etc - all good.

I know loads of folk with kids at CHC< MGS< WGS.....they all have (or seem to have from what folk have said) pluses and minuses - I think it is a case of going for a look-see and trying to match each child to the right school for them.

Seem to know a lot of large families with children scattered around different schools and they seem to manage!

HTH

paddingtonbear1
Hang read through all the posts on here I really hope you go and visit Ramillies.It caters for children who are not making progress in their present environment.The classes are small and I cannot speak highly enough of the school.