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

Ramillies - friends of ours have both their children there and it's turned their lives around. Been brillliant for both children in different ways.

Interesting school to go and visit though - not a school you could pigeon-hole or catagorise easily!

(Doodlez - do you still have your dog walking shoes?- don't out me!)

A friend of ours is a teacher at Kings in Macc. 6th form i think - although i have never asked.

Hi
I went to Cheadle Hulme School from the age of 8 to 18 years and it was an excellent experience. I am now struggling to find a similar school in the area we live for my young children. The children were very grounded and the school was not at all pretentious. The school may have changed since i was there but i know many of my friends who have since returned to Manchester are sending their children there and are very happy. Stockport Grammer were always our arch rivals and I think they are pretty similar in exam results. Have you looked at Manchester Grammar that is also an excellent school. Good luck

DanceOnTheDarkSide - dog walking shoes consigned to charity bin - they gave me blisters Dog walking boots - complete with furry insides and tops, now the order of the day

All really helpful, thank you.
Doodlez, can I ask; Did you consider CHS before you chose SGS? If so, can I ask what swung it for you? I'll be visiting both next week and would like to go with an open mind but also armed with as much info as possible.

We looked at SGS and Ramillies.

I have two very....erm.....unique! children with quite different but specific needs. Ramillies should have fitted but it just didn;t feel right for us and yet it's been beyond brilliant for my friend's children.

SGS was right up our street. The head is quite an aloof, reserved man but he knew every child by name, the children interacted happily and positively with him and I just 'got' him! The deputy head is a star - an absolute star! One of those teachers who has a massive, positive impact on individual children but he doesn't realise how brilliant he is!

It was like buying a house - we walked in and just 'knew' it was right for our two.

Now, senior school is a different kettle of fish! We'll be looking at all the schools mentioned on this thread, plus Bramhall and Poynton High schools. Possibly Marple Hall as well.

CHS - It seems to be considered as being less academically 'driven' than SGS and more about the child's well-being etc. Maybe it is but all I know is that SGS has worked wonders for my two little -oddballs- cherubs.

Like I said earlier, I just think you'll kind of know when you walk about each school, which one will suit your children and their specific needs.

I really have heard a right load of mixed views on all the schools mentioned here though! A school mum friend told me she wouldn't touch CHS for some spurious reason and yet for another friend, who has a child there, they wouldn't touch SGS - go figure!

I'd love to hear your views after your visits though Pink. Please report back if you get a minute.

Thanks, Doodlez, all really helpful!
It's so difficult (maybe easier once Ive been to visit and got 'a feeling') I feel like I'm making a choice that will fit my 4yr old now but hopefully fit still fit her at 14yrs. She is very bright. DS is bright too but barely speaks outside the house. DD2 is still too little to tell but already louder and more bolshy than her siblings. She's very spirited so maybe a good fit at CHS if SGS is quite strict. But then with a quiet, serious but bright DS, is SG a better choice?!! Decisions!!!

I will report back by next Fri when Ive seen all three schools. Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful.

Pink - break it down a bit - think in terms of what will suit until senior school, rather than trying to choose the school they'll stay at all the way through!

I see junior school as the foundations - get them right and the rest will follow.

I dunno if SGS will be right for both or one or the other of mine, age 11. I just see the junior school as a means of prepping them for what ever is to follow.

If they aren't going to SGS senior school, least I'll be happy in the knowledge that the junior school has prepped them for where ever they end up going!

Good luck - what ever you choose, there are several MNetters near by who are up for a coffee and cake if you fancy it any time. Look out for me, Gorionine, MildManneredjanitor and MumofMonsters.

Yes, I think you're right. I'll just look at the junior side of things and see where we are in a few years.

I'm interested in why both CHS and SGS assess at 4+ and Ladybarn doesn't. I'm also curious as to whether (considering they are both over-subscribed) they are looking for the same thing or very different children. Is SGS primarily looking for very bright children? Is CHS primarily looking for kids who are all-rounders? (if so, DS will struggle)

I literally have a little notebook of questions which I intend to fully use!

I'll stab a guess here - I think they assess at 4+ to filter out any children with major learning difficulties. There are children with learning difficulties such as dyslexia etc in school but the broad spectrum is regular kids/regular learning abilities.

Both my children had to be assessed - we joined last September when DS was entering Yr4 and DD was entering Yr2.

DS sat verbal, non-verbal reasoning and maths tests. He had to read to the Head as well.

DD just spent a day with the relevant class and the teacher heard her read and watched how she joined in etc.

Over-subscribed ....hmm....I'd dispute that! One thing I have noticed is SGS is very transient - lots of kids come and go throughout the year, in all age groups. Loads of children from different countries being moved about with parents jobs etc. In the lower years, there are two forms per year, each with about 20 kids and there are places for new children to join. I believe there is an initial mad scramble for nursery/reception places but people drop out for various reasons and there is space in there!

In year 3 (age 7+) they have a fresh intake and they go from two classes to three classes, each with about 15 children. Once again, this number doesn't remain fixed because of the transient nature of the school. My very cynical mind has wondered, briefly, if school are quite happy to take children who pass their assessment but with less than outstanding results, just to fill seats.

I am very cynical though!

SGS seem to like 'all rounders' but are happy with 'academics' too. There's such a big range of clubs and sports on offer, as well as the regular school stuff, ALL children can find their place. I think CHS is like this too - certainly from what I've heard. I'm talking about, rugby, footie, science club, art club, cricket, swimming, music club, choir, speech & drama club....it's a right mixed bag!

One down side - the feckin' carpark drives me to distraction (and tears). My two use one of the excellent school buses thank Gawd but I do have occasion to go down to school for pick-up and drop off sometimes and I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!

On the plus-side - the other parents are seem dead normal. I was worried about meeting a load of Hooray Henrietta's but most are nothing of the sort!

All sounds really interesting and it is no wonder that they have such good academic results if they assess so early!! Heard really good things this weekend about chs and sgs, and think you made a really good point doodle about choosing school that will prep for any senior rather than making decisions now for all the way through? Still not heard a lot about the all girls choices apart from wgs? Will have to look at open days, if anyone does know about the other all girls options in the area and differences please post if you get a chance....

Doodlez, interesting what you say about disputing the 'over-subscribed' thing. SGS told me they were over-subscribed for Reception entry but didn't say anything about other year groups. However, the woman I spoke to at CHS told me that the only year group in the junior school with vacancies was the current Reception class. She also said they were holding a waiting list for the current Y1&Y2. This was before I explained that none of my children were yet in school as I think when I said I had 3, she assumed I'd just moved to the area.

I wonder if this year was just a very low birth year or whether something has made less people apply suddenly. I'll try not to be cynical though and just assume the former.

I'm quite impatient now to visit alll three and get a good comparison and hopefully a good feeling about at least one.

My brother was at LBHS until recently, and really enjoyed it (loads of sport, but still academic). Only problem is it's fairly pushy for secondary school exams. Something like 15 to WGS and more to MGS, which is an awful lot.

Also, they are prepped loads for the exams so it hasn't been realised until at senior school that they are dyslexic or need extra support.

CHS and SGS are nice (lovely grounds too) but will not prepare you as well for other schools' exams I wouldn't say. I was at a prep school 'til 11, so I haven't had the experience of all the way through, but friends have say they feel they've 'outgrown' it by Yr 11/12.

I actually think WGS is fantastic, but wouldn't bother with the Junior school.

Depending on where you are, Pownall Hall, Greenbank, WPS and Ryleys may all be worth a look too.

Hi

OHimlate if you are looking for girls junior, have you consider Bowdon Prep? I 'm not sure location wise whether it would be feasible but it is a fantastic school, very academic, but lovely culture and ethos. Smaller than LBHS, WGS, MHS - no electronic whiteboards but outstanding traditional teaching

Or Hale Prep if you want mixed. Alderley Edge is taking boys in the lower years and Ryleys is taking girls up to year two at the moment I think.

Thanks, SC and NWM.
I'm sure WGS is fantastic for some girls but it's just not what I'm looking for. It just seems (on paper and from the two women I know who attended themselves) that it is so narrow, so academic that I'd worry about my girls.

Even though DD1 is very bright and very confident, I just want something different for her. She is very much the sort of girl who could get 4 A* a-levels. Walking and talking by 10mths, reading at just turned 3, very quick at picking everything up etc. But I'd rather she got 3 reasonable A-levels and loved every minute of school IYKWIM. That and the single sex thing.

SC, I understand what you are saying about CHS and SGS not prepping them to move on elsewhere but that's the very reason I like them. I know they'll have to pass their 11+ to continue into senior school but I'd rather they didn't spend their final 2yrs at junior level madly prepping for entrance exams.

I guess that's why we're lucky where we live in that we're spoilt for choice with so many schools each offering different things to suit different kids and their parents

Thanks again! PJ

ooooh NO to Hale Prep, who could make their DC wear that awful green and yellow striped blazer??

and NO WAY to Stockport if you have a musically gifted kid!

How did you get on PJ?

Hiya! We haven't been yet. Seems schools have 2wks off round these parts so appointments to view are for next week then open days over the next few Saturdays. I'll let you all know how we get on once we've seen all 3 for the first time next week. I can't wait!

Hi everyone.
If anyone is interested, I've now been to see all three schools!

I loved, loved loved one of them. Strongly disliked another and felt quite indifferent about the other. I'll post more if anyone is interested.

noteventhebestdrummer Wed 27-Oct-10 13:40:30

and NO WAY to Stockport if you have a musically gifted kid!

How come bestdrummer

pinkjello Thu 04-Nov-10 21:55:51
Hi everyone.
If anyone is interested, I've now been to see all three schools!

I loved, loved loved one of them. Strongly disliked another and felt quite indifferent about the other. I'll post more if anyone is interested.

I am interested , I'm not from the immediate area but have reasons for being interested. DD is going on a visit to Stockport next week actually for an inter school thingy.

Do you know the schools, Elpha? You don't work at any of them do you? I wouldn't want to offend anyone.

Ooh I am interested - been lurking

Hi pj, I'd be interested in what you thought, as we're from the area. We've just had parents evening - a pleasant surprise! dd's new teacher is fab, said dd is 'delightful' and 'a pleasure to have in the class'. She's still below average but nowhere near as far behind as we thought. dh and I have been doing some extra stuff with her, so it must be working! I honestly thought it wouldn't be enough, based on yr1/yr2. So far dd is v happy in her current class so I think we'll leave her there for now, and review when she goes into yr 4. Our catchment high school is Poynton High, which is good but v large - we'll definitely review again by then.