Nottingham girls junior school

[mrsmills79]

hi does anyone have any experience of this school? Dd will start reception this sept 2012, all the state primaries in the area we live are satisfactory or failing, apart from a fab catholic school- no chance there :(
Wondering wether to send to nghs junior or send to the local primary and get a tutor? Any help would be greatly appreciated. X

Any particular reason why NGHS rather than any of the other private options? Guessing it might be location? We considered it for DD but were underwhelmed. I imagine the 4+ assessments are happening, have you put your DD in for them?

Yes it is location and jobs, looked at elms- part of Trent and ranby house Retford, but both difficult to commute to.
It's so stressful. Not put dd name down yet as want to get some feedback from people who have been there or know parents who have sent their children there. Did you go for a visit? Why were you underwhelmed by them?

I was underwhelmed too and actually I felt the deputy head was pretty close to rude on our visit, couldn't really be bothered. I ended up sending my daughter to Grosvenor school and am very impressed. Classes are much smaller then NGHS and as a result she gets much more one on one time, I have been told she would pass the NGHS assessment but she is so happy where she is and I love the rounded nature of Grosvenor and the attention placed upon good manners.It's 10 mins from Nottingham city centre in Edwalton. Worth a look.

We visited the primary and were put off by poor facilities, a sense of rigidity (for example being told that infants were not allowed to borrow books from Juniors library), lack of breadth and a rather negative vibe. We have recently looked again for 11+ and once again dismissed the School from our options. I do know people that have moved girls there at 7+ and are happy with it.

The Head changed at the start of the 2010 academic year and the new Deputy Head started last autumn. My DD is at the primary school and she is very happy there, while as her mum I have been delighted with the progress made and the support given.

If you want to pm me any specific questions I will answer them that way, if that's okay.

I think it's an excellent school - and it wasn't a foregone conclusion for us that DD would go private - but it comes down to what is right for each child as always!

I contacted the school, who were helpful, the head teacher came from Cyprus - was a d.head there. Also a new d.head at the nghs.
They have an open event in march, may take dd with us so she can also have a look around.Have had a look at the inspection report that was last yr, seemed impressive.
Baffledmum what year is your dd in? did she start at reception?

I just want the best for my child, she is a bright girl, easily led at times...

If your daughter needs a place this reception then I think, but am not 100% sure, that assessments take place in the next couple of weeks. Take an urgent look at the website as last year there were, I understand, 2 applications for each reception place. You can make appointments to look around with the Head or Deputy outside of open days but you may need to crack on.

It was a good choice for my DD - she is happy and settled there.

Whereabouts in Nottm are you as "choice" may not even come in to it if you go down the state route. Sometimes you are lucky to even get your catchment school!

Yes you are right, assessments are taking place in the next 2 weeks. 2 applications to 1 place- great! :(
So i presume they will be allocated on first come basis- will check with the school, will call them again tomorrow. May actually visit before march.

So they are oversubscribed just like everywhere..... :(

Definitely don't allocate on a first come basis - it is down to the assessment centre but it is relaxed and informal for Reception and I didn't worry my DD at all about it.

A lot of schools here are oversubscribed but NGHS caps the numbers in each reception class at 18, then 20 in Y1, 22 in Y2 and 24 in Y3. In KS1 there is always a teacher and a TA - in some local states the TA is not 100% in the class after YR. The issue is if you get your DD into an out-of-catchment school and have siblings, o-o-c siblings don't necessarily have any priority. Check carefully if you have more than one to consider in the state system.

We also have an 18 month old little girl, so fingers crossed. Will post tomorrow after speaking to the school.
Thanks for all your help.
X

Hope it went well today.

For state schools the county council held a meeting outlining preferences and the oversubscription issue, particularly in

WB.

We were originally offered out-of-catchment for our eldest but were then facing the situation that our other children could be sent to other schools. At the time out-of-catchment siblings were about 5th on the entry criteria but that may have changed.

Assume you have already applied for state here anyway as the window for applications has closed.

Ds is at the boys secondary. There's usually places availiable and they will offer an alternative date for the entrance tests if you've missed it. I see the children from the girls school every day as I take him to school and collect him, they are always very well behaved and polite.

Hi guys

Got a visit planned for next week- will take dd with us.

Places update- over the past 2 years they have been over subscribed, in reception.
At this time, if all the girls that have applied already, get a place in reception then they will be almost full, maybe a couple of spaces left.

Not all girls that are assessed get places.

What's the assessment like? Anyone know for reception?

Thanks again guys for all your advice, I'm sure there are lots of parents who go through this process every year...and this year it's my turn as well :)

How exciting!

You could consider Hollygirt too.

They are looking for potential rather than a coached 3 or 4 year old. I'd go with basics such as knowing their birthday, their address and being able to recognise numbers 1 - 10 and some letters. Other than that, sharing and being polite.

Hope it goes well.

Ok, she's 3 and a half, knows numbers and letters, can write her name, not really done much on birthdays and address- will try.

Will let you all know what the visit goes like.....

Go with your instincts on the visit - I did - and I thank my lucky stars each night that my DD is somewhere so excellent in its teaching and pastoral care.

She joined part-way through KS1 and is very happy there. The academics standards are very high but so is the care and support shown to the girls. The school was refurbished a couple of years ago and has a beautiful library and ICT suite. My child has thrived here - I couldn't be happier.

As raspberry alludes to - even those parents who choose not to send their daughters here for whatever reason still use the standards as a barometer of achievement. I've never heard anyone say that they are disappointed that their child might get in.

I hope you are extended every courtesy on your visit next week. The new deputy head and the new-ish head have made a lot of positive changes - ask them and I am sure they will tell you!

We put our DD name down and she has an assessment in feb and mar, I am so nervous....fingers cross......

We had a look round on the open day and it was fab! My DD loved the library and the ict facilities are amazing...something my dh notes was that there was no noise, not deathly silence, but not as noisy as being in a zoo- went to the local state primary to look around. One teacher on the floor with 6 children, the rest of them jumping about the place......it was awful.

Good luck with your visit, will let you know how it goes, think you get to know in march.

X

Hello - the things that I have found to be different are better attention to meal portions, the review of the school uniform, different snack on a Friday e.g. the girls can take in chocolate, the Parents' Forum, capping the class sizes in KS1, after-school activities in reception and enlarging the After School Demand due to demand.

I'll have to dig out the Parents' Forum notes but I don't think it is so much overhauling and changing the uniform as ensuring quality - particularly in the summer uniform.

And, there has been a new sports teacher come on board.

Assesment is this wk, what should dd wear? I feel really stupid 4 asking, but so stressed!

Any help would be lovely

X

Just something clean, smart and tidy AND something the child is comfortable in. The Head and deputy-Head are so normal - they won't judge. MY DD went in her nursery uniform. I tied my daughter's hair back as that way she wasn't fussing with it but I can't stress how down-to-earth this school is and that potential and a friendly child is what they are looking for in her.

What are you going to wear???