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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Do you have a DD in Reception at Surbiton High Junior Girls?

48 replies

notpickyreally · 26/01/2012 10:54

Hello

I asked this as part of another thread but was hoping for some more responses.

If you have or have had a DD at reception, what do/did you think of it?

i recently discovered that there will be 2 forms of 24 girls in each and reading posts on MN that seems quite a high number per form for a private school. So how do you find this? Does the 2 form entry mean fewer opportunities for the girls to take part in activities?

What does SHS offer over and above the national curriculum at reception and years 1 and 2. Do class sizes go down after reception?

We are undecided between Maple Infants and Surbiton High, so if there is anyone who has experience of both then any information would be really helpful. Is there anyone who started at one in reception then moved to the other during that year? what were your reasons? please message me if you'd rather not state your reasons publicly.

We might not get into Maple, so wondering if we should consider any other Independant schools as well as SHS, although the location of both of these is important as they're close to where we live.

DD is bery bright but very sensitive and wd feel she would be better in an all girls school. We also believe that she would do better in a smaller class. Maple have 30 kids and a 2 form entry but are expecting to be asked to take on a 'bulge' class this year.

Also both Maple and SHS are close enough that we could walk which would be good.

Any advice/help/info would be very much appreciated. I really dont want this to serm like i'm asking about private vs state. I just wznt some info from people in the know.

thank you so much.

OP posts:

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TheRhubarb · 26/01/2012 10:58

Yeah.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 26/01/2012 11:13

hi. i know i asked a question that can have yeah or no as an answer but really was hoping for some info too :-)

OP posts:

TheRhubarb · 26/01/2012 11:17

A word of advice - you'd be better off asking this question in Netmums.

At that age, children should be allowed to mix with both genders and have fun at school. In France they don't have to attend school until they are 6, the class sizes are big and mixed and yet most French children leave school speaking one other language and have very good education levels.

Make learning fun and she'll do just fine. But isolate her from boys and push her too hard and she'll only get anxious and withdrawn.

That's my opinion. If you want something better then Netmums is your place.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 26/01/2012 11:25

thanks for that. I'll see what responses I get before I ask this on netmums.

so is your DD at SHS or Maple in Reception?

I'd still appreciate any advice from anyone who is in that situation.

OP posts:

naturalbaby · 26/01/2012 11:25

I haven't but have a very similar situation with my ds. The best you can do is look round both schools and then decide where you feel your child would fit in best. If one of them is state (2 of our options are) then you have to wait and see if you get a place anyway don't you?

The option we've taken is to get a place at the private school, apply for the state school then bury our heads in the sand see what he gets offered and decide then.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 26/01/2012 11:33

thanks naturallybaby. that's exactly where we're at.

i'm just trying to get as much info as i can so that we know what to when the time comes. I have looked at both schools and have a few niggles so thats why I'm asking on here fir any info that might help.

Thanks again and good luck with your decision.
:-)

OP posts:

Annelongditton · 26/01/2012 12:55

I have a DD in year 4 at SHS, but she didn't start until Y3.
We moved her from one of the "outstanding" local state schools because I was horrified by the amount of outside school tutoring children were having by the time they reached junior school age. She is a very sensitive child and wasn't happy at her old school, but I would have moved her to Indy at y3 anyway.
SHS is usually one form entry at reception, there are 2 years with extra classes already in the infants and I understood that they wanted to revert back to single form entry. This years reception apparently had 72 applicants for 24 places. When you think how many siblings this would include, and the fuss the parents would make if they didn't get places I think you can apreciate how the extra classes came about! SHS juniors is also very full, with only I think 2 places available in the whole 4 years.
Although the form size is 24 teaching groups are much smaller, and the girls are split into very small groups for maths, and various aspects of English. I actually thought DD was quite stupid until she started at SHS (her brother is outstandngly bright and he's all I had to compare to), she made an amazing amount of progress in the 1st year, so for me the teaching system does work. All girls schools seem to follow National Curriculum, the boys system is so much better. They do study French and Spanish, and there's a lot of drama and music, they are also really pushing the sport now and the improvement in the girls fitness is astonishing.
I have friends who's children went to Maple and they were very happy with it. I know mothers who top-up schooling with home tutoring, and dedicate themselves to rushing their kids around to different activities to make up for the extras schools like SHS offer, and I personally think that if you have a rubust, teachable child and you put the effort in you can get pretty close to the education a girls school would offer, boys schools are another story.
Hope this helps.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 26/01/2012 16:19

Thank Anne, that is really helpful. It's surprising what you say about the outstanding school. Such a shame as i tend to automatically assume if a school is outstanding then it must be the best, if that makes sense. Its good to hear that your Dd has done well since she's been there.

I really hope i hear from anyone else with Dd's already at Surbiton High esp with kids in Reception.

By the way, are you hoping your DD will stay there for the senior school?

Thanks again.

OP posts:

Annelongditton · 26/01/2012 22:45

Girls at the juniors now have guaranteed places at the senior school which is one of the reasons it is now so full, 11+ is very hard and competitive in this area.
I will take DD round to look at other schools, but the choice will be hers and at the moment she is adamant that she loves SHS and wants to stay.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 27/01/2012 10:41

Thanks again Anne. Its good to hear your DD loves it so much.

OP posts:

PollyParanoia · 27/01/2012 11:43

this is going to sound facetious and I don't mean it to be, but every parent thinks their first born is very bright and very sensitive. A parent the other day was saying their son couldn't go to the local state school because he was, you see, so bright and sensitive (as my children must be thick brutes). The great thing about subsequent children is you realise this. If she is genuinely very delicate, then possibly the worst thing you could do is put her into a more delicate environment as it's only going to encourage this.
But then I'm very pro just sending your kid to local school if it's a good one and trusting in both your child and you as parents.

PollyParanoia · 27/01/2012 11:44

ps I didn't actually think my first born was bright and sensitive, I thought he was a bit slow (but very sweet) and very sensitive. Turns out he's quite the reverse.

Toddlerone · 27/01/2012 11:50

It's also a bit silly to think that because your DD is so sensitive she'll be better off educated away from boys.

Original poster

notpickyreally · 27/01/2012 14:11

why is it that on MN there are so so many people who feel its necessary to pass judgement on other people. I have asked a VERY specific question but because i have mentioned the word sensitive I am being a precoius parent. because i mention bright i am saying that all other kids must be ' thick brutes'. because we are considering a girls schol we are being silly.

We are new to the area, i don't yet know many people whom i can ask things of so i have asked a question on here. i was hoping to get some helpful responses and Anne has been helpful. the rest of you i find just rude.

i wouldn't dream of answering a post unless i could offer some help. I didn't ask ' am i wrong to consider this' or 'am i being silly?' DID I????

OP posts:

TheRhubarb · 27/01/2012 14:15

Don't be so sensitive!

Original poster

notpickyreally · 27/01/2012 14:16

i qas waiting for that. SO predictable.

OP posts:

TheRhubarb · 27/01/2012 14:17

Welcome to Mumsnet!

Now get yourself a glass of wine, neglect the kids and get stuck in!

FootprintsInTheSnow · 27/01/2012 14:22

The responses are helpful.

Sometimes people don't ask the right question.

For local views - you really would be better to talk to people in RL. MN is big - but not so big that you can get a large sample of people not only from one particular school, but also willing to discuss their experiences with a slightly chippy anonymous stranger.

naturalbaby · 27/01/2012 14:31

The responses are helpful? How is it helpful to call the OP silly for thinking her DD would be better educated in a single sex school? There was a report in the paper the other week about how girls do better in single sex schools, it may have been for 6th form or at least senior school but given the fact that this school has guaranteed entry to the senior school it seems like a good idea to plan the right primary school.

breaktime · 27/01/2012 14:43

TheRhubarb, why would you say go to Netmums? I presume you're trying to assert some form of superiority between us right-thinking mumsnetters who can spot a PFB at 100 yds spitting distance and fluffy net mums who might have the temerity to worry about their daughter's education at reception age (how very dare they care, my daughter went to school in a cardboard box on the motorway and she was ok and other such comments...).

I just can't understand why you'd want to make such an inflammatory and frankly rude comment. Clearly there are some mums who send their reception age kids to Surbiton High on THIS forum - why shouldn't the OP get their opinion?

As it happens my niece and nephew went to Maple Infants and I think its a great school - but if the OP is planning to send her DD private at some stasge and is happy paying the fees, avoiding the angst of the 7 or 11-plus is worth something....

Original poster

notpickyreally · 27/01/2012 14:45

footprints, i really did try and word my question carefully, but it seems some people just can't help themselves.

TheRhubarb, if this is what mumsnet is about then thats sad. I have read alot of posts on here and have always been amazed at the number of people who actually give up there time to help strangers. This is a serious question for me and i don't know why some people seem to want to be unhelpful and rude. i think the majority of mumsnetters don't view it as 'getting stuck in'. or at least from what I've read that's not how i see it.

naturallybaby, thank you again and i forgot to say that i found your reply helpful too esp as it's good to know there are others in the same situation as us. thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

notpickyreally · 27/01/2012 14:48

thanks breaktime. i'm glad i'm not the only one who is annoyed by this.

Maple seems like a really lovely school but we might not get in. Glad that your neice & nephew had a good time whilst there.

OP posts:

naturalbaby · 27/01/2012 14:50

Good luck. We've applied to 2 local primaries that both have outstanding ofstead reports but our ds is already at a private prep nursery and is due to go into reception so either way we'll be turning down an outstanding school. I have no idea how we are going to decide. I'm trying not to let school fees cloud my decision and am not ready to start thinking about 7+ or 11+!

TheRhubarb · 27/01/2012 15:02

LOL, seriously you lot!

breaktime cause I used to be a netmums editor Miss Judgeypants and they often have a better local section that would be able to provide posters from the local area who know the schools.

notpicky - Mumsnet is also about having a bit of a laugh at yourself every now and then. We all get hot under the collar from time to time and a bit of a giggle, even at our own expense, can do wonders to lift your day.

Good luck with your search and any future postings on Mumsnet. May I recommend a better hard hat next time.

FootprintsInTheSnow · 27/01/2012 15:15

Posters with older children (ergo more experienced) are responding with their viewpoints on the school, based on their experience of that school, similar schools or on contrasting schools.

Compare and contrast: this skill is what separates a GCSE grade C and GCSE grade A. It is a perfectly valid way to construct a response.

The OP clearly has one view, will cherry-pick the responses that fit in with that, and then proceed on her way. Frankly, she is lucky to have had this number of responses given the unfocussed and carelessly drafted OP. No mothers have been harmed in the making of this thread.

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