Schools in Staffordshire - has anyone got dd's at Smallwood Manor or Denstone college?

[anneb14]

Looks like my job in the near future will be located near Uttoxeter can anyone recommend these schools or have experience of them?

My step-son attended Denstone College (left last year) along with my friends 2 children (still there in year 7).

They love it. Its a very well run school and the curriculum is very broad and well organised with fantastic sports/extra curricular activities.

My SS fitted in very quickly after moving from another school. He progressed very quickly once his needs were identified. He left last year halfway through year 9 as his Mum/family emigrated to Australia so I cant comment on GCSE/A Level/Bacc results.

I can highly recommend Denstone to you. Obviously the best thing would be for you to visit them both to help make up your mind

Thank you for your feed back, I will definitely go and look round Denstone.

we had the brochure through for Smallwood Manor and i rang to ask a few questions, they did say a new head master is starting in September, so does anyone think this may be a problem?, it looks a lovely place? Anyones kids go to Smallwood?

Someone told me the kids at Denstone do really long days and Saturdays - is this right?

Denstone; Smallwood, and Abbots Bromley School are all part of the Woodard group. Their web-site-

www.woodard.co.uk/about_woodard.htm

Fairly long days at Denstone but there's 1.5 hours for prep/homework a day so nothing to go home. Saturday mornings are sports mornings with plenty of opportunity for competitive sport although if your little one isn't so sporty this probably isn't going to be the best school as its a compulsory aspect.

As an alternative to these schools in the Uttoxeter area there's also Abbotsholme in Rocester. I don't know anyone who's sent their children there but I haven't heard anything bad about it either.

Thanks RoseandRuby
I'm not keen on the 'Saturday' business for a school but everyone seems to sing its praises (Denstone) and the fact that homework is done at school is quite appealing. Such a difficult thing to know which is the right school for your DD isn't it! I'm going to book to see SmallWood anyway in the next week hopefully as DD has a little time until move up!