The Beacon - Amersham?

[Teacupcakes]

Hello, We are currently trying to decide on a primary/pre-prep for our ds. The Beacon seems incredibly popular. Whilst we liked it, we don't get the wow factor about it that everyone else seems to! It seemed pleasant enough but crammed in. No playground, only astro turf. No indoor pool so the boys only swim in the summer. 1 hour a week of art. International studies sounds great in principle but 1 hour a week seems minimal and french itself not starting until yr 5. The lunch hall, whilst beautiful, is tiny and I can't imagine how they do it and remain civilised. I have visions of the boys having to eat as quickly as they can so the next sitting can begin etc. We didn't meet a single pre-prep member of staff during our two hour visit, this seems odd. The boys weren't smart but looked happy enough. I'd love it if someone could tell me if I'm missing something. We love that it sends boys to the grammar schools as well as public schools and did like it. Just not getting the wowness of it. Any opinions welcome!

Thank you, this info has been very helpful. Beacon does seem much more suited to us however, its always a risk, no one really knows until they personally experience a state or public school.

You never really know if you are making the right decision but you can only look at and weigh up the pros and cons as well as a schools credentials and reviews.

Yes no school is all good or all bad. And impossible to know which will be best for any individual child.

Our son went to state primary, The Beacon and now at Grammar. All are a mixed bag. In this area school choice is like flipping a coin - no option is bad. If money is abundant the Beacon is a reasonable option - if not the primaries teach the same stuff to a similar standard but have fewer facilities.

However mixed Vs unisex is an important difference between school options and worth really thinking through. It's easy to lose sight of our role as parents in helping them become rounded human beings, rather than the more superficial stuff we tend to focus on.

I absolutely agree. It’s very easy to get swept up in what makes us feel good rather than what is good for our children.

Your point on single sex vs mixed is very valid. As someone who works in HR, I would suggest single sex schooling has had its day and sets no child up to be an adult in the future of work or society. It’s hard to be an equal if you’ve never had to be.

Totally agree with @jrabean @Replyingnow but mixed options are in short supply in the Bucks area. Other than Chesham Grammar (24% come from out of catchment - never really understood that % when it's got such a good reputation and it's co-ed) and Berkhamsted Senior School you would have to travel to Aldenham School, Claires Court, St Edward's or some families move house or are forced to go down a boarding school route just to get mixed when they really want their child at home. A private day mixed senior school from YR7 upwards would make a fortune in the local area.

It would!

I think if more people were honest about what Dr Challoners boys school is like, there would be less of a bun fight to get children into the school.

You should see some of the letters the head is sending to parents about the boys. He’s clearly lost control, if he ever had it. I think he was clinging to the legacy of the old head.

Lockdown really exposed the lack of leadership, organisational agility and lack of pastoral care. It took months for the school to sort out remote learning.

Many (not all) teachers are very average, much of the teaching is not creative and many of the boys have basically gone feral, if the letters are not just an angry rant.

With a child also at Amersham School, if I had another younger one I’d side step the 11+ and head straight to Amersham. It’s far better run. The results for children who want to learn, excellent.

I bet there are few parents with children at Challoners who won’t say anything but how great it is. They feel good because their child is at a school that others only wish their child was in.

However, in just the last term, and this is just what the school tells us.

1. toilets vandalised - beyond use
2. racist and homophobic graffiti (this wasn’t actually in a letter, but it is common knowledge)
3. Vaping in the loos to the extend can’t be used as loos
4. Not allowed to wear coats when queue outside for lunch do the boys bundle each other to keep warm
5. Expected GCSE and A level grades shockingly low, but won’t be shown in published results tables. Never are.

The list goes on. The blame is all put on the parents. Even if we are largely to blame, we can’t stand on the entrance of the loos to stop this. No parent is allowed on site.

I would be careful what you wish for. I thought I’d struck gold.

Boys behaving badly - a low-rent Bullingdon Club. That's why a mixed school is better! A-level results actually great - when the girls join and the bad apples get thrown out.

"Expected GCSE and A level grades shockingly low, but won’t be shown in published results tables. Never are." @Replyingnow how can a school be allowed to publish in the results tables but not show their real results?

There's always CGS or Amersham School to move to for a mixed 6th form?