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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

Schools in Timperley/Altrincham/Trafford - any experience?

52 replies

LintRoller · 04/08/2015 19:51

I've tried posting on MN Local but it's tumbleweed over there... There have been threads on this before but they're several years out of date, so would really appreciate opinions.

Does anyone have experience with schools in the Timperley/Altrincham area? Our options are likely to be:

St Hugh's Catholic School (we are Catholic and attend the linked church) - pretty much definitely in based on our location/category
Tyntesfield Primary School - state primary, excellent results - probably 50/50 chance based on past few years
Private: Forest School in Timperley, Forest Park School in Sale, and Altrincham Prep School (we have a place at APS but not sure about it)

The state options are both Ofsted Outstanding and within half a mile of home, which is very tempting - I like the idea of local friends and a short commute. But the private options offer smaller class sizes and better preparation for grammar entrance exams (if DS turns out to be that way inclined) - I don't know how many from the state schools end up at grammars. I would like it to be at least an option though of course there are no guarantees.

We have looked around all of them and I still haven't got a clue. I don't know what I'm looking for! They all had friendly and polite staff, decent facilities and happy looking children but surely all schools put on a good front for visitors?

(Money is not a problem as we aren't having more children and the school fees are half what we already pay for nursery...)

Would be very grateful for any thoughts.

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Original poster

LintRoller · 08/08/2015 15:20

Thanks Inkymess - it does have such a lot of implications for the whole family - for a start, it's up to an hour's difference in commute a day from the closest to the furthest away school we are considering! Also local friends is a big issue, as I went to a school quite far away and was never able to just walk over to friends' houses. I guess at this stage we have very little idea of DS's preferences and abilities, so just want to keep options open for him as much as possible.

Interesting stuff MrsHathaway. I have no idea what those numbers mean but they sound quite high

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Inkymess · 08/08/2015 19:24

I also had quite a long drive to school so opted for a great local school - best decision ever. My DC bump into friends everywhere they go. They walk, bike or cycle to school even tho I work FT as it's as quick as the car. StH has great reputation then so do BTH and StA

mandy214 · 09/08/2015 22:13

Don't get hung up on standardisation. According to the Headmaster at Alty Boys, the difference between a September born boy and a July born boy - is 1 or 2 marks at most. On the basis you need 334 (out of 423 usually) it's not going to make much difference!

MrsHathaway · 09/08/2015 23:17

Thanks for the clarification.

The difference between the last boy to get in and the first boy on the waiting list could be those one or two points though!

Sparkyduchess · 09/08/2015 23:39

Lint, feel free to PM - look forward to it:-)

TheMightyMing · 09/08/2015 23:54

I have a son at Alty Boys, we are out of catchment ( Stockport) and have a very early start, but we have been very impressed and my son gas been very happy there. He also passed to go to St Ambrose and would definitely have been offered a place, some of his classmates went and have been very happy there also. Five years ago the competition was pretty fierce, but I think even more so now. Many of his friends went to the preps but more are from state feeders. I don't think a prep school is necessary. He was tutored but very low key and we did a lot ourselves.

Lagoonablue · 10/08/2015 16:58

If people are paying fees for a prep school how come suddenly at 11 they stop and then use up many of the state grammar places? Seriously pisses me off. If you have paid school fees until then how come they won't cough up for independent high schools. Makes a mockery of the grammar system. It's bad enough if people can't afford to tutor their kids but they are also up against kids who have been to prep schools too.

I said this higher up but I have no idea why Trafford or anywhere persists with an outmoded system. It does not promote excellence it merely allows the kids of well off people to get a leg up. Unless your child is remarkably bright then somewhere along the line you will have to pay for tutoring. Then the competition is higher due to prep school children also wanting places. Seems all wrong to me.

MrsHathaway · 10/08/2015 17:55

Well obviously paying for four to eight years of private school is cheaper than paying for thirteen or fourteen. If you can get the last five to seven years free by jumping ship to a grammar, why the hell wouldn't you save yourself the best part of £100k per child?!

As to why they haven't done away with it... The majority of their E+ council tax payers like it.

Original poster

LintRoller · 10/08/2015 18:32

Also there are no fee-paying secondaries in the area. None. Not even North Cestrian now. The nearest independent secondary in Manchester Grammar - two hour daily commute for us in rush hour, if DC even get in.

Many people whose children have been to private preps would happily pay for private secondary. They just don't exist around here.

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MrsHathaway · 10/08/2015 18:34

There are a couple this side of the city (DC would pass a vg one on the way to AGSB) but I guess the supply and demand also depends on the grammars.

Georgethesecond · 10/08/2015 18:40

They don't exist in Altrincham, but school buses run from there to MGS, Withington, Man high, Stockport Grammar and Cheadle Hulme. So people do use private education, including many kids who pass for the Trafford Grammars.

Original poster

LintRoller · 10/08/2015 18:51

I would prioritise a school in my local area (say 3 mile radius) over a "better" one further away, given the choice. It's just a personal preference. If DS didn't get into a Trafford grammar I anticipate he will go to e.g. Wellington or Blessed Thomas Holford and we'd be perfectly happy with that. Wouldn't want him to sit MGS exams.

I suppose my point was that it's not always just a case of parents paying private for prep and actively choosing to avoid secondary fees. I would actually welcome some fee-paying secondaries in the area to offer more choice and ease the competition a bit.

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Original poster

LintRoller · 10/08/2015 18:55

Anyway we're pretty much decided on state so we get to dodge your wrath lagoona I agree it's a daft system but I didn't invent it.

OP posts:

Inkymess · 10/08/2015 18:56

The private preps exist to feed the state grammars.

Lagoonablue · 10/08/2015 19:14

Wasn't directed at you OP. Just a very generalised rant.

MrsHathaway · 10/08/2015 19:37

My rant here is about very good sixth corn colleges whither the clever private school lot fuck off to save two years' fees and count as a state school applicant to university despite private hot housing from age three to sixteen.

MrsHathaway · 10/08/2015 19:38

Sixth FORM colleges

TheMightyMing · 10/08/2015 20:14

Interesting point MrsH about the sixth form , I know quite a few people who do this, does it give them an advantage getting into uni from a state school, I didn't know this?

MrsHathaway · 10/08/2015 20:20

Some universities have claimed to give advantage to or require less from state school applicants (Bristol off the top of my head, although might be outdated). One would hope they'd know that Leafy Sixth takes 50% of its intake from the local private schools whereas Gritty Sixth takes from the local sinks. But since it's one of the measures in the tables and for funding, forgive me for my cynicism.

Inkymess · 10/08/2015 20:49

The Preps are defiantly all about the Alty grammars. Fail there and then lots pay for MGS, Withington, CHS, SGS etc

Buttwing · 11/08/2015 09:18

Just thought I'd put my two pence in, I would massively recommend going with St Hugh's. My daughter is at St vincents and about to sit the entrance exams, I feel we are in a much stronger position as we have Loreto and Altrincham girls as options. As a catholic child at a non catholic school they are much further down the list and chances are obviously slimmer of getting a place at loreto/Ambrose.
It's amazing how many families remember their religion as soon as it's time for secondary applications

Buttwing · 11/08/2015 09:18

Sorry meant to add I've heard nothing but good about St Hugh's a

Original poster

LintRoller · 11/08/2015 10:27

Thanks Buttwing that's really helpful I had the same thoughts re St Hughs and secondaries.

at people suddenly remembering their religion at the time of secondary applications, as if they lost it down the back of the sofa or something. We do attend St Hughs so I am definitely leaning towards thst as first choice even though Tyntesfield is closer.

Thanks Sparky I will PM you

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Stevie77 · 11/08/2015 13:27

Lagoona, what is unfair about the Trafford system is that it doesn't use 11+ but a frankly, ridiculous system of individual entrance exams.

Also, local schools should be for local children. I can't apply for a Stockport secondary, so why should a Stockport child take a Trafford child's place?

Makes my blood boil.

TheMightyMing · 11/08/2015 14:41

State education is funded centrally and so I have no qualms about sending my son to a school outside the borough I live in. I can't afford private education, I want the best I can for him and if we had our own grammars I would be sending him.
The pass mark at AGSB is set to admit local boys who pass first.

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