Brockhurst & Marlston

[Barksmum12]

We’re really struggling to pick a school and keep going around in circles. Does anyone have any recent experience of Brockhurst?

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Hi @Barksmum12, have you made a decision? We are also considering it.

@Nans1206 would love to hear your thoughts on it.

@Fr0thandBubble have you been to seen Brockhurst and Elstree? It may be worth going to have a look at each individually and go from there. I don’t want to sway you, it’s a big decision and what is right for one may not be right for another. What school year is your child in?

@Nans1206 Yes, we liked both but particularly liked that Brockhurst has an indoor swimming pool and riding, and liked the learning development centre. But people we have spoke to seem to say Elstree is the better school?

Do your children go to Brockhurst? Can you share your views on it?

I think we're heading towards St Andrews. I can't really articulate why.

Hey all - I am in a similar situation as the OP here. Would love you hear your further thoughts and what decision you've made.
Would really appreciate any direct experiences with Cheam, Horris Hill, Brockhurts and Elstree please. We visited HH and Brockhurst but can't decide. Planning to join the open days for the other two.

Thanks

Hi, does anyone have any further thoughts on Brockhurst and Marlston? grateful for any views/updates, thanks!

There are so many schools around Newbury, everyone is spoilt for choice! My dc was at Brockhurst and Marlston until last year. She had started in nursery (Ridge House). Ridge House was amazing, Miss Key and her team were just a dream! Overall the standards were unbelievable, especially in music (there were several 10 to 13 year olds at diploma level, a grade 8 didn't get any special mention in newsletter as so common), but also out of schools everyone seemed to be doing something special (professional ballet in London, national gymnastics squad, professional skiing, professional acting...). Facilities, especially the pool and riding, are definitely above 'normal' for the private sector. The cabin with a cafe for parents was a great addition! Overall, we left because it was just all a bit full on - sooo high (peer) expectations, the stress to be exellerated and to get into the scholarship class, the whole stress of 11/13 plus, and the new online learning option/short day option which tempted my dc to stay home more and more. We packed up and moved to a part of the world with a much slower pace. Lower fees, lower standard of facilities, lower expectations, pupils more human than all those superstars at B&M. We are all more relaxed as a result of the move. But if you can take the heat, especially if your dc are musical, sporty and academic, B&M schools are in my experience excellent.

Just to add, they are running GCSE classes as a lunch club activity, and there were a couple of children who were taking maths A levels as a hobby. B&M has a varied, non-selective intake, but they are definitely attracting a lot of 'wunderkinder'.

This is incredibly helpful, thanks! Did you find it nurturing and kind despite all that or did you find it quite tough and a sink or swim approach? Were there a lot of working mums as well as working dads? Thanks!

Ridge House was definitely very nurturing. It got more stiff/strict from year 2. My dd was terrified of lunchtime forfeits, which were given out for minor transgressions like playing 'out of bounds' in the grounds or running inside etc, but it only consisted of helping clean the tables at lunch for 5min. Most kids weren't bothered by it at all. Most teachers at B&M were very supportive. Most mothers worked FT. Loads of teachers (from B&M and Down House), GPs, London commuting types, so even 7 year olds would sometimes flexi board. Fair amount of childminders/nannies doing school run as mums were at work. There is definitely support for less academic kids, or less sporty kids (teachers would run hand in hand with young kids who struggled at cross country 😀), it's just very obvious where you stand with the seperate classes, and children being separated from their peers once considered ready for fast tracking. It's definitely one of the most beautiful school settings.

@Emilia33 firstly people move at 7 and again at 9 - regardless of what the schools tell you. Choose the best place for right now and re-evaluate again later.
Also consider your outcomes are you set on certain senior schools or are you going to wait and see how your DC develop and then make decisions.
My DD is 18 now so I have been right through the school system and out the other side. What I can say is that for a whole myriad of reasons virtually no one person who she was in reception with ended up where their parents thought in year 13.

If senior school destination is important to you now you need to choose a school that regularly sends children there. If nurturing is more important to you maybe you need to look at other schools like St Gabriel's and Thorngrove who are more in the 'happy children will achieve' category rather than the 'children who achieve will be happy' category.
None of the private options around Newbury are bad just different to each other.

Thanks, really appreciate the info NellyBarney!

Thanks Lonecatwithkitten, really appreciate the advice!

I met a few local parents and all of them 💯 suggested the school. Their children were very happy. Hope that helps.

Thanks krazynoodles, very helpful!

Had two dcs go through. Was a better school when the wonderful Parks and Mrs Riley were there. Has become far more pushy with all bells and whistles state-of-the-art online learning facilities, rather than a caring and supportive environment. New Heads of Schools not as good imho. Second the comment re very authoritarian if anyone puts a foot wrong. St. Andrews and Thorngrove better options for all-round, supportive but still achieve and succeed in results and best-fit senior schools