Salcombe versus Edge Grove

[TwoProngedFork]

Hi,

We have offers from both schools and are trying to weigh the pros and cons of choosing one over the other.

Any input welcome

Thanks in advance.

What year group are you considering? Current parent at edge grove here and not overly happy. Also period of change with head leaving at end of September term. However I guess you never know what other schools are like, so not sure how warranted our unhappiness is!

Hi @Springhappening , thank you for responding. Looking at Year 3.

Please can you share what your misgivings are.

Many thanks

My concerns are not impressed with the head - although she is leaving (to a headship back at her old school) after I think 5 terms. Has felt very hands off compared to previous head. Concerned re the handover to any new head, nothing really been said.

Unconvinced by academics, a lot seems down to parental efforts. Some amazing teachers, some less so. They withdrew boarding with little notice, which had an effect on wrap around care - it’s no longer the same (no hot meals in evening as no boarding pupils to need it) and after school clubs seem to have shrunk massively - I don’t know if that is covid or other issues.

Not sure we would have made the same decisions had we had our time again. It’s a lot of money to pay when you have those doubts.

Equally we have not seriously looked elsewhere. We thought it too disruptive to do so. So not sure what other schools offer and if our expectations are unreasonable. From speaking to other parents at the school, we are not alone with concerns. But it’s hard to know when you don’t have a comparison!

@Springhappening - so it sounds like some perceive the fees to be too high?

No, it’s not the level of the fees - it’s what you get for them if you see what I mean. No issues with the fees themselves, but not happy when I have to fill in gaps at home at those levels.

Think it has been hard for the new head but the whole school feels far less cohesive and collegiate

Thanks for clarifying. Makes sense. Though to be honest, I don't know of any independent school where any parent does not have to put in any work. I guess if you chose a school were your DC can stay all the way to A-levels then the pressures are levelled out. Tricky one ...
I'll see if I can find other threads covering Salcombe to make a comparison ...

Just to clarify - I’m not talking about not putting in any effort. More than happy to support the school. But I am not a teacher. And at times I’ve had to do that.
As I say one of the big issues for us is the community feel of the school - something which has changed a lot over the last couple of years. Wishing you good luck in whatever you decide, am sure there are pros and cons to each school!

@Springhappening I'm also looking at edge grove for my DS for nursery over York house school. Are you saying you wouldn't recommend at this time? Any advice would be soo very much appreciated thankyou!