Godstowe or High March?

[RoseBucks]

I'd love some up to date thoughts about Godstowe and High March. My daughter will be joining in year 2 or 3 depending on when we move back to the UK. At the moment, we'd like to keep our options open re grammar or independent for senior school.
Thanks!

The main difference is that they serve quite different audiences.

High March is mainly used by parents who live very local to them (i.e. almost all girls live in Beaconsfield). It is a small school and almost all parents have targeted Bucks grammar schools (11+ entry) for their girls. Parents we know say that they like the school, it is small and cosy but also academically challenging. However if your girl is not going to a grammar - for whatever reason - then once she gets to year 3 or 4 it is probably not the best place for her. We know a few who have moved their girls at that age because of this, Godstowe seems to be the top choice to move to. Admittedly if your girl did not get into a grammar you would still have independent day school options at the end of year 6 when High March ends but this is not the school's focus.

Godstowe runs to the end of year 8 so this matches up re entry to several independent coed boarding senior school options such as Wellington, Haileybury, Teddies, etc. The school is focused on independent entry and girls doing 11+ is not the focus but does happen. Godstowe has a national reputation, better records at getting kids into top schools and much better facilities than High March. Therefore the catchment area of families is much wider than High March. Some might say it is a little traditional but all the parents I know say it is Fab!

As your DD is so young I completely understand that you want to keep your options open, but really your choice does depends on what you think you want for senior schools. If you are still unsure I would go for Godstowe, it keeps your options open. Plus I don't know anyone who moved their kids out of Godstowe to High March, the traffic always seems to be the other way.

For full disclosure my daughter never went to either of these schools but we live locally and know several parents with kids at both schools.

That’s very helpful! Thank you!

Agree with PP that it really depends on the senior school destination, which is really a lot to consider when your DC are so small. High March DC do go on to a variety of independent senior schools so it’s focus isn’t solely on grammars. The facilities aren’t that great at HM though.
Have you considered Maltmans Green too? I’d add that to your list. It’s got the best facilities, although it’s leaver destination is mainly grammars, they do have a sizeable bunch going to independent day schools too.
If you are looking at boarding, then Godstowe no doubt.

Our experience of High March was that there was plentiful support for applying to the range of different schools whether the prospective schools used their own exam system, common entrance or 11+. The Head Teacher met with parents to discuss the various options and to help parents decide what was best for their daughter taking account of their academic, social and physical preferences and abilities. My daughters’ friends went onto a number of different schools on leaving and several received scholarship places at their new schools - Drama, Sport, Art and Academic.

When a school finishes at 11, big name co Ed boarding schools like Wellington and Oundle cannot be destinations. They are 13 plus. So Godstowe gives wider choice at 13. I would check with Godstowe re 11 plus. They used to have a handful leave for grammars but not so sure now. If was never their big selling point but the grammar girls were considered to be “scholarship” girls.

Godstowe is a premier league school. High March is a local school. They are not equivalent.

You could try Pipers Corner if you want a through school.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'm looking at this exact dilemma and wondered if anyone had anything further to add? @RoseBucks did you chose between them? Are you happy with your choice.

It’s all about destination! High March is nit the same as Godstowe. So what do you want for 11 or 13 plus? If grammar, High March is good enough. If you want boarding, possibly not. Godstowe is always a notch above High March for all sorts of reasons. Just has everything you could want.

The problem is we have no idea what we want for them later on. We'd always assumed a grammar school but I have no experience of the grammar system. I know I want them at home and don't want boarding. I haven't a clue about most of the schools Godstowe sends children on to. Godstowe looks to be a better school, but comes with compromises around location and I'm not sure we'd fit in with the Godstowe community.

@Doublechocolatetiffin hi, we went with High March in the end and my daughter will start there in September. We visited both last summer. Godstowe is clearly a good school but they were very dismissive about the 11+ which clinched it for me. I really liked the homely atmosphere of High March and they get very good results for both 11+ and independent schools so I felt it kept our options completely open. We also met with the head mistress of HM when we visited and I liked her. She seemed warm and approachable.

Godstowe has never been an 11 plus school. They used to publish their destinations and although a few leave at 11, most will board even then. There is an ethos at Godstowe that it is a prep for boarding. It’s their usp so they know their parental expectations and their budgets!

@Doublechocolatetiffin
These are the Godstowe “after Godstowe” destination schools. Not a grammar mentioned.

What about Maltman's Green as an alternative for High March?

I agree on the homely nature of High March and I also really liked the head teacher. I think our base assumption is that we'd love our daughter to go to a local grammar so High March ticks so many boxes. Godstowe was just so impressive though!

No I noticed that. I don't think it's really in their remit and certainly not what they'd promote as they'd like the girls to stay till 13.

We had a good look at Maltmans a few years back. The facilities were amazing but found the atmosphere very competitive and were quite put off by that. I didn't get the same warmth from the teachers there as I did at HM or Godstowe either.

Anyone have any recent opinions on this? Thanks

@Anonymous8888 These schools serve a different market. As you can see from 2 years ago, Godstowe prefers girls to stay until 13. High March is more about Bucks grammars and transfer at 11. Godstowe has boarders. I don’t know High March but you need to consider destinations above all else and what you want at 11 or 13. Godstowe offers more because it goes to 13 and they look for girls to get scholarships at their senior schools. High March is now part of a school group - Wishford.

Our daughter is very happy at High March. Godstowe does have better facilities but I want to keep our options open for senior schools especially with VAT now on fees.

That’s probably the difference. Most Godstowe parents know where they want to go and for many, cost is not an issue. The DDs will transfer at 13 and a handful at 11 to girls schools or local grammars. Most parents don’t want the option of Beccy Sec.