Help! Worcs Private Schools - is entry competitive??

[Indyschoolq]

This is in reference to schools like King’s (Worcester), RGS (Worcester), Bromsgrove School, or any others you may suggest around these areas.

My DH and I have been worried about our eldest (ADD and very sensitive) being allocated a state secondary school that is notoriously poor and historically often rated inadequate/special measures. In our minds we always thought ‘Well, worst case scenario, we can save and scrimp to get him in a private school’. However, we’re now reading on their websites that for entry from Year 7 and above, you have entrance exams (CEM and whatnot)…. Were we naive to think it was as simple as a matter of paying a huge bill after signing them up? Could he actually just be rejected by the private schools due to poor entrance exam performance?

Help! Any advice/tips/experiences welcome!

@Indyschoolq

If you join RGS The Grange by the start of Year 5, you only need to take the Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal Reasoning tests, and not the full tests which include maths, English and SPAG. RGS are quite forthcoming about this as they get two years of additional fees out of you.

By the end of Year 4 if your child is struggling, you are gently told that due to behaviour/academics, your child is not going to be accepted to the seniors. They allow you to stay until Year 6 and take the entrance exam, but if it is due to behaviour, you are unlikely to make it.

If ADD presents in negative behaviours (disruptive, struggles with change etc), I doubt they would even get through the 3 taster days, even if they were able to pass the entrance exam.

You have to take an entrance exam in Maths, English and SPAG to enter the school from Year 3.

@Monvelo depends where about on the horizontal you are but generally Hanley castle (Upton upon Severn) and both the Evesham secondaries are considered the better high school options in the south of the county.

Best Worcester high school generally considered to be nunnery, or Blessed Edwards, then you have Chantry for the rural west of the county and then in the north you have Haybridge in Hagley and a catholic high school in Redditch.

Sadly the rest of the Worcestershire comps are decidedly average!

Thanks for this info - pretty shocked! Do you know what year counts as ‘seniors’? If we do attempt to get him through an entrance exam we wouldn’t want to have to do it all over again soon after 😖

I’m in North Worcs! But looks like someone above has already provided a good reply 🙂

Thank you so much for this explanation.

So would you say your place is ‘safe’ at the school in terms of entrance exams once you are in Year 7?

I don’t believe he’s presenting with any disruptive behaviours at the moment. He seems to have improved with age and behaves during class (just can be distracted/in his own world).

I have two children at The Chase in Malvern. I went to a selective secondary myself but I think The Chase is a good school, lots of extra curricular activities and the 6th form is outstanding. My eldest is expected to get g7s and above at GCSEs and wants to stay for A levels. It is close to Qinetic and Malvern Science Park so a hub for computer science and has good links for kids wanting a career in cyber security/STEM.

Do you know what year counts as ‘seniors’?
Good question! There is a mishmash of Year 7 or Year 9 for both State and Independent. You'd have to check out each individual school's admissions rules.

A friends daughter went to Bowbrook (Pershore) - she was struggling at her prep so it was “suggested” - it turned out to be a great decision - good results and is currently at university, the most important thing was she was happy at the school and well supported. Best thing to do is go and visit any schools you are interested in - you will find that way more informative.

@Indyschoolq

If he takes the entrance exam in Year 6 for Year 7 entry, he will be pretty much safe until Year 11. If he works hard and his behaviour is good.

To stay on for A Levels, you need at least 6 x 6's.

At Kings and RGS, seniors would be from Year 7. All 4 of their prep schools finish at Year 6, and they would then move to the seniors for Year 7.

Bowbrook is on the same campus from 3-16 and you would not need to take an entrance exam at any level as it is non selective academically.

If you did want to look at the Prep schools:

RGS The Grange is a large school, with loads going on. Class sizes of 15-18. Lots of sports. Lots of extra curricular.

RGS Springfield is a small school, very small class sizes 5-9 children. Very nurturing and friendly. If you have a shy child, this may be better.

Kings Hawford would be much the same as The Grange. VERY sport focused and way more outdoorsy. If your child loves rugby and is good at it, then this would be slightly better than The Grange.

Kings St Albans is slightly bigger than Springfield but with much the same vibe.

Bowbrook is very small from Reception to Year 3, but from Year 4/5, really picks up with 10-15 in a class. It is a nurturing and warm school with dedicated SEN support and is a wonderful place. It is also significantly cheaper than Kings and RGS and offer sibling discounts.

Many children who start to struggle in Year 4 at The Grange or Hawford (Year 4 is a huge jump) are moved predominantly to Bowbrook.

If you son is bright, sociable, sporty and well behaved, I would go with Kings/RGS. If your son is average academically, isn't fussed on sport, and prefers quieter places, I would go straight for Bowbrook.

Really can’t thank you enough for this break down of the schools! Taking in every word and sharing this with my DH for our decision making. Currently contacting 11+ tutors to come up with a plan.

He’s bright when focused. So for example when he was just turned 7 his chronological reading level was 7 yrs 11 months (but he’s August born so that doesn’t count for much in his school year). He does well in swimming but doesn’t seem to like other sports. And he’s good friends with likeminded boys but not with the ‘cool’ kids AT ALL. Behaviour-wise he’s very obedient which is great but can get teary when he perceives himself to have failed. He’s across the board ‘meeting expectations’ in his year (which for youngest in the year we’ve been happy with).

What’s tough is we need to assess where our son lies on that selective versus SEN focused continuum as he really is on the cusp. But we don’t know if it’s because his current school understands and supports him or if he’s high functioning enough naturally to manage other environments well. Perhaps the 11+ tutor will be able to give us this insight?!

EDIT TO ADD: Bowbrook would be my first choice if it wasn’t for lack of 6th form. I worry about him graduating from a beloved environment at 16 then going to a new 6th form. It could be really hard to transition and do well.

I would say that with Kings and RGS, there is also no guarantee of him getting in to the 6th Form as it is still selective.

If he did go to Bowbrook and came out with decent GCSE's, you don't take another exam to get in to the 6th form at Kings/RGS. You just have an interview with the Head with your exam predictions.

Honestly, if you took a tour of Bowbrook, you would fall in love. It is great.

Heck even I'm thinking Bowbrook sounds amazing. Where can I find some cash... 😂

It might be worthwhile to investigate the ADD and see if medication is helpful.

@Monvelo 😂sorry!!

My nephew is at Bowbrook and he is doing so well.

Another here recommending Bowbrook. My dyslexic son spend his secondary years there after failing his SATS in year 6 and really lacking in confidence. He left Bowbrook at 16 last year with 5 GCSE’s inc English and Maths. Something I would never have believed possible when he started in year 7. He’s now doing A levels at Worcester 6th and doing really well.

I know this was some time ago but it’s another vote for Bowbrook from me. Great school, calm environment, small class sizes and nurturing staff. Every child gets their chance to shine. It lacks some of the facilities of the larger independent schools but more than makes up for that in other ways. Good luck!

Thank you! Really useful information!