Anyone with children at Stockport Grammar or Cheadle Hulme School who can advise on their junior departments.

[pinkjello]

We are about to attend open days for these three schools. I know Ladybarn is a prep and the other two go up to 18 but wondered if there was any main differences.
Can anyone tell me about their local reputations. Are they all equally difficult to get into? Is one clearly better that the other two? Would the parents be similar at all three? Are they all as academic as each other? How do their facilities compare?

Sorry for all the questions and thank you for reading.
PJ

Sorry, cut&pasted from my message in primary. Though if anyone has children who attended LBH before moving on to Stockport or Cheadle Hulme then views most welcome.

bump

Just bumping in case anyone can help before we visit.

Cheadle Hulme is easier to get into than Stockport at 11+.

The great thing about Lady Barn is that you have the choice at 11 of where you want to go next...it has a very happy atmosphere and is a good mix of all kinds of people. Both Cheadle and Stockport seem very white schools to me...

Because Stockport and Cheadle go through to 18 the Junior kids may well be able to access facilities that the Senior school offers but Lady Barn kids enjoy a lovely location and, for example, walk to the big 33m pool at Cheadle for swimming lessons.

Lady Barn is wonderful! Go there!

NETBD, that's useful, thank you! All my kids love swimming and interestingly, one of the reasons I liked CHS was that they could walk 2mins across the playground to the pool. Not sure what it's like though as haven't been on the tour yet.

The 'white' issue is something that would concern me. I want them to experience a huge mix of people from different faiths and colours. I'll keep an eye out for that.

I know the choice at 11 thing is one big reason why people choose Ladybarn but I have 1 son and 2 daughters therefore co-ed is really important to me so I guess I'd be looking at CHS or SG at 11 anyway. Also, I'm really not keen on the academic hot houses of MGS and Withington. But then maybe LB would be good and they can decide themselves whether CHS or SG suit them better at 11.

All input is really helpful, thank you.

Just re-read your post and you sound like you're giving me a wholehearted recommendation. That will definitely make me look more closly at LB, thanks.

My daughters attend Lady Barn and it is a great co-ed school! I always thought I wanted an 'all the way through' school (4-18), which we tried (AESG) but didn't work for us. LBHS gives your child a great choice at Year 6. Our eldest is currently sitting for Man High, Stockport & Cheadle as she's Yr 6. She came out of the exams happy & smiling saying what a great time she has had (despite being middle-ish at LBHS). She even enjoyed the interview today at Stockport. I feel that LBHS has brought out the best in her as it's academic without being a hot house, multi-cultural & sporty. I was toying with the idea of my Yr 4 daughter sitting the same exams and moving them both but LBHS is so good that I don't want her to miss Yr 5 & 6 there. She doesn't want to miss it either as they do lots of great trips!
Although you want co-ed because you have both boys & girls, please bear in mind that MGS & MHSG (& With to some extent) are opposite each other & some of the buses are shared. You may change your mind about those schools being 'hot houses' and if you do & your child would fit then you/they will have a choice. I don't think separate schools will be a big issue at senior. It's great to have some choice and find a right fit for your child at age 11 rather than at 4 or 5!
Good luck!