Saffron Walden County High & Newport Grammar

[WKMum]

Hello,

We are considering a move to SW (or surrounding villages) for secondary schools.

I would be very grateful for any advice on catchment areas, admissions/selection processes for Newport Grammar and SWCH. Are both schools equally good? Do either of them have particular strengths? (Newport has a languages specialism, I think?) Also is it correct that neither school is academically selective? Do your DCs need to attend a particular 'feeder' school?

I'd love to hear from people who currently have (or recently had) DCs attend either school. All experiences good or bad!

Thanks so much!

Bumping...

Giving this another bump for you - live just outside catchment for these schools, which we looked at before we moved to the area. I think they have pretty well defined catchment areas - and if you aren't in these areas you are unlikely to get a place - and are non selective for Y7-11. Friend has child in SWCHS 6th Form which she considers excellent.
Hope someone else with current experience can help.

They both have websites that you can check for catchment criteria. Ihave friends who have children at both and have heard no complaints. No selection criteria (apart from catchment) from what I understand. One of my neighbours has had 2 at SWCH and put her third child into NFGS because he is dyslexic and Newport is smaller/more personal than county high.

Schools aside, it's a lovely place to live in!

Thanks for your responses Lilymaid and Ecoli - really helpful.

I have had a quick look at school websites, but always good to get 'insider' opinions!

We are currently in Grammar School hell of West Kent and the idea of a decent non-selective fills me with joy!

I'm sure there was a thread quite recently about Saffron Walden/Newport. I can't remember if you started it or somebody else, so I'll repeat what I wrote.

Both my DCs are at SWCHS (Year 13 and Year 8). Both are doing well, although it's a big school and I don't think communication with parents is particularly good. You sometimes have to be one step ahead of the game to make sure you get what you want.

Pupils do options at the end of Year 8 and the size of the school makes the option choices very flexible. Pupils no longer have to do a technology to GCSE. The most able linguists are offered Latin. Spanish is now being introduced in addition to French and German. Pupils can do GCSEs either at the end of Year 10 or 11. Some do ASs in Year 11. Music is very strong.

You are unlikely to get a place in Years 7-11 if you live outside catchment, but they take extra pupils in Year 12 and many live outside catchment, including some from Newport, the local indies and grammars. Seven of my daughter's friends have had offers from Oxbridge this year, which I think is about average for the school.

Thanks so much Daphnedill for your extremely helpful info!

Sorry for the late response, but I haven't checked MN for a couple of days. It's great to hear good things about SWCH and glad both your DCs are doing well there.

I was worried about catchment areas because the info on the school website is a little vague, but it seems to imply that the nearer to the school you are, the safer the odds of getting in, which makes sense (unlike here, where the criteria are insane!).

Thanks again!

Ah, no, it wasn't me who started the other thread - just found it now - sorry!

If you live in SWCHS's catchment area, I don't think you'll have any difficulty getting in. My dd started at the beginning of Year 9 when we moved into catchment and there was no question of a place being available. Newport's a bit different, because if it only took from its catchment, it wouldn't have enough pupils, so it's always been more flexible, so it's more a matter of luck.