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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Royal Masonic School

16 replies

mrsmbuble · 13/03/2011 23:31

Anyone know anything about this school, in particular, whether it is suited to an academic child ? Thanks.

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Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 10:11

Hello any views out there ?

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lifeinthemidlands · 14/03/2011 10:12

My mother went seventy years ago, but assume you're looking for something a bit more current?

Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 10:17

Ideally yes...not many people on here have heard of this place, not sure if this is a good thing or not !

Thanks.

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SnapFrakkleAndPop · 14/03/2011 10:34

The one in Rickmansworth? I used to be in Youth Orchestra with a girl who went there about 10 years ago and she was very happy. Couldn't have told you how academic it was but she wasn't what I would have called 'academic' - very music focused - and did fine overall. I rather got the impression it was a school which was willing to be flexible to accomodate a particular talent at the expense of other areas, rather than Habs where I went which insists on excellence all round. Certainly for me there would have been no question of taking 8 GCSEs rather than 9 or 10 to devote more time to music, no matter how exceptionally talented (which I wasn't!).

Sorry, that's not particularly current either!

Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 12:07

Thanks SnapFrakkleAndPop. Age of viewpoints improved from 70 years ago to 10 years ago, so definitely going in the right direction..

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CeciC · 14/03/2011 13:26

Hi mrsmbuble,
Friend of mine send their DD2 to RMSC, they are in Y6 and Y10. They are very happy witht the school. Their oldest DD is very bright I think they cater for a variaty of academic levels. As the prior post said, is not as academic as other private schools in the area. At least the results are not as good. I went to visit the school at their open day, and I thougth the school has amazing buildings and the art centre is very nice. But I thought it was too big. My DDs are in state primary and it could be plan b if DD1 doesn't get into the school that she wants come next year. But personally I like better other schools, Northwood college in Northwood as one of them.
Another friend of mine, didn't think they would cater for her very bright daughter and she got in HABS.
Personally I wouldn't like a school where all the students are very clever, and would rather a school were there was a mixture of abilities. RMSC has a variaty of abilities, so it could be a candidate come next year.
Difficutl decission, and good luck

Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 14:13

Thanks CeciC, all helps.

We will have a look at Northwood College too and Habs, although this is a bit too far.

DD is bright but lacks confidence (current school's opinion). I would like to send her to a school that would continue to challenge her academically but also help her to gain some self confidence.

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DorisVinyard · 14/03/2011 14:32

My two DDs attend RMS and have blossomed there. I have noticed a marked increase in their self confidence. It does cater for a wide range of abilities and all academic levels seem well catered for. There are some extremely bright girls who attend there and they do very well. The teachers are engaged and interested in your child's progress and well being and encourage the girls to take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities.

Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 14:57

Thanks DorisVinyard.

I imagine that discipline is fairly strict and they don't stand for any nonsense with regards to cliques and bullying.

What is your opinion of SnapFrakklePop's experience of cultivating one talent at the expense of another ? I know everyone's experience is different but that's why MN works.

I suppose it would be very exceptional person that is all-singing-all-sporty-all academic, they are few and far between, not sure if I have one of those but you never know. I think my dd is the type of person who would rather do and enjoy a few things really well, she is not motivated enough, at the moment anyway, to try lots of different things if she didn't think she would be good at any of them.

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Original poster
mrsmbuble · 14/03/2011 14:58

I suppose that is all to do with confidence.

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DorisVinyard · 14/03/2011 15:38

Not my DDs but classmates have been allowed to take time out of school to take part in tournaments etc if they have a particular aptitude in a sport.

Original poster
mrsmbuble · 15/03/2011 11:18

bump..

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Original poster
mrsmbuble · 31/03/2011 04:57

Hello just wondering if anyone had any views..thanks.

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Original poster
mrsmbuble · 31/03/2011 11:30

Hello DorisVinyard, my DD is at state primary so moving to independent would be big change for all of us. DD is bright but lazy but not sure if that is down to us or her ! She gets things done, but is happy to do minimum but seems to be doing fine overall if that makes sense. The difficult decision is whether the right secondary school will make her realise what she has and make her grow personally and academically. Maybe we have unrealistic expectations of what a school can achieve.

We recently moved our DS from same (Ofsted outstanding) state to local independent boys school and he is doing really well. This was a hard decision at the time but even his teacher said he was ahead of years in maturity and ability and was very enthusiastic in class which we felt could have gone one way or the other, ie. disruptive or talented. We decided to give him the benefit of smaller classes and more individual attention and will review when he gets to Yr 6. His enthusiasm is now recognised and guided because the classes are small enough to make everyone count. Never thought we would be doing this, both DH and I are state educated all the way so it is a whole new world to us.

Sorry, going off track there.... is there a mixture of state and independent intake at RMS ?

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jazjaz031 · 08/08/2015 16:26

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Carrie17 · 23/08/2017 11:50

Hi I'm looking at RMS for my daughter to start in nursery. Would you recommend this school. What kind of girls would it suit?

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