Which secondary school in bishops stortford?

[sputnik01]

Would love my eldest to go to Hockrill as we are bilingual family but believe it is very oversubscribed! What might be the best next alternative.
All advice and experience appreciated.
Also any tips for Hockrill admissions?

Do you have boys or girls or a mix?

girls

I am pretty sure that a number of places are reserved for those with a demonstrable aptitude for languages, so as a bilingual family that should help your chances.
Also, rumour has it that it can be easier to get in as a boarder - weekly or full time - although you should be aware that a boarding place cannot subsequently be converted into a day place. You would have to show a reason why your child would benefit from the stability of a boarding education and your DD would also be interviewed to assess her suitability for boarding.

Somebody said to me "the schools in Stortford aren't either as good or as bad as people say". Tbh all the schools are pretty good. Birchwood has good facilities and is mixed if that is what you prefer, probably best for special needs and more vocational studies, but academic pupils do very well there. Herts and Essex is a good school and I think girls with an aptitude for science probably do better there than in a mixed school. Downside with Hockerill is that the IB is not for everyone and a lot of people move for sixth form, so if they don't like change, perhaps not such a good idea. As for admissions, I agree with franticantic from what I have heard.

The schools in Bishops Stortford offer different things so its difficult to directly compare them. Hockerill doesn't offer many day places, about 70 I think, so if its a big sibling year there won't be many places left over. There are a variety of types of boarding and sometimes people apply for the "day boarding" which is a long school day 7am till 8.30pm and get in on that when they have been turned down for an ordinary place. I'm not sure if its still possible to do this as my info is a few years out of date.

Herts and Essex and Bishop's Stortford High School are the single sex schools which have good reputations and Saint Mary's which is a catholic school.

Then Birchwood which lags behind the others in the league tables but as Foyled says it does offer some more vocational courses and they still have pupils who do very well.