Wilson's Boys Grammar School Open Night tomorrow

[menagerie]

Is anyone going to this? If so, would you mind coming on here and posting your impressions of the school? We can't make it and the school has said there's no other opportunity to visit until Open Night next year.

Just hoping someone from MN is happy to say what they think.
Thanks

Went to it last year. In fairness we are comparing it against the local private schools which will skew my views. Alas we had a rather unimpressive 6th former as our guide. The school obviously has strong academics and high academic expectations of the boys. But the extra-curricular side seems to be mainly outsourced, and sport is mainly football - reasonable facilities for other sports in fairness, but no swimming and little rugby, both of which my ds is keen on. Similarly music - yes there is some, but not the richness that you might see elsewhere, and the proportion of boys learning instruments wasn't as high as the private schools. And our guides social skills were actually pretty poor - he certainly didn't sell the school to us at all.

Obviously the school does well against the other state schools, but I left with the feeling that there was a clear enough difference between it and the private schools.

Ladymuck - that's exactly the sort of thing I'd have looked out for. Thank you. I thought the music was a bit half hearted on the website. No swimming? That's shocking.
What do you mean by little rugby - do they only have a 1st team?

LadyM - out of interest, which private schools in the area did you look at? We're looking at a couple of independents too.

Whitgift, Trinity, Caterham (assuming their exam record continues) and Tonbridge.

They do 6 weeks of rugby in year 9 ( though that may have changed since I see that they did have a year 7 team this last year). After that it is an extra curricular activity. I "think" that they manage a team per year - not sure whether they had a year 8 this year. Table tennis gets more of a write-up than rugby.

Whilst they did have some useful clubs eg medics, these are run by external organisations. Personally I would prefer staff to be involved giving more continuity over the years. The music groups seem thin given the number of boys overall.

Anyway it seems odd picking holes with what is a great school. I see that you have a year to go: assume that you've seen that the entrance exams have changed.

I hadn't noticed they'd changed - or maybe I didn't know what they were before. My DS has to work on English, maths, VR and NVR as each school he's sitting for has a different combination.

A friend's son started at Whitgift in September. Very happy there.

How have the entrance exams changed? Just out of interest. Will be visiting tonight

They've dropped the VR paper, so just testing maths and English. WCGS also changed - they're bringing in some multiple choice.

menagerie said
"Is anyone going to this? If so, would you mind coming on here and posting your impressions of the school? We can't make it and the school has said there's no other opportunity to visit until Open Night next year."

This happened to us a few years ago. However, son took test and was offered a place, and THEN they laid on a special tour for parents of boys in this position.

Impressed but not any more outstanding than a comprehensive we are considering. I am not sure that you can expect the full package even from a highly selective state secondary school. Would be over the moon if DS gets in and to be quite honest wouldn't think any the less of it because it doesn't have amazing sports opportunities. Surely one sends one's child to a grammar school to get the best academic education and the sports/musics are to be pursued in own time. Incidentally the comprehensives in Sutton have a good reputation and know that Glenthorne is renowned for sporting prowess. Would you consider those options?
Thanks Ladymuck for the tip off about the 11+ exam criteria - think that maybe reduces DS's chances of getting into Wilson's as he is not that strong on English :-((
We are doing 11- 12 age group Bond 11+ maths and some of it seems very hard even for adults who passed their maths exams years ago! Is this the level they would be expected to achieve and to stand any chance of getting a place what % would one be expected to achieve in the paper?

gazza - how old is your son? Is he sitting for it this coming autumn?

I persuaded my DH to go in the end, in my absence, and he took DS2 with him, who loved it. Apparently the Head said you don't have to be brilliant at both subjects. Brilliant at one or good at both is enough to get in...

Hi Menagerie, yes he will be! That's encouraging. Also positive that they have 150 places rather than 120! I am still rather depressed though at how difficult it is to get in - the odds are quite stacked against them. DS wants to go to a grammar school but do wonder whether we are making the right choice. It's such an unknown quantity really. Did your DS1 get in or is he at another type of school?

Went last year with my DS. He got accepted but also got accepted at both Trinity and the Whitgift. In the end we plucked for Whitgift.Don't get me wrong Wilsons is a lovely school and DS said he'd have been just as happy there as Whitgift but the Whitgift is just outstanding in terms of facilities etc. The fact he also obtained a very good scholarship also helped. Roll on september!!!

Gazza, we were looking early to get an idea of which 11+ exams to prepare for as each school has different requirements. Currently in state primary but won't be doing the exam until next year.

Well I think you are wise - we have been doing stuff for a year but I am still not sure that DS is going to pass even though he is already at level 5 in KS2 SATs.....
Did you go to Wallington and what did you think comparing and contrasting with Wilson's. Friend and I really not impressed with Wally's and DS much preferred Wilson's....

I couldn't go to Wilson's. My DP did with one of our DSs and they both preferred it over Wallington. I really liked Wallington, especially the pupils, who are, in the end, the best reflection of how a school really works. But looking back on it, some of the things that are very important to my DC weren't strong there (didn't think much of the music department, and I really wasn't taken by the Head. He needed a strong coffee and public speaking lessons. Should have mastered the art of charismatic welcomes in over 30 years.) Not sure it's 100% what we're looking for but have a horrible feeling the one that is is a private school with fees of £14k a year!

Gazza, level 5 is what they're after but you need to know all the level 5 curriculum, which isn't taught in state school until end of Yr6, so basically there's an extra year of material to introduce for September exams. that's what I've been told. I got hold of a great Maths KS2 workbook that cover the whole curriculum and will work through it with my boys.

You've got loads of time to fill in any gaps over the summer. If he's level 5 he'll be able to do the work, even if it is new. Really good luck. they are all lovely schools. But fussy of me to be snotty about Wallington, as I really liked every boy I met (and we met lots) far more than at Tiffin.

Hi, I would be keen to get in touch with any mum whose son is studying in Wilson's.Please let me know.
Regards