Reading Girls School selective stream?

[msteeth]

I have stumbled across this option recently. Does anyone have any information? I'm afraid I have not heard good things about the school, so I am looking for positive feedback, if there is any. My other options are the usual (DD1 is not a Kendrick candidate but bright enough for 11Plus entry that is in the 25% rather than 12% bracket).

My DD tried (unsuccesfully) for Kendrick but we (on advice from other parents and a staff member at the school) did not apply to reading Girls.

It does well in some areas, but has no 6th form and not good results. Their "selective" stream is designed to get bright girls in and raise results. but you are NOT separated from the rst of the scjool in any way, and girls are (rightly) moved in & out of the top set.

I would choose it for a daughter whose only other option was JMA though!

What side of Reading are you - some of the schools are very good.

I can add a little more information - but, I'm afraid, no real knowledge of the school/stream.

Five years ago RGS federated with Kendrick & the Kendrick became exec head of both schools, this was to raise standards at RGS (but Kendrick also got a chunk of funding to build a new 6th form block).

I don't know what effect this has had a RGS. RGS girls regulary visit Kendrick, I have a DD at Kendrick, who says the girls are all friendly/keen to learn etc but very suprised at Kendrick lessons, for example, when they are asked to discuss something they do & don't chat, lessons are quite quiet focused etc, all this comes as a great suprise to RGS girls, which doesn't suggest good things about the school to me.

The upside is that, I think, one of the conditions of the new 6th form funding was that this should extend to RGS girls. Kendrick take additional girls into 6th form (I think approx extra 40 girls) and a certain number have to come from RGS, I don't know any of these details though.

This probably hasn't been a lot of help - just had a thought, though - you could try visiting Kendrick Open evening & question an ex RGS 6th former!

I believe the 6th form thing is no longer in existence! They now have the Post 16 centre

I'm pretty sure they still get priority for 6th form, DD is in Y11 so quite aware of what is going on. I think the RGS post 16 centre was built with at the time of the federation as an alternative route.

Thank you very much for your replies. This is very helpful. It is a shame that the school has not got the kind of boost it was probably hoping for from the arrangement - but small steps, perhaps? I gather from parents that RGS's big issue is bullying, so setting up a selective stream might not be a good thing for the girls concerned, unless the whole school is sorted out on that front.

I'm on the East Reading/Wokingham side, so Maiden Erlegh is a strong possibility for us - if we make it past the massive over-subscription, siblings, etc.! Kendrick is definitely not on our list now, and I would rather not go private. I'm going to have a look at the new free school (Oakbank?) on the former Ryeish Green site -a bit of a gamble as it will only be one year old come Sept 2013.

sorry for rambling! And thanks again.

www.maidenerleghcatchment.co.uk/ will give you an idea of your chances of a place at Maiden Erlegh

Have you considered Bulmershe ?

Reading Girls has certainly had a boost lately - 2008 ofsted was satisfactory, this year's was Good. So, improving for sure.

Oakbank looks quite appealing from what I've read on their website. My dd2 is at Waingels - looked round there and Bulmershe and preferred Waingels, and although it's not perfect, they've always made me feel like they really are trying to do their best for dd.

Just to update you on the progress of Reading Girls' School. In January 2012 they underwent an OFSTED inspection under the new framework and were judged to be good against all four areas; Achievement and Attainment, Teaching and Learning, Leadership and Management and Pupil behaviour and Safety. Reading Girls' School has seen a massive improvement in their GCSE examinations results achieving 95% 5 A to C grades and 54% A C including English and Maths and are looking to achieve similar this year. It is a fully inclusive school and works hard with all to ensure each young girl receives the highest possible care and support throughout her time there. I would recommend visiting the school - look past the old buildings and see the warmth of the personal relationships that are evident between staff and students and their parents.

I am stunned to hear such misinformed things said about Reading Girls School. We moved our daughter from The Willink school 4 years ago because she was being badly bullied - I'm not a prissy mother, but it was heartbreaking for our family and the school were not wonderfully sympathetic and simply stuck our child in a special needs class and left her there. She has however absolutely thrived at this school and now hopes to join the sixth form at Kendrick when she finishes there. The pastoral support is excellent and we feel our daughter has had her ideas of what misery school can be very much overturned. It is a friendly and vibrant place that has allowed her to work up to top set and achieve. I am really pleased with the education she has had and only wish my son was a girl so he could go there as well in stead of having to face the horror of JMA.

I am so pleased to hear good reports of this school now, and I apologise that my views were obviously tainted by past reports/results. Glad to hear the school is on the up. :)

No child should feel that their school is second-best or substandard.