Howard of Effingham and Glynn technology school

[HairyMaclary]

Does anyone have any up to date knowledge of these two schools? I know they are not in the same p,ace but we may be making a move from near one to near the other and wondered what they are like currently.

My knowledge isn't first hand, so don't rely on it, but from what I know - H of E is a brilliant school and highly sought after. You need to check catchment areas and make sure you're well within it not on outskirts.
Glyn technology used to have selective element (similar to Heathside in Walton?) which gave it great results. As far as I know, that stream no longer exists and the school is backsliding a little. But check this info. I found it online when investigating schools in similar areas.

Esher High is on the rise, but has no sixth form. Heathside is good academically, though I have heard several reports of bullying going unchecked.

HoE has feeder schools too so even living in catchment may not be enough. Glyn I know nothing about boys only isn't it. Agree re Heathside and Esher.

Thanks all. We need to make some decisions ASAP!

Just to add I knew a teacher who had taught at Glynn and went to H of E, she prefferred the later. Go and visit both if you can (I was extremely impressed by the students at H of E, even the naughty ones are lovely).

Admission criteria very tight for HofE - entry at Year 7 basically limitted to feeder schools in Bookham and Horsley plus very few others. Entry in other years dependant on spaces available.

I know nothing about Glyn, but it is a single sex school which wouldn't be my first choice. I have 2 children at the Howard and we've been very happy. It's well organised, there's plenty of choice on subjects and exams and the children (including my own) get very good results. Individually and in groups, they're a pretty well behaved bunch. The year teams move up with the children, so staff get to know their pupils (and probably parents!) extremely well. Issues get spotted quickly and dealt with.

I have my niggles, of course. Virtually all clubs are crowded into lunch breaks that are far too short to be able to eat and participate. You can guess what happens. The few that are run after school tend to be for homework or team sports but with typically one team per year group, most members are those who are already playing for clubs outside of school. Personally, I think that's pretty sad, so it's a "could do better" in that area from me.

Regarding admissions, my advice is to live in the catchment and plan to stay there. A lot of bad feeling was stirred up a few years back when the current tie-break (favours those living furthest from the school) got imposed. Children got in from miles away when children living less than a mile away did not. The catchment area has brought an uneasy truce for the moment. So far, all who've applied from that catchment have got in. The school knows that all hell will break loose again if it fails to admit "local" children. With bulge years expected soon, it has just announced to parents that it will be consulting on a tiered sibling admissions policy (ie all catchment children before out-of-catchment siblings). Remember it's the school not the County's deep pockets that will be footing the legal bills in future. I doubt if it will risk having to defend the current policy under those circumstances.