Moving to Essex ......any view on Fitzwimarc and Greensward schools near Rayleigh/Hockley?

[WestyWoo]

Hi all,

We are re-locating to Essex from Berkshire where our 2 girls (going into year 7 and 8 in September) are currently at a small independent school. We have totally missed the boat re Grammar as we intended them to stay at their current school and so they have not taken the 11+ never mind applied for any Grammar school in Essex (and waiting lists for Chelmsford seems to be 300+). So we have been online trying to find nice areas to live with good state schools and would appreciate your thoughts/experiences of Rayleigh /Hockley and the above named schools (both seem above average with outstanding OFSTED). Anglo European at Ingateston also seems good but not sure if we have the full picture.

Any comments will be gratefully received including alternatives for living/schooling (MDH will be working in Brentwood).

Thanks

They are both good schools, but Greensward has the funny terms which has mean I've crossed it off my list!

Both schools are really good and have outstanding ofsted reports. My ds is catchment for Greensward. I must say that a lot of the Mums here are moaning about the school. It is going through a bit of a rough period - kids being a bit rude in the village and smoking ect . . The head says she has it under control. I must say Fitz is probably the better school. It has a better reputation.
On a side issue I live in Hockley and it is a lovely place to live - as is Rayleigh.

I went to the Sweyne Park school it was a great school and I would move back to that area to send my DDs there

If DH is in Brentwood, what about Brentwood County High. It has gone through a rough patch but Mr Drew (the Deputy from Educating Essex, C4 programme) has just been appointed Head and the school will probably be on an up. If you want a small independent school near Southend why not check out Thorpe Hall. It has excellent results for a non selective school and small class sizes (about 14 in a class). My friend's children go there and speak very highly of it.

Thanks everyone. We will be going down later this week to start looking around and looking at houses etc so your comments are timely. We just had an offer on our house yesterday so things are beginning to move quite quickly.

Not sure we will be able to afford Independent schools once we move down but putting them into one for a period of time is an option if a good state school is not available immediately. Brentwood we have considered as there seems some really good schools in Brentwood but house prices seem more expensive there probably due to commute time into London.

The other place we have looked at online is Bishops Stortford as it seems to be very nice with good schools. The commute into Brentwood even cross country looks much longer but if anyone has any insights into that area it would be appreciated.

Fitz and sweyne are both excellent schools. PM me if you want to know more

Have you thought about Great Baddow or Galleywood areas of Chelmsford? Sandon and Great Baddow High are both excellent schools.

I live in Brentwood, and the schools in the area are generally good. As breward mentioned, Stephen Drew (from Educating Essex) is about to take on the headship at Brentwood County High, and there is a new headteacher at Shenfield who I liked when I met her. DD will start at St Martin's in September - has slightly better results than the other two schools but is very over-subscribed (you might be lucky though, we were only offered a place last Tuesday so the waiting list could still move!). Also, a C of E free school is opening in Sept - Becket Keys - very controversial (lots of positive and negative local press coverage) but they have spaces for yr 7. The commute to Bishops Stortford would be ok (20 mins if M25 clear). Very good schools there too. Hope this helps.

PS - this is a good website for Brentwood schools info educatingbrentwood.com/

Fitz and Sweyne Park are both really good schools, Fitz got an outstanding in their recent offsted and Sweye arent far behind. They are my no.1 and 2 choice when I have to apply later on in the year.

Greensward is also a very good school.

Thanks everyone, really really useful. Swayne certainly has a glowing Ofsted with a GCSE score is 65, with Greensward 72 and Fitzmaric 79 and all three have outstanding ofsted's. Thanks for the comments on Chelmsford, Bishops Stortfort and Brentwood.

I think we are going to buy in this areas and look for a Fitzmaric catchment area home.

St. Martins in Brentwood was my old school. It used to get MUCH better results than Brentwood or Shenfield. Is that no longer the case? They still have the frankly hideous uniform they had when I was there too, at least for girls. Pink and white checked shirt and grey pleated skirt that must hit the bottom of your knee...

I'm in Hockley as well, my son will start at Greensward in September.
Fitz has a good reputation and a strong focus on sport. It's oversubscribed though, two children who live near me didn't get in this year.
I've been happy with Greensward. Eldest son has done very well there. Term dates are different to other schools though.

Bishops stortford is a lovely town to live in with some of the best schools in hertfordshire. The commute to Brentwood is around 30 mins.

Re: St Martin's - yes I suppose the results are much better!! Girl's uniform exactly as you describe lol!

I was looking at the website just the other day to see if any of my old teachers were still teaching there (lots are) and was surprised to see the girls still in the same uniform. Apparently it has been the same since my Auntie started there the year it went co-ed (was originally a boys school).

Do you think the Southend Grammar school chatchment changes will make it easier to get places at Sweynes and Fitz? Will many children in those catchments take the 11plus or are most parents happy with the excellent comps in those areas? Are the grammars easy to get to from Rayleigh?

i dont think it makes much difference to be honest. Think the grammar schools are ok to get to...the no. 20 bus I think :)

I just don't know how much effect the catchment changes will have-I've been pondering this for weeks. DH (who went to the meeting of the CSSE consortium heads regarding the impact of the changes) thinks it will have little impact, but I disagree ;)

Not sure about Greensward but I know Fitz has a fab reputation as does Sweyne Park.

I suppose if the Brentwood housing prices are outside your budget, Billericay would also be too expensive? Two fab state schools (but don't be tempted by the small private school here- it is beyond awful!) If you are considering independent schools- Brentwood school is fab.

Ingatestone is a lovely village but I have heard the Anglo European school has gone downhill recently.

I would second the recommendation of the Billericay schools, both are great,

Bishop's Stortford is lovely yes.

I will be applying for my son in September and they willbe my two school.

As a Rayleigh mum, mumslife-do you think the grammar catchment changes have made many more people in your catchment decided to apply for the Southend grammars for their children?