Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham

[RosaLappen]

Can anybody tell me more about the school? Loved the feel of it at the open evening but then hear people say it is too pressured, pastoral care not good enough...

Obviously I do appreciate that dd has only a slim chance of gaining a place, but I thought I could ask, anyway!

[andiu]

My son went to Pates. He travelled an hour there and back everyday for 7 years and loved every second. I can not say a bad word about the school. The pastoral care was very strong. They rang about the slightest worry they had with the children. They put very little pressure on the children. The children are bright so tend to put pressure on themselves and they helped the children cope with that. They were also very clever with pushy parents. I have three children. The other two I didn't feel were bright enough to get in so didn't sit the test and their educational experience has been totally lacking compared to their brother's. He adored the school and he and all his friends cried like babies when they had to leave.

[Ouluckyduck]

Nice to hear positives.

[flakjacket]

We love Pate's too and feel it has a lot going for it. Have never heard a bad word about it from any parent with a child there until now. I'm sorry you feel that way Menyanthes - we certainly didn't choose on league tables or hype, just general feel. Remember you can always move your child to the school that you think is better...you don't have to stay at a school you feel is not serving your child as well as it should.

[Marygo]

Good school.but I would say teachers are not really good.The kids are just very clever and that’s why they perform well but have had bad experience with some teachers.the teachers don’t put much effort.

[Marygo]

I have had two kids in pates.its a very good school with very lazy teachers.The teachers do very little and relie on the fact that the students are clever.in most parents evening the teachers know very little about the kids.There is very little extra support they expect your child to just be good.If your child is not very clever to work on their own don’t take them to pates.
They will expect good grades though.there is no bullying and students get a long well but teachers are sh*t

[patesschool]

Hi, My son is starting at Pates Grammar School (Sixth Form) from Sept 2018 (next week). We live in Swindon and are looking for parents who wish to join us to book a shared taxi for the school commute trip for their child (pick up from Swindon and travel to Pates at Cheltenham and return). I have asked Denwell Coaches (who do Pates school run) but they are full for this season at present. And I have also contacted some taxi services who do group school runs but they also do not have any spaces to accommodate). So either,

1. We can join to book our own shared taxi on monthly basis or
   
2. If anyone has info on any other bus/taxi service from Swindon which may have space to accommodate my son then please let me know.