will anyone talk about Ilkley Grammar School with me please....

[curiousaboutIGS]

I've read the OFSTED report and DS is eager to go there. It's just a question of researching it which is tricky.... if we weren't happy with it for some reason, now would be the time for tutoring for Ermysteds 11+....

concerns are:
the site - when the school was going to move, they were submitting applications saying the site wasn't fit for purpose.... they didn't move... so presumably the site isn't fit for purpose... what does that mean for the children?

the OFSTED report seems to me to hint that the school coasts a bit and relies on its cohort being above average.

setting/streaming - I was a bit alarmed to hear they are trialling mixed ability literacy in year 9.

Hope someone in same position or current parents will come and talk to me.

I don't have children there but i live locally and would agree with some of your deductions. I also have heard that children can coast and that god results are more bouyed by the demographic of intake..

The sure when i visited for work purposes is more cramped than some, it is close to the town and in an old building. I assume that provisions are in place for sports etc

I would suggest visiting and looking round the facilities yourself and voicing any concerns you have to see what response you get. Despite your reservations it did still seem to get results

Thanks. it's a funny one - is it better to be in a school with great teachers but less privileged cohort, or to be with a great cohort and have average teaching... (well, I should say "good" teaching to be fair).

I guess it depends on which other schools are in your catchment area and how academically able your dc are. If they aren't very academic then it may be with investigating schools that provide good support in terms of academic subjects and also other education schemes. Eg fairly local to you, Bingley grammar is known to be very academic but not a supportive/geared to less academically able pupils, whereas beckfoot may not have the same dazzling academic reputation but provide great support and alternative subjects/schemes

Thanks coffee.

They are both academic. One is a leader, the other a follower.

The realistic alternative is Ermysteds, but my heart isn't in it!

I guess I need to find out a bit of what direction the governors want to take the school in.....

should add neither of them are any great shakes on the sports front so the lack of playing fields next to school is no big deal for us.