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Secondary education

bishop wordsworth - worth the effort ?

62 replies

RosemaryandThyme · 27/06/2013 17:06

could do with some advice re bws in sailsbury.

primary school are recommending Ds sits 11+ with a view to applying for a place, however we are miles away, outside of designated area and even if he did get a place the commute, by train would be around an hour each way.

local school has poor reputation but would need some convincing that bws is worth the journey - any views ? thanks

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hmc · 15/10/2014 09:54

Bumping in the hope of getting some Bishops Wordsworth parents...

hmc · 14/10/2014 17:33

Resurrecting this thread because ds has unexpectedly passed the 11+, so now we have to think about whether we actually want him to go to Bishops Wordsworth ....( our alternative would be LHS or King Edward in So'ton). Any more experiences of the school to report?

Erebus · 03/10/2013 21:20

I lived in Landford, 11.5 miles away from SWGS, just before the Hants border here be dragons but the catchment went up as far as Cholderton the other way!

Did you go to Pencelli? Caving?! I recall being a bit perturbed at the narrow bits til we saw that the third 'leader' was a well upholstered young woman so we reckoned if she could squeeze, through we all could, so on we soldiered, her and a second young woman bringing up the rear- til we got to the other end, and found this buxon wench awaiting us. Hadn't gone through the caves at all! .

Evageorge · 03/10/2013 21:19

Don't just go on the reputation of the local school. It might not be what you think. Have a look at the Ofsted, have a look at www.how-to-choose-a-school.org. It helps you, and tries to be impartial. It's also not for profit.

swhobbit · 03/10/2013 21:15

Gosh laughing soooo much reading this & SWG thread !! Lol Mr Merwood who taught my unfortunate A level Eng yr the wrong Chaucer text ! Ms Buttram v the divine Mr Rosined who both took us on a field trip to Brecon Beacons where we got stuck down a pot hole !
Back to BWS ...dated a boy who loved it & went to Cambridge so yes a great school. My brother lives in Andover & considering 11 plus to get Ds into school despite journey.
I was a Alderbury girl & had a 40 min journey to SWG so catchment huge.
Would recommend both schools

overthemill · 03/10/2013 12:16

playing fields used to be at back of cathedral bishop's palace? SWGS used to be part of BWS but moved to current site in 1920s I think. My dad was BWS and it was same then as now he says! He was there during WW2

BetsyBidwell · 02/10/2013 20:52

Twats

BetsyBidwell · 02/10/2013 20:50

Lol. PM

Erebus · 02/10/2013 20:50

I recall the horror of two small boys of my ken who'd been to the Cathedral School, circa 1976, upon getting into BWGS, at how teensy the site and facilities were when compared to their Prep!

Erebus · 02/10/2013 20:49

OK, I said half and hour when I meant half an hour. Surely the playing fields are just outside Wilton?

BetsyBidwell · 02/10/2013 20:39

The site is cramped but the power of the spire to inspire isn't lost on teenage boys. Ime/IMO teaching is average. Results are good. Fun limited. Tradition uppermost. It's a good school. Head a twat universally loathed. Not least for his political headmasters news.

BetsyBidwell · 02/10/2013 20:37

Lol an hour and a half. That would take them to Southampton. It's er in harnham.

Chubfuddler · 02/10/2013 18:35

It is a small cramped site in Salisbury cathedral close mind you.

Erebus · 02/10/2013 18:33

Unfortunately I believe BWGS has a small, cramped site. I think an OFSTED referred to 15th century buildings (obvs not all) and limited expansion ability. Don't the boys have to walk for half and hour to their sports field?

I get that site etc isn't everything but it is kind of a pity that such a school doesn't move 'outta town' like where the girls GS is sited with acres of playing field.

magimedi · 02/10/2013 15:50

DS went to BWS in the 1990's. He loved it & thought the teaching was very good.

In his day there was not the relentless coaching for 11+ that there is now.

Chub - I'd love to know who the Bishop's boys were - care to hint about a year??

filee777 · 01/10/2013 21:39

Great many friends who went to bishops and throughly enjoyed it, all very intelligent and doing well for themselves.

The scores speak for them, very high across the board with a good sports programme.

I would recommend it

BetsyBidwell · 01/10/2013 21:36

What a waste of a space. I hope they were embarassed

Boaty · 01/10/2013 21:30

A friends DS went there for one year before leaving to go to an indie on a scholarship...they found that so many boys had been so heavily tutored to get through the exam that it didn't reflect their actual abilities. He was untutored, naturally very able and spent most of the year marking time while the other boys were 'brought up to speed' The conditions are cramped. Have a good look round and look at the bigger picture so make your decision. It is high achieving of that there is no doubt though. I went to school on the other side of town....the comp side

Erebus · 01/10/2013 20:55

over here, Betsy

We really need a Head Girl to keep us in order!

BetsyBidwell · 01/10/2013 20:54

In my time some photos were out up of merwood on a university challenge team. Black and white.

Remember foster with that goaty?

BetsyBidwell · 01/10/2013 20:51

Merwood is still seen sometimes with his shopping bag.

I saw miss knapp last week. Lovely gorgeous miss Raybould looks younger than most of us.

overthemill · 01/10/2013 20:46

Uniform: we had grey skirt, white shirt and tie and bottle green jumper. Knee length socks, rights only allowed from 3rd form. The new uniform, green check shirt, no tie was from 1970. My big sis who started 167 still had to wear the dreaded beret.
In sixth form we could choose our uniform and I was on the committee that decided the choices. I was very influenced by petticoat I'm afraid. And for summer, we had choice of 3 summer dress patterns which we could have made up in any fabric, mine was Laura Ashley, pale blue with white sprigs. And I never grew into my blazer, bought in first form!

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BetsyBidwell · 01/10/2013 20:46

I went to south wilts. I was head girl. Obv.

LadyFlumpalot · 01/10/2013 20:26

This has made me chuckle as DS is not yet three and I'd quite like him to go to Bishops Wordsworth!

I work in Salisbury and get the same train as a lot of Bishops boys (and South Wilts girls) and I keep meaning to ask one of the 6th form lads what it is really like!

Chubfuddler · 01/10/2013 20:19

Aaaah, bishops boys I have known and loved would fill quite a volume. Sigh.

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