bishop wordsworth - worth the effort ?

[RosemaryandThyme]

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

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

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.

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

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!

Lol. PM

Twats

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

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

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.

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! .

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?

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