Gang culture at Watford Grammar School for Boys

[dannyboy3010]

I am looking at potential secondary schools for my son and one on the list is Watford Grammar for Boys. I recently heard from a parent whose son is at the school that there was a gang element at WGBS and their son had been attacked before.

Do any other parents have knowledge of this sort of problem at this school?

I know this sort of thing happens outside many schools and may not be under control of the school, but if the boys are thinking this way, then I might think twice about sending my boy there.

Thanks for any reply...

I don't know OP but will bump for you

I know quite a few families with boys at Watford Grammar.

What on earth do you mean by gang element? All schools have gangs, otherwise known as friendship groups.

Gangs are thuggy groups who beat others up, steal their things, and even kill people occasionally.

Yes, I suppose you could describe that as a friendship group. Not one I'd like in my school!

I've never heard of any of those things as a specific problem of Watford Boys' Grammar. There are always lots of negative rumours about the better schools and it's mostly as a result of envy.

Go and have a look at the school.

Does the woman whose son was attacked still send her son to Watford Grammar?

All boys have fights!!! They did in my day, many moons ago, and they do now. It is a high performing grammar school and all that competitive instinct has to vent itself somewhere. I would be certain that this was a fairly isolated case, but it seems inconceivable gangs are roaming the school intimidating other pupils. In boys schools there can be a lot of teasing and boys need to be robust. The school is large, however, and there a lots of opportunities to make sound friends. Lots of schools have elements who will take things that don't belong to them! DD went t a very well respected girls school where many things disappeared - for a while! Don't believe the far fetched rumours.

I have a son in the current Y9. When he started in September 2011, there was a small group of boys who were badly behaved (getting into fights, minor vandalism). The 'leader' of the group was excluded after being given a second and third chance. The other boys in the group then integrated much better into school life. One of them is in DS1's form and DS1 gets on well with him now.

I was very impressed with how the school dealt with it.

The boys do pick up some 'gangsta' slang, but that's the way many young people speak amongst their peers, especially in the London area. I went to an independent school in the late 1980s and the boys did that even then!

The boys are hard-working and respectful.

DS2 has just started there this week and I am still as impressed as I was when DS1 started 2 years ago.

Guys, thanks for all your comments.

Nothing recent, but we used to live locally, and some of the nicest children we knew were at Watford GS. If we were still there, we'd certainly be considering it for DS.

Interestingly, DH was chatting to someone who now lives abroad who mentioned that he went to Watford back in the 1980's. The first thing he said was that there was a strong culture of "gangs". He was wondering whether it had changed.

I haven't heard of anything recent, though, so maybe it's a historic thing?
We're considering the school for DS, so I'm asking around locally too.

I was at WGGS in the 80s-90s and certainly never saw or heard about any 'gang' behaviour at WBGS! There was some bullying that I imagine would get heavily sat on now, and I really can't say what it's like now, but definitely not a history of gangs.

DD has a friend at uni who went to this school. You would think he went to a boys public school. He is terribly well mannered, friendly, down-to-earth and bright.
No idea if he is a reflection of all boys, PP probably is right that there are a small group involved and others not. And that the school will have dealt with it.

TBH at my DS' independent sought after academic boys school there was the occasional fight and some talk a bit 'gangsta' (but know to turn it off for interviews and talk intelligently!)

Sounds from PP that it is pretty tame.

DS doesn't go to WGGS but another super-selective (in SW London). I think any school, be it a comprehensive, grammar or independent, has an element of 'gang' culture, although it might not be perceived by everyone in those terms. Know that at DS's school there is a small 'road man' element (his description, not mine). Boys caught smoking, drinking during lunch hour, misbehaving, with drugs on them... Not a gang in the knife wielding sense but certainly a group that operates differently from most of the other pupils...Their behaviour often manages them out of the school eventually. Or they wake up, smell the coffee and turn over a new leaf...

Hi all

We are thinking about moving to Watford for the either Watford Boys Grammar, Clement Danes and Croxley Danes schools or one of the South West Consortium schools next year. If anyone has any reviews and feedback - it would be really helpful to hear from parents who have kids at the schools.

Many thanks

Arora123 you might be wise to start a new thread, as this is a zombie one (and you may not get many responses to your query).

Just to clarify though Watford Grammar is not a grammar school - it is just partially selective. We do know a few people who went there - one left my son's private school for that school. I thnk they were quite happy although I would not personally consider state schools.