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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Urmston Grammar or Stretford??

23 replies

ohwellsuchislife · 02/12/2013 22:35

Hi
I have a DD in year 4, and I'm starting to think about secondary schools already. She's bright so am hoping to prepare her for the 11+ for the 4 Trafford Grammars. We're moving soon and will be in catchment area for both Stretford and Urmston, and probably Sale too. Not sure about Altrincham, catchment-wise.
So my question is - Stretford or Urmston?? Which is better? Are the exams the same or is one harder than the other?
Anyone have kids attending either one?
Any advice much appreciated.

OP posts:
InMySpareTime · 02/12/2013 22:43

My DS is in Ashton on Mersey school Y7, doing well, being appropriately stretched with interesting work.
You really need to visit all the likely schools to see which ones "feel" right for your DC, the school that's right for one DC won't necessarily suit another, even with excellent facilities and teaching staff.
Watch the students from schools you're thinking of while they're out and about, are they kind? Polite? Well turned out? How they behave out of the teachers' jurisdiction says a lot about the ethos of the school.

Original poster
ohwellsuchislife · 03/12/2013 10:21

Yes I'm hoping to visit all the schools. What would you say to specifically look out for when going around?

OP posts:
InMySpareTime · 03/12/2013 11:11

Kind of depends what suits your DC's learning style.
What attracted me to Ashton was that while they were rightly proud of their exam results and Ofsted reports, the pupils I know from there are proud of their school, they are smart and polite outside school, and children with a range of talents have found ways to shine.
DS is sport-mad, so was swung by the sport facilities (not that he's made that much use of them yet, they've kept him busy with work).
My tip, read the brochures, listen to the spiel, but put most stock in informal chat with students. They know what a school is really like day to day, and will be more honest than the teachers about areas that need attention.

Original poster
ohwellsuchislife · 03/12/2013 13:37

Thanks InMySpareTime for the tips, will bear them in mind when going around the schools.
Anybody else have any experience of the Trafford schools, esp Urmston and Stretford? And the exams??? Thanks

OP posts:
emark · 03/12/2013 14:37

very interested in the trafford grammar also.
have a ds in yr 5 and dd yr 4,
have got our house on market to move to altruism area.
I am probably wrong but think all grammars have same entrance tests and a score off at least 334 needed??

would be happy to hear from anyone with recent experience and also best places to look for houses

EnianShelZman · 04/12/2013 09:42

Urmston is a better school. Sale probably is a bit better than Urmston. I know it is different for girls, becase they go on catchment for Alty, but I would really try to aim for it, it is really an excellent school and so much better than the rest of the grammars in the area.

EnianShelZman · 04/12/2013 09:46

Emark, it depends on your budget. I would recommend Bowdon if you can afford it, or Timperley and Altrincham itself. I would avoid Hale because of the amount of young families with kkids living there (noisy neighbours guaranteed) and the parking issues, unless you are buying a detached property with a parking.

emark · 04/12/2013 17:09

thanks, we definitely can't stretch to bowdon prices!
are there any areas / streets within altrincham and timperley to avoid?

EnianShelZman · 04/12/2013 18:10

I would avoid West Timperley and some parts of Altrincham, but generally it is a nice area.

emark · 04/12/2013 20:23

is there a reason why best timperley property prices are much lower??

EnianShelZman · 04/12/2013 22:37

I think it depends on the type of the property and location in Timperey. We are living in the area and were looking for a slightly bigger property and Victorian properties in nicer parts of Timperley are not cheap at all. Obviously Hale and Bowdon are more popular but also much more expensive.

emark · 05/12/2013 06:39

we are looking for a 3/4 bed semi or detached with scope to extend and renovate, so a large side and rear garden preferably.
not too fussed about style of house.

peacypops · 19/12/2013 22:12

We live near Stretford Grammar and I have heard really good things about it recently. One of the mums at my daughter's primary school has a daughter who has recently left there with very good A-level results. She was saying that it is a fairly small school and she found the staff to be very nurturing towards the pupils. I'd like to think that my daughter will end up going there (it's a good few years off though as she is only yr1 primary). Don't know anyone with children at Urmston but it is supposedly a very good school too. I would agree with previous posters though and suggest that you look around all the schools you are interested in to get a feel for each and see which might suit your DD best. Good luck - and would be interested to hear any updates!

EnianShelZman · 20/12/2013 09:07

Stretford grammar was in special measures a few years ago, there was also a rumour about it turning into a comp in the next few years.

Rosetti · 30/12/2013 22:16

The one we were least impressed with was Altrincham - headmistress couldn't be bothered to turn up to the one open day of the year. Not interested. Would look at Sale and Urmston

EnianShelZman · 31/12/2013 01:03

Alty Girls is the best grammar school in the region and one of the best in the country. it is in the top three, while Sale not even in the top 100. Can't believe anybody would dismiss Alty for such a petty reason.

weaselwomble · 31/12/2013 01:21

I left Stretford Grammar sixth form just over 3 years ago, having been there from year 7. Loved it. A lot of pride among pupils about their school, especially when it went into special measures.
Teachers are fantastic and supported me through some difficult times, I have a lot of respect for them and they do the job well.
I think a lot of people will say Urmstom or Alty are better but Stretford Grammar is definitely worth a visit.

Mandy21 · 31/12/2013 20:47

I live in the area and went to Urmston Grammar. It used to be a single exam (the 11+) but now each school has its own entrance exam - and they are all different. I think the general consensus is that Altrincham is the best in the area by a mile, followed by Sale & Urmston then Stretford. Stretford was in special measures but I think the leadership team is turning it around.

House - wise, completely disagree with 'noisy neighbour' scenario for Hale. Very family friendly and lovely community feeling. Parts of Timperley lovely too, also parts of Sale / Brooklands. Just do your homework on catchment areas - for boys, the AGSB catchment is very small and if your child doesnt get offered a place at one of the grammar schools, location is key for the allocation of places at the local comps,

LydiaLunches · 05/01/2014 20:21

They all have their own exams and those are changing lots at the moment, you need the 11+ forum Wink

gamerhi · 08/01/2014 06:04

Hey, as far as GCSE results in in the area go, Stretford was tied with Alty Boys and Girls as having a 100 percent A star to C at GCSE level, with Urmston and Sale lagging behind. Stretford got a lot of bad press for the special measures issue, if one reads the report, teaching in general is described as good to outstanding, the school was placed in special measures due to poor leadership, rather than actual teaching.

I personally was a tutor in the area for the 11+ and am now at university. I have have had a friend who moved over to Alty Boys for sixth form, after studying at Stretford Grammar, the experience is essentially the same. If your child is capable they they will flourish in any of the grammar grammar school's, I know I did.

gamerhi · 08/01/2014 06:06

Schools* Such bad grammar

Mandy21 · 08/01/2014 08:43

To be fair though, I think if you're looking at GCSE levels A-C, the differential between the schools is probably masked - I think a significant proportion of the grades (I think its something like 60% of the boys at Alty Boys) got 8 straight As or As at GCSE.

100% may have got A*-C at Stretford which is very good, but I think the general consensus is that the Alty Grammars are streets ahead of the others. That doesn't make the others bad though - we're just lucky to have a number of great schools locally.

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