Ipswich High School for Girls at Woolverstone

[sanschocolat]

Hello. I am looking for personal recommendations/opinions regarding this school as (nothing certain) but we are considering sending our dd there in one or two years' time (abroad at the moment).

We are particular interested in the language teaching.

Also, I understand that they have recently had a change of Headmistress and I was wondering how that was going?

Would anyone be kind enough to share their experiences/opinions either here or via pm?

Thank you very much in advance!

[sanschocolat]

Bump!

[sanschocolat]

Anyone?

[sanschocolat]

Looks around hopefully ...

[sanschocolat]

Oh well, will try again when half term is over ...

[Suffolkgirl1]

I have no personal experience of the school, but as no one is responding to you thought I should post. Visit the eleven plus exams site and post on the Essex forum. I know IHS is in suffolk but it is an option for many north essex parents. There is certainly one regular poster who has an offer of a place there for september who may be able to help.

[outtolunchagain]

I know it a little bit but have boys so not relevant for me personally.Its a bit out in the sticks for me although they have a good bus service.Very small sixth form as I understand it .Afris I don't know about language teaching

[sanschocolat]

Yay! Thanks for replies!

Suffolkgirl thank you for tips - I'm abroad so don't know about the eleven plus site you mention - but will Google and investigate. Much appreciated!

Thanks also outtolunchagain. It is being out in sticks that appeals (in very urban setting currently) so good to know about bus service!

[outtolunchagain]

Plenty of other co ed options in the area as well , Woodbridge , RHS and Ipswich School , did you especially want all girls .

[sanschocolat]

outtolunchagain no, not necessarily, also considering RHS - thanks.

Just that Woolverstone happens to be closest to my dsis2 if we move back to UK. (My nephew went to Northgate comp so haven't ruled that out either.)

Have ruled out Ipswich school for various reasons.

[justicewomen]

My colleague has daughters at High School for Girls and they are both very pleasant young women and seem to be doing fine (though my colleague would not let them do otherwise!). I was put off single sex schooling from my own experience; but many like it.

My son is at Ipswich School and absolutely loves it (maths, science, music and sport in large doses!) but clearly not for you. He rejected CRGS, Woodbridge and RHS as too far away. We know loads of children at Northgate and it is a great school (except that it does not do separate sciences until 13)

[sanschocolat]

Thanks Justicewomen, that's v. helpful. I'm assuming CRGS is Colchester Royal Grammar? If so, possibly a bit far away, but worth considering.

I know we've virtually ruled it out, but may I ask what the language teaching is like at Ipswich School?

Seems everyone is spoilt for choice in this particular area so good 'problem' to have ifyswim!

[RuddyDuck]

CRGS isn't an option if you have dds -afaik, it's boys only until 6th form.

[sanschocolat]

Thanks RuddyDuck that's useful to know!

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

My BIL taught there for a few years before he retired, only had good things to say about it. He also taught at RHS and was also v. complimentary about it.

[sanschocolat]

Thanks Unexpected v. encouraging to get positive feedback, especially from a teacher

[justicewomen]

Hi Sanschocolat
Language teaching at Ipswich School seems very thorough with daily lessons, but I'm no expert. In years 7 and 8 they do either French or Spanish. In year 9 they add German or Russian (plus Latin from year 8). I know they are strong in Russian with excellent links there. They also do Mandarin as a club (doing exams) from year 7 up but my son was not interested

[sanschocolat]

Thank you justicewoman that sounds v. impressive - may have to put it back on the list

[justicewomen]

You're welcome....choosing schools is quite tough isn't it? Out of curiosity what were your reservations about Ipswich School?

[Allice]

I have a friend who's 2 girls go there. Both are really very happy, saw them yesterday and everything is fine.
Another friend has just rejected it in favour of Ipswich school, her daughter hasn't started yet.

My daughter was at another girls school, not hugely far away and it didn't suit her at all, I moved her to a co-ed after 3 years. I think that single sex suits some and co-ed others.

Good luck.

[outtolunchagain]

I know at Woodbridge they all do French and then add German or Spanish in year8 with Latin.Mandarin and Japanese as after school clubs.In the last few years a couple have gone onto University to do Japanese and I know one is off to Oxford to do German this year certainly languages were popular at A level when my ds was there, they also do Italian but no Russian.Lots of language exchanges as well .Russian is meant to be fantastic at Ipswich .

There is Colchester girls grammar which is very good as well

[sanschocolat]

Thank you outtolunchagain Woodbridge obviously worth investigating more closely! A contact has also told me that it seems to have a very good "all round' approach to education and v. good pastoral care. And every time I do a bit of on-line research relating to exam results/Ofsted reports etc etc, Colchester Grammar always seems to be top of the tables.

Justicewoman it is indeed a stressful decision and we have the added complication of wondering if dd should continue her education abroad where we live now in Belgium (being educated in two langs not her own and whether it would be criminal to interrupt that language learning and take her to the UK. The other side of the coin being that I think she would benefit from a couple of years not being the 'outsider' and not having to struggle with very dry/old-fashioned teaching methods; it being OK to ask questions etc.) Btw, our only reservation about Ipswich School was geographical - nothing else!

Alice thanks, that's a very good point about an all-girls setting suiting some pupils and not others. DD needs her confidence boosting so not sure in which camp she lies tbh!

Thank you again for very helpful replies. We are coming over at Easter to investigate further and at least I now know where I should be concentrating my search!

[sanschocolat]

eugh, I think that should be "all around" shouldn't it? [apologies to pedants out there]

[AliM999]

Many who send their children to Ipswich School as native French /bilingual speakers choose the school because you don't have to study French on timetable. Instead they take Spanish from year 7 through to GCSE and take French off timetable early. This allows these children to do 3 modern languages (either German or Russian from year 9) as well as Latin. So if languages are your priority.....

[sanschocolat]

Now that's v. interesting, thanks Alim999 (a) because I wasn't aware that there were significant numbers of bilingual/French speakers going there and (b) because of the language flexibility. Very good to know!