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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Ibstock / Emanuel

13 replies

currentlyconfused · 24/02/2014 15:31

we have fortunately been offered places at both Ibstock & Emanuel. Both are equidistant from where we live, so that is not a deciding factor.

Can anyone who has children at either give me any insight please, I am very confused and need obviously to make a decision quite quickly now !

many thanks.

OP posts:

StressedandFrazzled · 25/02/2014 14:19

My DS is not at either of those schools, but I went to see both when looking ing round a few years ago, and went again to Ibstock for DD.My DS did not like the idea of full on rugby and no football and that was one of the reasons I did not even apply to Emmanuel - also too far from us. But both seem like good schools, both co-ed, Ibstock looks more fancy, preferred head of Ibstock. Which head do you rate more?

Elibean · 25/02/2014 17:09

Having looked around both, and met both Heads, I would choose Emanuel (for a dd) without a shadow of a doubt.

But it really depends what you want from a school.

Elibean · 25/02/2014 17:12

Sorry, should have said (rushing) - mostly based on each school's attitude towards SEN. dd1 is not SEN, but I don't like the idea of her attending a school that boots out kids with additional learning needs.

Emanuel felt down to earth, exciting and more inclusive. Though I do know happy kids at Ibstock, am not dissing it altogether - just couldn't get my head around my own children going there.

swpurple · 25/02/2014 20:14

Hi
I was in the same position as you last year.We chose Emanuel because it was a better fit for my son.It was his first presence anyway.He settled very nicely and made a lot of friends.I was impressed at how well they handled the transition as my son was quite anxious about it.

swpurple · 25/02/2014 20:15

Sorry I meant 'first preference'.

Original poster

currentlyconfused · 26/02/2014 09:36

thanks everyone. I agree Elibean with all that you say, and I think my gut feeling is that Emanuel is more suited to my dc. I have friends with children at both schools, and they are all happy, both children and their parents. But I just thought I would see if there were particular views or opinions out there about the two schools, either positive or negative, that I was missing.

Ultimately I know I have to make my own judgement, but after visiting the schools, talking to friends, having long chats with my dc about the options, I just wanted one last bit of input from the wider world.....

OP posts:

castlesintheair · 26/02/2014 09:41

I too preferred Emanuel even though it was further away for us. I agree with everything Elibean says especially about Ibstock's outdated, imo, attitude to SEN. I know many people who have turned it down for that reason (when they don't have SEN DCs) and when it has been their nearest school.

Shootingatpigeons · 26/02/2014 12:19

Having Dyslexic DDs I have encountered a few refugees from Ibstocks attitudes to SEN, totally at odds with the attitudes of more selective schools eg Hampton and Latymer Upper with their fantastic walk in resource centre. To me it says they are more interested in results than individual potential, and unprofessional in terms of developing their educational strategies. So whilst if you do not have children with learning difficulties you might think it not relevant, it does reflect on aspects of the school that are IYSWIM. And actually I have encountered some bright refugees from Ibstock who did not have LDs who had experienced manifestations of the same problem.

Shootingatpigeons · 26/02/2014 12:20

Waves to elibean and castles

Marni23 · 26/02/2014 12:47

Also worth bearing in mind that at Ibstock it is mandatory to study 2 languages to GCSE. AFAIK there is no flexibility so even if a DC has little aptitude for languages they still have to form 2 of their options. Which has always struck me as rather stupid rigid.

Original poster

currentlyconfused · 26/02/2014 12:56

I don't have a problem about 2 languages, in fact I think that is a great idea, but I do have a problem with the constant insistence of "if you don't make the grade you are out", which I have heard happens right from the beginning.

My view is that if they offer your dc a place after the exam & interview then at that point they are taking on the responsibility to educate your dc, and whilst I appreciate in exceptional cases exclusion might be necessary, essentially IMO if they can't get your dc to the necessary grades, surely that is their failing as much as the dcs !?

OP posts:

Marni23 · 26/02/2014 13:50

2 languages are a great idea for DC who have the aptitude and/or interest to choose them (my Y11 DD is doing 2). It's not such a great idea for DC who don't (we know a girl at Ibstock who is struggling with 2 and her grades will probably suffer as a result). I just think it's too rigid a policy.

Anyway, all the best with your decision

Marmitelover55 · 26/02/2014 16:04

My DN went to Emmanuel but unfortunately didnt quite make the grade GCSE wise and was"culled". I don't think the school had warned them of the likelihood of ths happening.

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