Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

[Chorleyprincess]

Hi, my son has just been offered a place for year 7 at CVMS. We don't know any other children going there from our school or church. We live in Kew, near Richmond. I'd be grateful to hear from any other mums from this area whose sons already go or are about to start there. Many thanks!

A lot of children go to CVMS from Richmond Borough and will be on the District Line train through Kew in the morning - my son, CVMS year 5, included.

I am going into yr 8 at cvms in a few days - year 7 is really tough with all the homework and high expectations - but after spring half term all the teachers ficus on the sixth forms a levels and gcses and stuff so they soften up - ummm well stay on the right side of teachers because if they're cranky they dish out Saturday detentions ( I haven't got one so far ) - lines are more common - like if your late for lessons or don't bring the right equipment - but the teachers are Soft on you for the first weeks or so - have an even haircut - it can't be shorter on the sides and longer on the top or u get an exclusion - exclusions are when you work by yourself/ other people in exclusion in Addison hall across the road where you are sort of in a solitary environment except for lunch - but try not to get any because if you want to go to sixth form they will have recorded all your detentions and exclusions which can damage your chances of higher education at cvms , ( there are 5 sets of thirty people each year , 1+2 are the smartest and 3+4 are next in league , 5 is for people with learning difficulties - but not always , there is a boy in my class with autism and is one of the smartest people in the year.)
we have this thing called commadation day where the top 7 people in each set with the most commadations ( merits or points are called comadations)
Get a day off - the system resets each term and you can get points by doing weekly puzzles from the reception area or doing well in your homework Ect ...
Hope this helped :)

Do you have children with low ability.

My nephew is in year 7 and loved cvms and talked to teachers on open evening. We are not sure of academic side of it with special needs

Hi Chorleyprincess....realise this is an old thread. But we're looking to put CVMS as our first choice. However, no one in our parish had attended or even heard of the school (we live Wimbledon/Epsom way), and given we are unable to visit the school physically to get a feel of the school, looking to hook up with parents who have been through similar.
On paper, love everything I have been able to look up on the school.....but keen to get practical views on the commute, station to school walk, friendships and general settling in given the lack of familiar faces.

Thank you in advance for any insights you feel able to share x