Solihull/Birmingham secondary schools

[benetint]

DH's job recently moved to Birmingham. We've got dd into one of the Solihull primary schools but we're renting so we've got the option of buying anywhere within travelling distance of her school. We want to buy somewhere that has a good catchment secondary school. I'm going to read ofsted reports and go to the open days of:

Arden
Alderbrook
Tudor grange
Langley
Light hall
Lode heath
Woodrush
Heartlands
St. Peter's

I wondered if anyone has experience of any of these schools? I know arden and Tudor grange are great on the league tables but are they happy places? Are they good with a range if abilities? I wondered if some schools on the list we're good for some aspects ( drama, sport) and some for others? Any help would be really appreciated.

Would the Birmingham grammar schools be worth a look at too? Are there any other's you could recommend?

Finally I wondered what the areas were like to live in near these schools - are there any no nos? Budget wise we'd need to be looking under the £300,000 mark. (As far under that mark as possible!!)

Thanks so much everyone

The (few) grammar schools in Birmingham don't have catchment areas, or a 'pass' mark. They simply take the students that get the top 120/150 scores, so, if you are thinking of going down that route, then it won't matter where you live (doesn't have to be in B'ham LA). It is highly competitive however, and sadly now FAR more dc go from private schools that have been coaching them from an early age, or from families who pay for coaching, than ever used to be the case, so, statistically (I know someone will come along and tell of their dc who didn't, but, statistically) they not only need to be very capable, but they are likely to need coaching as well.

I can't help specifically on any of the schools you mention, sorry - bit far out of my area. I understand that if you live in the right part of Sutton Coldfield, you can't go wrong with secondary schools. Beyond that, there is much variance!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me Backforgood

Of the schools you have listed Arden generally has the most positive reputation but of course the houses in the catchment area are also the most expensive! I hear mixed views about Tudor Grange. Parents seems to love the school but the kids I speak to are generally less positive. Whilst less focused on pure academic performance, the kids at Alderbrook seem very positive about the school. Personally I have heard concerning things about Light Hall recently but another Mum came on here really praising the school. The others you mentioned seem to have mixed reviews.

I really don't think any of these schools are bad. It is more a question of the type of kids you want your DC to mix with and the ethos of the school.

Look at areas like Cheswick Green and Tidbury Green. You will be able to get a cheaper house than in central Solihull or the Knowle Golden triangle. Tidbury Green is oddly in catchment for Tudor Grange and kids can often also get into Arden from these areas.

I have experience of both Tudor Grange Academy and Alderbrook.

Personally, although Tudor Grange gets better GCSE results, I prefer Alderbrook. Both schools are very good and are situated next to each other near central Solihull and properties in the area (particularly Tudor Grange's catchment area) are generally higher than the average in Solihull. Both have "remote catchment areas" that take in some villages, where houses may be more affordable. Bear in mind though, if you have younger children who may need secondary school places in a few years' time, there are big housing developments planned in both catchment areas, so there are no guarantees that catchment area children will get places in the future.

Tudor Grange is very focussed on exam results and knows how to get the necessary passes. The academy is very strict on uniform and standards in general. But I believe Alderbrook pupils get a more rounded education and seem happier. So far, I think the teaching at Alderbrook is every bit as good as TGA, if not better. There is a positive atmosphere around the school. Incidentally, TGA has its own Sixth Form, but Alderbrook has just been notified that it can open its own Sixth Form in September 2015.

Do look at the Ofsted report, but also take a look at Ofsted's Parent View parentview.ofsted.gov.uk which shows how Alderbrook parents seem to be more satisfied with their children's school than Tudor Grange parents.

Solihull Council's website shows the catchment areas and has the open evening days and evenings (Alderbrook's is tonight - 15th Sept 2014) www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Schools-learning/schooladmissions/admissionssecondary/openevents

Good luck!

Very normal to live in Solihull and go to the Birmingham grammar schools. Public transport is good, and there are " green buses" ( dedicated services , good I guess for nervous year 7s but restrictive after that) .

If you move to Monkspath ish then you will be catchment for Alderbrook or Tudor grange, both excellent schools. My friend lives there. She's had no issues and one of those supported her eldest through a tricky time to getting a place at uni .

Solihull is pretty universally middle class and supportive /pushy parents are the norm LOL.

If your DH commutes the train is really good into the city centre.

eyes up pennybe... do I know you? LOL think not.

Solihull 6th form seems good too looking ahead but is HUGE!

Tidbury green is a funny place though. Effectively it's a new village. It's empty whrn you drive through in the day.

Theas18. Are you talking about Dickens Heath? That is the "new village".

Agree it is a funny place!

Sorry yep dickens Heath !

We've recently left the area with DC still at primary. Our plan was to go to one of the Solihull comps, they all seemed pretty good but if you are in position to visit then even better.
Birmingham grammars are super-competitive because there are a huge amount of kids eligible to apply, not sure we'd have put DD through that.

I think Tudor Grange was talking about changing admissions from catchment to feeder primaries, though, you might want to check the small print before you move.

Yes, Tudor Grange Academy tried to create feeder school status for two junior schools last year. The news came completely out of the blue - they weren't even the two closest schools or the ones sending the most children to TGA.

In the end, they gave feeder status to the one school, (which had just joined its academy chain) and gave those pupils priority in its admissions arrangements above catchment area children. TGA is also phasing out priority for siblings out of catchment. Coupled with the planned housing developments, which include 800 homes in Blythe Valley (part of TGA's catchment), there is a risk that catchment area children won't necessarily obtain places at TGA in the future.

Tudor Grange, Alderbrook and Langley are all heavily oversubscribed already.

Definitely take your child to the open days - my DS hated TG on sight (personally I wouldn't have been happy for him to go there either). Out of TG, Alderbrook and Langley, Langley is the smallest and has a small catchment.

My personal view of TG as a parent, a friend of parents with DC there and as a friend of an ex-teacher there is that the entire focus is on high-level exam achievement (Y9s did one or two GCSC's this year), and if you're not an achiever you won't fit in.
TG has a sixth form - Langley and (i believe) Alderbrook don't.
Heard not so complimentary things about Solihull College (Blossomfield Campus) - which is more vocational; and not-so complimentary about Solihull 6th Form - so no idea what DS/DD going to do when they get to that stage !
We did consider Lode Heath for DS - is a sports academy and v strict on discipline - we were impressed when we went round it.
St Peters is next to TG & Alderbrook and there is often trouble around the three schools (not to say there isn't occasionally around all!).
Personal opinion is it comes down to "feel" when you go round - all have good results.

I went to Tudor Grange when it had been a comprehensive school for five years. It still had teachers who had been there when it was a grammar school and they expected the results and behaviour to be that of a grammar school. From what I read here, little has changed.

St Peters was a Catholic school, has that changed?

We had more fights with Arden than Alderbrook or St Peters but we passed Arden on the way home, very weird catchment.

I know people with children at Arden and Langley they are all happy.

Re Tudor Grange catchment. I understand that as new developments have been built, they are not in automatic catchment for the school despite being nearer. Thus places like Dickens Heath are not in TG catchment but places further out are! I believe there was some commitments given to existing outlying residents to smooth new planning applications.

Some parts of Solihull are also in catchment for the grammar schools in Stratford and Alcester.

3 nephews been through Arden, youngest left 12 months ago. Pushy parents & outside tutoring are what props up the results according to DB. He capitulated & got in tutuors for his DC too. The 6th form has only been established for about 5 years & it had a very rocky start with teachers struggling to deliver at that level. (Mentioning as Alderbrook opening a 6th form mentioned above.)

Some friends' DC take the dedicated bus service to Princethorpe College, if you are considering a private school.

I am stressing so much over this. Our catchment school is Lyndon (awful school) and we have no chance of getting him in anywhere else.
I am desperate to get Tudor Grange or Alderbrook, but can't afford to move :-(

bluejeansandbabies is Lyndon that bad? I know it had a poor Ofsted report
a while ago, but I'm guessing that was based on a fall in GCSE passes that year. I don't trust Ofsted to be impartial and give a true representation of a school. Ofsted's Parent View website, however, shows that the majority of parents with children at the school, who have completed the online survey, would recommend the school - 88%.

Tudor Grange Academy - Open Evening on Tues 23/09/14, Open Day on Thurs 25/09/14
Heart of England - Open Evening on Tues 23/09/14
Arden - Open Evening on Weds 24/09/14, Open Day on Thurs 25/09/14
Lyndon - Open Evening on Weds 24/09/14, Open Days on Thurs 25/09/14 & Fri 26/09/14
St Peter's Catholic School - Open Evening on Thurs 25/09/14, Open Days on Mon 29/09/14 & Tues 30/09/14

It definitely sounds it judging by the talk at the school gates. It wasn't great when I went myself years ago and it was a fairly good school I think back then.

I am going to the open evening in s positive frame of mind though because we effectively have no real choice.

I know people who teach at Lyndon. Sadly there are a lot of difficult children there (for whatever reasons). However, I know the teaching staff work very hard to engage the children and get the best out of them. Go and have a look otherwise just keep you DC. On the waiting list for the schools you want places do come up often in the forst couple of weeks in September. By then kids have started at other schools so parents less keen to move them.

Iseenodust - tutoring is rife around B'ham, Solihull and Warwickshire so Arden is not unusual in benefitting from the results bought with extra tution. Schools are always glad to take the credit, however!

Thank you everyone so much, this has been so helpful! We're currently renting in the Arden catchment area but don't know if we can afford to buy here in a few years time when dcs go to secondary. We've heard quite a few negative things so we may look a bit further afield - Alderbrook and Langley are both sounding appealing!