Secondary Schools near Princes Risborough Bucks

[Inbedatlast]

First time here, but I am going mad looking at Ofsted reports and need advice.

Does anyone have any recommendations for non-selective secondary schools near Risborough/Wycombe/Gt Missenden? Would like to hear personal stories if possible. Many thanks for any info you can offer

The Misbourne School would be the best one at Great Missenden, but if you are not catchment, and Princes Risborough is not catchment, you may not get in. Obviously you would get into Princes Risborough School. I am not sure what the position would be regarding getting into Lord William's School in Thame. This is a comprehensive and is well regarded. In Princes Risborough, you would not want the Wycome Schools, the Aylesbury Schools and would not get into John Colet in Wendover. You have limited choice. If you are moving into the area, move into the Misbourne catchment or Thame.

Slight update on above - The Princes Risborough School is more popular at the moment than The Misbourne. I think I would visit and see what suits your DC. Bucks CC have detailed information on how places to secondary schools are allocated so you can see which schools accept all catchment children, which accept all applicants and still have surplus places and those that accept all catchment and then more pupils on appeal. Bear in mind nearly every secondary modern school in Bucks has a poor Ofsted at one time or a other. It is an Ofsted merry go round where schools improve and then fall back again. This history is now very difficult to track as they have become academies and their history is wiped out. They can yo yo from 2 to 4 in grades - rarely outstanding by the way.

Thanks MillyMolly... I am catchment to PRB but word has starting spreading round my DS class that PRB is the worst in the country so he is now terrified to go there

I am trying to look through all the admission policies but really hoped to hear some good/bad feedback about the local schools.

Admission policies are one thing but whether you will get a place to not, is quite different. At the moment PR has more applicants than spaces and the management there appears to be getting real improvements. Of course it is not the worst school in the country! It is far from the worst school in the County! I don't have children there but in Bucks only a small number of secondary modern schools are good or better all the time. The best is Waddesdon but you won't get in there. Most secondary schools have had their problems and unless you go and look you will never know how PR is improving. Also, why believe what your DS says his friends say? They are children and why on earth would anyone be terrified of going there? Far rather there than some schools I can think of!!!

Totally agree with everything you say - we are due to visit them all. It is just heartbreaking to see kids scaring each other with these silly stories... I made sure I never made comparisons between the schools (obv grammars are better but didn't want to talk down the uppers just in case) so feel sad that it seems some parents have told them of the difference and they are all panicking. And I do believe my DS as he doesn't lie tbh - it is just playground gossip; I know PRS isn't the worst in the country, or even the county, but if that is what he is being told then it is hard

I agree that it is the parents! However I do live near you in Bucks and this never happened at my local primary school. We knew the majority of the children would go to the local secondary school, and no-one ever came in with scare stories about it. In fact I know a lot of young people who have been very happy there and done extremely well. It is just a few miles from PR and a fairly similar school. In your position, I might actually have a word with your Headteacher because this is not helpful to the majority of children who will go to PR School. He/she may be able to help put the record straight and these stories are affecting the majority of children in year 6 - unless you are in a super-clever year group!

I think that if you visit PR on the Open evening, with your DS, he will see for himself that it is safe and welcoming. I am sure they will go out of their way to reassure him. Obviously if you get a grammar school place then take it, but try and keep him positive about the other schools because these parents and their stories are wrong. They really are!

That is good to hear; thanks. My DS is borderline pass/fail which is why I couldn't talk up (or down) any schools (not that I would anyway). We will be attending the open days to reassure him - I know lots of children he used to know are there, but not being friends with their parents I can't get any feedback.. and the parents I do know seem to be moving their DC to private education/moving out of the area/applying to faith schools so that makes me worry more!

And that is good advice - I will have a word with his teacher (I don't find his Head very approachable) and see if they can do anything to reassure them.

Thanks for your input

According to the papers there were a crop of year 11s that came out with a string of a and a* grades this year so they must be doing something right. I don't know the school personally, but I know of several kids who have gone there, some right up to sixth form, and it has done very well by them.
Sorry that there are such rubbish rumours going around at your son's school. It's often a hard time for them in the last couple of years of primary with uncertainty about the future, without rubbish like that going around :-(

That's good to hear - thanks, I will search for that info. I thought it was an ok school, but hate to think the kids are all gossiping and worrying each other. It is a stressful enough time as it is waiting for results and trying to keep upbeat whichever way it goes, without this kind of thing. I was fine until DS came home saying that .

We have just arrived home from the Kop Hill Climb at Princes Risborough and lots of PR school young people were there doing a run up the hill during the lunch break. The Head was there too. We thought this was a really good idea and means the school is being seen in the community.

I cannot think where boys would go if they want an independent boys' day school. Girls can go to Pipers Corner but they are selective. Boys must be travelling some distance! Or they are possibly going to a prep school prior to boarding. There is an RC school in a High Wycombe but the C of E one is Waddesdon and they are quite some distance from that too, so unlikely to be offered a place. I would check out where you stand with getting into Lord Williams at Thame though. They are comprehensive but I don't know what their admission rules are.

I know! I checked for independent schools for boys (not that that is an option!) and there are none around, so I am guessing the parents choosing private education are looking at boarding. I haven't looked into the faith schools are we aren't religious so not sure what the admission policies are, but that is the feedback I am getting from mum's. It was so much easier in my day when it was your local comprehensive or a grammar if you passed!

PRS has been a cracking school for my DCs. A caring, family environment. One girl in year 11 achieved 10A* grades and 1 A grade last year. Of course, as with anywhere else there are problem children (from problem families) but PRS seem to deal really well with these individuals. Don't always believe what you read in Ofsted reports. Go and have a look around for yourself.

Thanks rumours - great to hear! I just needed some reassurance after all the playground talk!