Caterham School vs Croydon High School

[simrazz]

We are looking at these 2 schools for our daughter who will be starting senior school next year. Just wondering if anyone has any experiences from these schools.

What are you wanting feedback on specifically ?

Both possibles our the list for our DD too.
I know girls at CHS, who are lovely and seem to really like the school. Knowledge of Caterham extends to what we saw at the open morning.

Thanks Seeline. We went for a tour round CHS but dont really know of anyone attending it. We are going to see Caterham next week.

I've looked at OFSTED reports and exam results but I am feeling overwhelmed with responsibility and a bit lost with it all.

Are there certain questions I should be asking at the tour?
What are the most important factors when choosing a secondary school as this is my first time?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

It's a nightmare isn't it?
Still no firm decisions made. We're going for another look round CHS next week. We did Caterham a couple of weeks ago.
I'm not sure there are any specific questions that have to be asked. Obviously exam results are important, but I like chatting with the existing pupils and the staff and seeing how they interact with each other.
I think a lot depends on your gut reaction when you first see a school. You need to see how the school would be right for your child - results can't tell you that.

Can I asked who you were shown round by seeline ? imo it makes a huge difference whether you gel with your "guide" or not.

I've been round both schools a couple of times now, and each time the guides have been polite, informative and friendly. I do agree though that if you have a girl who is into music and you are shown round by a strapping lad who plays a lot o rugby, your impression may be slightly skewed

We went to the Caterham open day and unfortunately had exactly that experience. We were shown around by a 6 foot tall rugby player ( there didn't seem to be any girls, or even younger boys, available and that was at the start of the morning.). The guide struggled to enthuse about anything that might remotely be of interest to a 10yr old DD, and mine hated it. It felt far too macho all round though. Still, I suppose it's one off the list!

merlot - that's interesting. We also felt it had the feel of a boys school. We have a DS at an all-boys so know the feel! Girls have been going there since 1995 (6th form longer I think) and it still felt as though they were a bit of an afterthought.

Overall there are more boys than girls especially among the boarders (although this may change since newish H of B is female) but in Year7/8 the ratio is nearer 50:50. ime girls are pretty well catered for. Shame about the guides, they are allocated at random but if you go for a tour on a normal day you are more likely to have a relevant one, or could ask.

I have heard the same that the ratio of boys to girls in year 7 is around 50:50.
Thanks for all your comments. I will be going for a tour in a normal school day so lets see what the feel is like.

My DD is now in Sixth Form. We looked round Caterham when she was in Y6, so 5/6 years ago. I loved it, but OH said at the time it struck him as a boys' school that had gone mixed.

I have no experience of CH, but know a friend is removing her DD from the junior school because she isn't happy with the senior school experience that her eldest has had.