NEED HELP!!! high schools sutton, greenshaw/ glenthorne/ overton etc

[sophielou474]

hi, can anyone please give me their HONEST opinions good and bad for any of the schools in sutton listed:

glenthorne
greenshaw
overton
cheam high
stanley park
the beacon

it would be very much appreciated as running out of time to pick for my daughter and really struggling with all the different schools to pick from.

are their bullying problems? are they strict? can children get additional support? etc etc

all views needed!!

The Beacon would be the last on my list from your choices.

Friends have children who are happy at all the other choices, although one moved from SP to Overton for sixth form. My DD doesn't go to SP, but has done a couple of non school things there, and the facilities are very impressive. They used to teach on a cross curricular basis type thing in Years 7 and 8, so I don't think they had history lessons as such but, say, wrote about the Tudors in English. Worth asking about, if this is important to you. I know at SP they can also do practical subjects, such as car mechanics, in Years 10 and 11 which not all schools offer. For some children, the more practical subjects are a much better option.

My impression of Glenthorne is that it was just way too big for anything my DD would be comfortable with! Friend's sons are there, and they are very happy and doing well.

thank you, i still dont know. ive got cheam high to look at next week. stanley park im not even going to as ive seen the school on school day as was not impressed by the behaviour of students and teachers. im so confused! you have to pick the right schools to list and then you might not get them anyway

Interesting that Beacon would be last in your list Leeds. Is that based in recent experience or it's past history? I have friends with kids there who speak highly of it.

Bit of both really, Sandy.

I know children at each of the other 4 schools now (Y9 and above), and who have left recently, and all have been happy with the education received. There have been minor problems, as there inevitably will be, but the schools dealt with them to the parents' satisfaction.

I am not keen on the Beacon because of its past reputation, based on enquiries I made 6/7 years ago and a friend who was forced to remove her son due to unresolved bullying issues (3/4 years ago?). Appreciate that things may change, but only last week someone was complaining to me about the behaviour of Beacon students out of school (in local shops). For me, it just hasn't generated a very good impression.

Hi Sophie
I went to Beacon open evening last Thursday and thought it was a nice school. The Headteacher was very go ahead and trying to improve it. It was over-subscribed last year (and the hall was heaving). The teachers were very enthusiastic. Only negatives for me were 3pm finish on 2 days and Friday finish at 2pm. Also 'historic' chewing gum stains on carpets- teachers said they were clamping down and it was ' unusual to find a school without it'. Not sure about that tbh. There is an open morning next Tuesday am.

More towards Sutton way- Cheam High is more popular than Overton. Don't know about others. Good luck.

It is always a good sign if the school is oversubscribed!

Have you looked at catchment? There's a page on the Sutton website I think. Where we live (SM6) our only choices are Carshalton High School for Girls and SP - and the past 2 years we were only about 0.1miles inside the SP catchment. Realistically you have little or no choice if your child is not grammar school material.
Here's the link

www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=17469

yes i have checked my catchment area and i am not in the catchment for any school except the girls schools. which is a no go for my daughter as i believe children should mix at school so they have a better understanding of social behaviours. its stupid you would think i would be in the catchment for at least one mixed school.