Plymouth College v Mount Kelly

[thirteenplusyears]

Hello,

This is my first post here and am hoping someone can help. We are looking at both of these schools and wondered if anyone local or involved with these schools in some way can give us feedback please? We are moving to the area and looking to start for Sept. 2015. Thanks very much!

Snap!

Being in the city does make things easier with teens.

Yes, I would go on a taster day, but like you say it is hard to get a feel for a school in one day! I love my girls in the kilts, they look younger and more innocent! Plenty of time to wear short skirts after school!
I believe that the bullying was not dealt with well by PC, my friends has actually withdrawn her son. We all have different experiences though!
Let us know how your daughter gets on at the taster day x

Thanks jimjams and mountkellyparent... yes that is the plan taster day at Mount Kelly next. It is a shame that girls seem to grow up so fast these days... the issues as well seem to happen so much younger now with girls - or maybe I'm just not remembering properly what it was like at that age!

Thirteenplusyears, how did you get on, have you been for a taster day yet?

Hi MKP,
Sorry it has taken so long to reply! They have indeed been for a taster day - one DC liked it more than the other but overall they were both happy with it. We were very impressed with the new head and he answered all our questions very well. I'm very pleased we went and it seems the best choice for us.

Wonderful news, will they be starting in September? I am glad your questions were answered. We are also impressed with the new head and the deputy. Good luck!!

Yes, we will be moving during the summer for a September start, thanks!

Both of my children attended Plymouth College and I cannot recommend it enough!
One of them was very sporty and the other not so much, but with one of the strengths of the school being the encouragement of team work and bringing on self-confidence in each child the latter child soon began to thrive both in and out of the sporting arena. There are loads of extra curricular activities which the children are encouraged to partake in and which cater to all tastes.
Admittedly, being an inner city school, it can not compete with the beauty of the setting of Kelly but it has always seemed to achieve better results both academically and sport-wise.
Obviously I am biased but I do know of parents (some living in the Yelverton/Crapstone areas) who visited both schools and after much deliberation decided to send their children to Plym Coll and do not regret their decisions.
At the end of the day all children are different and this must be taken into account, but all I can say is that with two very different children they both thrived at Plym Coll; their experiences at the school set them in good stead for their futures and we are so pleased that we sent them there. The whole family has very happy memories of their years there; indeed, I was heartbroken when the time came for my youngest to leave because the school had become a real 'friend' and a huge part of our lives.

Really pleased to hear that Mount Kelly has just had such a good inspection report. Good news!

Thank you Patchie, we thought it was all set for Kelly but one of my children is dragging their feet a bit - one liked it and the other felt the pupils in their year group weren't very friendly and it just didn't feel right for them.

I was hoping they would both really like it as the area is the most accessible for us and it would have made things easy. We also liked the new head.

We haven't yet met the head of PC but now have an appointment to meet him. The schools are so different so it's very difficult.

I have read the new report for MK but I personally don't place too much weight on inspection reports although they can be useful as a starting point.

Usually I can easily make decisions on my instincts but this one has me a bit stumped, especially as we were set on MK after our visit, but I feel uneasy about what DC has said about the children in the year group.

Apologies OP, my comment about the report was directed towards MKP. The business of the restructuring and the merger has been very unsettling for people who know the schools, especially those with children still there. The positive report in these circumstances must be a relief.

I hope you manage to resolve your dilemma over the best school for your DCs, and that you all enjoy your life in Devon!

No problem indridcold the report was a good read and certainly more promising than the last one. I do feel the school is heading in a positive direction.

Hi, we have recently moved to stonehouse, Plymouth. Has anyone any thoughts about St Georges, Pilgrim, Stuart rd or Plymouth college primaries please? Thanks

Ceece2016, you may be better off starting a new thread in primary to give yourself the best chance of responses. I don't think there would be much crossover of knowledge from previous participants in this thread for your specific question.