Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Emanuel or radnor

15 replies

lottiebear69 · 27/02/2015 06:44

Just that really, offers at both - for a yr7 boy who likes sport, drama and music. Love the ethos of radnor but worried about its size for sports teams and the fact that it's only been open 4 years so a little unknown! Love emanuel too which was original first choice but something pulling me towards radnor!

OP posts:
basildonbond · 27/02/2015 07:05

Which is easier to get to? Neither is particularly academic, both will do very well by a bright, motivated child. They're miles apart so one must be significantly easier for your son to get to.

If it ends up being Radnor and you're worried about sports then get him into clubs out of school - which will generally be of a higher standard than school sport anyway

Original poster
lottiebear69 · 27/02/2015 08:07

Equal distance to both - emanuel getting more academic / selective every year due to huge demand and has great sporting facilities and reputation so swaying that way

OP posts:
basildonbond · 27/02/2015 08:21

sounds like you've made up your mind then! fwiw the children from dd's primary going to Emanuel in the last few years haven't changed markedly - it's still been the back-up for the more academic or first choice for the less academic

Original poster
lottiebear69 · 27/02/2015 08:39

I think you're right. Emanuel was our first choice from the beginning - we're from state primary bright but not exceptionally academic children. We know a lot of children at emanuel and all really happy - last one studying history at oxford! For us it's about getting good results but also about our children finding their passion and being able to participate in a lot of extra curricular

OP posts:
Mulberry10 · 27/02/2015 12:18

lottiebear I think you're making the right choice then - sounds like you're describing Emanuel!

Original poster
lottiebear69 · 27/02/2015 15:21

Thanks mulberry
It's a hard decision to make but once you've signed up that's it!

OP posts:
Elibean · 27/02/2015 18:12

Hope he's happy there, Lottiebear - I know my dd's Y4 teacher has had three kids there, all very different and all very happy/surpassing expectations.

It was dd's third choice to try for, but I blew the application date Blush

FWIW, I also liked the Radnor House ethos (and dd liked it initially) but on second visit I was a bit worried about the space/size. I actually love the unknown factor, it gives schools a buzz of creativity that I know dd will thrive on, but the decider for us was the distance and the size combined.

trader21c · 27/02/2015 21:53

How can one say whether Radnor isn't particularly academic - hasn't been open very long has it? As Elibean says it's the unknown factor that in a way is its appeal ...

Original poster
lottiebear69 · 28/02/2015 08:01

Elibean where's your dd going to go?

OP posts:
Elibean · 28/02/2015 15:43

Lottie, she's deciding between our local state (RPA) and Kew House - both, funnily enough, have the same buzz of new adventure. One because it really is new, the other because it had a radical re-vamp via academisation and new buildings. I think she's leaning towards Kew, as is dh (I am slightly gutted but will survive Wink).

Original poster
lottiebear69 · 28/02/2015 18:19

elibean, I had RPA as my first choice state school too but we'll be on edge of catchment i think. it was my favourite state school by far, liked the fact it had some outside space and has had a lot spent on it, but now we have an emanuel place which was my sons first choice we going to stick with that. I know 3 who went to RPA last year and are very happy with it. good luck

OP posts:
ikkenu · 01/03/2015 09:16

You think RPA will have a catchment this year? It's been undersubscribed for years - much more popular last year but they were prepared to top up with as many extra classes as demanded. Radnor House's first year GCSE results were pretty mediocre with grade averages beaten by every state comp in the borough, but its intake was probably small and lacking diversity.

meditrina · 01/03/2015 09:25

We'll know tomorrow!

The demographic predictions for London mean that an undersubscribed state school anywhere will be as rare as hen's teeth. (Probably only the very new, or those with very long standing issues, will not attract actual preferences and even they may be filled by those who didn't get any of theirs).

Sorry, that doesn't help with the Emanuel/Radnor question that was actually asked. But you seem to have made a decision you're happy with. What were the things that clinched it that way round?

ikkenu · 01/03/2015 11:28

Last year RPA offered 250 places but by September just filled its official admission number, e.g. 180 places. So 'longstanding issues' yes - I predict it will create additional classes because at the last count it was still only half full across the board, and that is a serious funding shortfall.

ikkenu · 01/03/2015 11:38

Probably two-thirds full by now I should say Smile

New posts on this thread. Refresh page