Confused 🙃 St Josephs college or Charters School Ascot

[Noshi07]

Hello
I hope someone will be able to give me some insight on schools. I have visited both charters (ascot) and st josephs (reading). Exceptionally good schools, however my concerns are that st josephs seemed to have less facilities e.g sports, activities but the children were polished hence being a private school i guess. Charters has everything im looking for in a school but the school did not seem as strict on uniform and makeup 😕. Would like to know if anyone has children attending either school who can address my concern.
Many Thanks

I went to charters but a long time ago so I'm sure things have changed since then (late 90s/early 00s)! My parents almost sent me to a private school but I wanted to stay with my friends from primary school who were all going to charters. It was reasonably strict on uniform/make up at that time and teaching was good (I studied law at a Russell group university, am now a solicitor, so turned out alright I think ).

I don't have any knowledge of St Josephs so can't comment specifically. I think private schools can have advantages in some circumstances (smaller teaching groups, builds confidence etc). But really depends on school/facilities etc.

Charters is incredibly over-crowded, with classroom divided into two, i.e. >60 students in the original space.

A friend taught PE at St Joe's for a while and never complained about the sports facilities - she loved the school, it seemed like a very warm and supportive place.

I don't know anything about Charters, but I personally don't think uniform and make-up are that important.

Where would your child be travelling from?

Our friends with children at Charters are all very happy with it. I lived close to it but didn't go there (it was probably different in the 80s). I'd happily send my children there but although my parents are in the catchment area, we aren't. If you are close to Charters then Reading is probably quite a long way to go for school and I'd probably look at other schools in the area before extending the search to schools in Reading.

Charters is a big school that caters for all local children. It gets great results and is about to get a brand new maths block and 2 new science labs. It's sports facilities are fab (& borrowed by some local private schools). Yes uniform can be a bit of a fight, but it's full of teenagers and so skirts do tend to be an issue (& make up and piercings). Kids try it on, school disciplines (& sometimes parents kick off). I've had 5 go through and all have come out having had a great time & a great education. My youngest just got back from ski trip to America (she paid for it) and is off to Spain for homestay later in the year. And of course there is Tirabid, the schools activity centre in Wales. Oh and it's freeeeeeee 😁😁

Thank you so much for your input guys. I shall be visiting the schools again for a final decision. As i live in the middle of windsor and reading in any case for both schools I shall have to move. Unless my boys pass their 11+ 🤔🤔

Yes that ws my concern too.

Maybe go to see Charters on one of the Heads look rounds on a Tuesday morning. I did this and think it gives a better idea of a school than an open day. Two things struck me - the silence during lessons around the school (was in the courtyard listening to the birds tweet) & the amount of daffodils there were. I've worked in many schools where they would not have survived .