Schools in NE Birmingham/Sutton Coldfield

[AllThatIsGoldDoesNotGlitter]

Hi all,

DSD is sitting the 11+ this Autumn and is hoping to get a high enough score to go to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls. She has visited a couple of local independent schools, which she likes, but we can't afford full fees, so if she doesn't get a substantial bursary or scholarship they wouldn't be a viable option. (I'm not sure we can afford even partial fees, but we'd have a good hard look at our finances.) Does anyone have any advice on good non-selective state schools in the area, as a back-up plan, or any advice on whether a child who is unsuccessful in the 11+ is likely to get a score in a private school's entry test which would qualify her for fee assistance? We are starting to worry about where she will go if she doesn't get into a grammar school. Thanks in advance!

Queen Marys Grammar School in Walsall is another popular choice with those sitting for Sutton Girls. Its easy to get to from Sutton Coldfield as the bus drops right outside the school gates. Lots of girls who don't quite make the very high grade at Sutton get a place at Queen Marys.

Edgbaston high school for girls I think offers bursaries based on 11+ scores but I'm not sure if its the full amount for the fees or just a portion. It should say on their website.

State school I'd look at Arthur Terry school. Madly oversubscribed but several of their staff used to teach at Sutton Girls and Bishops Vesey (boys Grammar). The catchment may be a little small possibly within 1 mile or maybe less.

If you can travel a bit further theres Erasmus Darwin Academy (usually referred to as EDA) in Burntwood. That's a very popular school and is doing incredibly well exam wise and sports too. They always knock the socks off DD's school in swimming, hockey, football, netball etc

Sadly their DM doesn't live in Four Oaks so I don't think DSD will be in the catchment for Arthur Terry Any other ideas?

The Streetly Academy? I'm not sure how good it is, I have no knowledge of that school myself. It has an Outstanding judgement from Ofsted but I'm not sure on the exam results.

Have a look here www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

Type in the area you are looking for and it should give you the schools in that area. If your DSD is a high achieving student generally then you only need to look at the exam results (how many get those grade A*-C).
Theres the progress 8 score which will tell you how much progress a child makes in the school. This is more important for middle/low achieving students because they need to progress further than top achieving students to gain that A grade so the better that score is the better the children progress during their time at the school.

This obviously benefits those high achieving students too but if your high achieving student did level 6 SATs (I'm not sure that's what they do now but as an example) then those students don't need to progress very much further to gain those A's.

Students who gained Level 4 SATs have much further progress to make to get an A at GCSE so the better that progress 8 score the better the childs chances of achieving top grades.

Obviously the social and extra curricular side of things is just as important so have good look at the websites for the activities they offer.

You could look at the Birmingham grammars as well as King Edwards VI girls which is independent and selective but has a good scholarship programme. Easy train from Sutton to Egbaston.

Without outing myself I went to one of the grammars mentioned and had a fantastic education - both academically and socially. My sister went to Streetly School and had a crap education - she did well later in life but basically was ignored and put up with terrible teaching and behaviour

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. She is having 11 plus tuition and is doing pretty well but we do feel we need a good back-up plan in case the exam doesn't go to plan and she doesn't make the cut for the grammars. Streetly Academy is Ofsted rated Outstanding - we will check if she's in the catchment. Any other suggestions? We're not Catholic which rules some of the other non-selective state schools out.

Thank you all so much

Are you anywhere near Fairfax? I think they have a 'good with outstanding features' Ofsted, and are a well regarded school getting good results. The distance cut off last year was 3.478 km, but they also offer 10% of places to those with drama, music or dance aptitude.

I am a former pupil of Sutton Girls though and it was fantastic- I can't rate it highly enough. As a pp said, it may also be worth entering the exam for the Walsall grammars to have a shot at Queen Mary's if you are within travelling distance.