Ranelagh Bracknell

[Tigermum09]

Dears, I am looking to move my girl from Charters to another great school. She experiences just too much bullying in Charters and the school does give enough support to stop this day to day suffering.
I was advised to look at Ranelagh in Bracknell. I cannot find a one to one comparison between Charters and Ranelagh. Any advice on whether this move would be beneficial?

I would ring and find out what the waiting list is like for in-year entry at Ranelagh. It is the one of the most over-subscribed schools around and generally requires several years of church attendance to get a place in year 7. There is even a supplementary form for church attendance for in year applications. You may have to appeal for a place and from what I hear locally very few are successful. Other schools to look at Edgbarrow, Garth Hill or go the other way into Surrey Heath and Collingwood College or Tomlinscote. It might be worth finding out where has places and then having a look and comparing the schools before deciding to keep going at Charters. If you like the school academically but need some help in pushing them to deal with the bullying then put it as a separate post and people will advise who to speak to, who to complain to etc.

Your poor daughter.

I live nearby and know people with children at both schools. Ranelagh is smaller. It has a reputation for being a “nicer” school locally but I think this is a bit of a myth. My daughter has witnessed racism, sexism and real spitefulness by the children.

However, they do seem to have good pastoral care and they do try and stamp on bullying quickly. It has a massive catchment area so a fresh start will see a wider group of potential friends.

I assume you have asked Charters if she can move to the other side of the school?

Stay well clear of Ranelagh

@LdnLadyT sorry for resurrecting. Can I ask why you say that about Ran? I’ve a child started there in Sept 21 and I’m not overly happy

Petal12 no problem. I’m a former pupil and from first hand experience can tell you the school is overtly racist, period. Furthermore even 20 years after I left I spoke to other former pupils who assured me the school hadn’t changed much from when I was there, because those pupils experienced similar racism, even 20 years later.
Most of the teachers, and the headmaster at the time , were extremely racist, and you’re hearing it from the horses mouth so to speak.
But that’s just my own experience & a couple of others I know, needless to say our demographics didn’t fit in with the Ranelagh norm so neither did we.

DH is a former pupil as were his siblings, there was a headmistress 20 years ago, not a headmaster

When I was there there was a headmaster. When the other pupil I spoke to was there there was a headmistress .
If you don’t’ t want to believe me or are in denial that’s fine I really don’t care but I’m just sharing my own experience & another pupil who was there 20 years after me. Have a great week

@LdnLadyT thanks. Sorry you had such a bad experience. I’m definitely getting a sexism vibe as well as slightly antiquated views but don’t want to knee jerk react and regret it. But it’s definitely making me rethink my next child’s secondary choice!

Stay vigilant and protect your child from those ‘views’ at Ranelagh. I’m sure if you removed your child from there you won’t regret it. I only wish my own parents had the guts to have removed me but they didn’t so I had to endure 6 years of psychological & racial abuse.
…….but then that’s just my experience and you can probably guess by now that my ‘face’ didn’t fit, but that’s often either overlooked, denied, ignored or not important to those whose faces do fit the Ranelagh brand,( if you understand what I mean) .

I totally agree with the statement above. Stay away from Ranelagh. The school don't really care about mental health of the kids and the comments about racism are very true unfortunately. My two children have had really bad experiences at Ranelagh. Check maybe schools in Windsor/ Maidenhead instead. All the best

I see that they have Founders Day soon. Maybe that would be an opportunity to go and have a relaxed look around? I am also an ex-pupil and loved my time there.