Does anyone know the Cherwell School 6th Form in Oxford?

[claraschu]

My daughter has the offer of a place at the 6th form, but we live quite far away, so don't know the school very well. She is hoping to do English, History and Drama at A level...

If there are any Cherwell parents, do you love the school? How big do the classes tend to be? Do your children feel inspired by their teachers?

My daughter is coming from a small school, which is why I am wondering about class sizes in particular, since Cherwell is so big.
I would be grateful for any impressions you have; making decisions about schools is always so difficult and confusing.

I don't know the school directly, so don't know about class sizes, but it has a fantastic reputation, and from what I can tell, the performing Arts department is excellent.

I assume she liked it when she looked round last year? Is it cold feet about the unknown? What did they say then about class sizes? Do they have a reasonable number of new sixth formers?

There are pros and cons to moving school for sixth form. I think the new school has to offer something the old school doesn't, in order to overcome the disadvantage of finding your feet again in a new place. But moving can really widen horizons and re-enthuse.

Thanks for the advice! We have been really silly, and haven't had a good look around because my daughter was doing mocks when the open day happened in January, and I thought the school would not give her a place because we live so far away, so I didn't put too much effort into thinking about it. Now I am wishing we had more information, which is why I am asking about people's impressions.

I do think they have a big intake at 6th form, and it does look really good to me, but it is always helpful to hear from current parents, I think...

I don't know too much about it other than my dd did consider it as one of her choices when deciding where to do her A levels and that it's quite an oversubscribed school because of its good reputation.

Oh yes, I remember that they seemed to have a much later open evening than anywhere else - unfortunate timing. I wonder if they'd let you go and visit? They should certainly be able to give you basic info about class sizes etc anyway.

Would the journey be ok?

Yes, the journey is doable. Thanks for all the advice! So far I have heard from quite a few people that the school has a good reputation, but I haven't heard from anyone who really knows it first hand. I am going to give the school a call to see if we can visit.

Thanks everyone-

Nephew transferred from a poor comp for sixth form. Had a long journey but best thing he ever did. They have a big intake in sixth form and made a lot of effort to help people mix and fit in. For him size was an advantage as more people doing his subjects and to bounce ideas off etc. Don’t know about class size.

Daughter currently in Cherwell Sixth Form and has been there since Year 7. Happy enough. Excellent teaching in maths throughout and English and History at A' level are taught very well and clearly structured (she is doing English). Art Dept disappointing. Very large entry - last year around 250 in each of the two 6th form years. At least half the intake are non-Cherwell so new students are not a minority. They seem to mix very well - my daughter has made new friends from the new students. Some travel as far as Banbury. However you can get 'lost' socially as it's such a large group - being a bit extrovert may help. Lots of former private school students who use the private schools to get the higher tariff required to get into the sixth form. Quite cramped accommodation - noisy in free periods. Excellent pastoral care and good programme of PSHE. Lots of extra curricula opps.

PS. Class sizes vary according to popularity of subject. Roughly 18-25 in an A level class. This year Politics wasn't being offered, but Economics was.