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Secondary education

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Original poster

Queen Ethelburga's - opinions please

130 replies

MichelleC69 · 24/09/2018 10:20

Hello everyone, I'm new here. My daughter is 15 and in her GCSE year, studying at Leeds Grammar School. She is unhappy there because of the pressure she's under and is desperate to move for A levels. And that's where my problems began....top of her list is Queen Ethelburga's (as a boarder) and I am against it for so many reasons. I think if she feels under pressure now this will only make things worse, in a strange environment and having to make new friends. Plus I don't want my 16 year old away from home all week. Am interested in hearing the opinions of others who may have kids there or have looked at it.

Thanks in advance,
Michelle

OP posts:
OVienna · 27/09/2018 14:12

It looks like they've transferred the prep to a sight on the main campus. The coverage is a bit weird.

But it would be hard to find a more worrying assessment of a potential school for your child than this one:

"The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse last month issued a highly critical report on abuse at Ampleforth College, of which the prep school is a part, and another Catholic school, Downside in Somerset.

Alexis Jay, the inquiry’s chairwoman, said: “For decades Ampleforth and Downside tried to avoid giving any information about child sexual abuse to police and social services. Instead, monks in both institutions were very often secretive, evasive and suspicious of anyone outside the English Benedictine Congregation.

“Safeguarding children was less important than the reputation of the church and the wellbeing of the abusive monks. Even after new procedures were introduced in 2001, when monks gave the appearance of co-operation and trust, their approach could be summarised as a ‘tell them nothing’ attitude.”

2BorNot2Bvocal · 27/09/2018 16:52

Agree with OVienna that would give Ampleforth a miss as it is apparently not yet caught up with the present day.

PlatypusPie · 27/09/2018 16:58

Not in the area but aware of them because they advertise nationally a lot. Really a lot. Unusual, I would have thought .......

Rosieposy4 · 27/09/2018 22:56

I would keep her at GSAL, the sixth form has quite a different vibe, though tbh none of mine felt excessively pressured in main school.
If she is determined to move then in terms of easy access and private Ashville would be my next recommendation
St Peters is a great school, but the commute from where you are is rotten and would take forever.
The Harrogate state sixth forms are much better than Roundhay and both Aidens and Harrogate Grammar take kids every year from GSAL. Both have lots of new students from a mixture of backgrounds and certainly HGS has plenty of “posh” kids if she is worried about fitting in.
I will be careful about what I say about QE, take care to note that you will be forced to swap to BTEC if not on a B minimum at end of year 12. Ask very direct questions about what % of sixth form science lessons take place in labs, about provision of textbooks as opposed to statues, if she is into sport ask to see the fixture lists ( you will find them disappointing compared to GSALs) .

Screenburn · 27/09/2018 23:10

Another vote for Greenhead in Huddersfield, if you can get through to your awful ex. Great ethos, fantastic staff and a real mix of state and private school kids. And has been consistently one of the best in the country for years and years - they send more to oxbridge annually than anywhere else in Yorkshire.

LoniceraJaponica · 27/09/2018 23:32

I know of loads of kids who go to Greenhead from QEGS, WGHS and Silcoates. They have the GCSE grades, and can then benefit from 2 years of the best A level state education around.
(Whispers, although DD's 6th form gave Greenhead a run for their money this year with their best ever A level results)

blackeyes72 · 28/09/2018 09:05

Greenhead is pretty far from GSAL though...another vote for Harrogate schools, both state and private, might be a better compromise.

Rosieposy4 · 28/09/2018 21:09

Greenhead from QEGS, Silcoates is not unreasonable though, especially when you consider many students will live to the west of Wakefield. For a kid in LS17 it is a crazy suggestion, no matter how good the college.

HostaFireAndIce · 30/09/2018 14:53

I'm pretty sure it was Sedburgh where two pupils (bf/gf) ran off on holiday using a Dad's credit card.

That was Stonyhurst, wasn't it?

northernruth · 02/10/2018 23:02

Work out the commute time wherever you send her - two hours out of every day to get to college (which is what it would be for Greenhead) isn't conducive to great results. I'm in Weetwood, if you want some ranty left winger going on at you about schools moral support on the "shes going state" front let me know and I can meet you for a coffee!!

Ex sounds like a twat

And I worked for an ex Ampleforth lad, met a lot of his contemporaries, every single one of them was an entitled wassock pissing away the family money.

Meeting people who want to better themselves because they don't come from much is both an incentive and an education in its own right.

Original poster
MichelleC69 · 03/10/2018 09:52

Thanks @northernruth, appreciate the offer.

The ex is indeed a twat of the highest order.

OP posts:
FruitofAutumn · 03/10/2018 12:30

I don't know why posters are recommending grammar school 6th forms for the OP's DD who wants to get away from that kind of pressure

Rosieposy4 · 03/10/2018 17:03

Because most of them Fruits are grammar in name only and not in selection

Amadans · 03/10/2018 20:16

Never have I seen so much nonsense in a thread. The only person to mention that their own child attended the school had something positive. Everyone else who posted knew of someone's sisters, cousin 3 times removed that might have drove by it in the dark.

If you drove through a pig farm to get to the school, quite frankly, your a buffoon! This isn't my opinion, that's a fact!! It seems on here unfounded opinions pass as fact. Or just Google this or Google that for some juicy titbits so you dont require a brain. It's on the internet, must be true!

class="underline">foundsunbathingonthe_moon.com.org.uraclown

How's this? Go to the school and find out for yourself on an open day. I'm sure they would accommodate you any day. Both of my children went there for a number of years and they were very happy there. Staff and facilities are fantastic!!

As for having posts removed or having legal action taken I'd do the same if someone was being derogatory/slanderous and factually incorrect about my company, causing it harm.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 03/10/2018 20:29

I somehow think that Amadan's input here won't exactly have the desired effect...

I know nothing about the school other than they spam me with glossy brochures all the time which is pretty offputting in itself.

Amadans · 03/10/2018 20:32

My point is proved! Self employed if you must know, very uncouth. Ive not opened your links. Ill assume it take me to a site proving he was found innocent of charges in a court of law? Not too much said about that. Good day........

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 03/10/2018 20:36

Was going to recommend the mount but loads of you beat me to it.

Worth a look around though.

IAmAllAsttonishnent · 03/10/2018 20:40

I know a few people who went there. It has a reputation for being a military school (the kids of military professionals) so lacks traditional ‘private school- middle class ness’.

Great facilities and great for sports. However, their fantastic results I would be VERY dubious about. Won’t go into detail as don’t want to get sued 🙈😂 but all that glitters is not gold!

EdithWeston · 03/10/2018 20:54

I think Amadans shows clearly that some families are a very good fit with the ethos of the school.

Amadans · 04/10/2018 00:23

Please don't go into any detail. Details may contain or lead to facts.

Your 100% correct Edith, we are a good fit. My children have done more than their best with the gifts that they have. No doubt that reference will have gone over your head in spite of your own comment. Not just from the efforts of the school but from open minded and tolerant parenting.

FruitofAutumn · 04/10/2018 10:48

The safeguarding breaches and massive planning permission breaches are all factual information in the public domain and can start giving you a flavour of the mindset of the management of the establishment and whether these are the sort of people you want influencing your child 'simpressionable mind

Rosieposy4 · 04/10/2018 23:33

What a surprise
Here comes a defender. Amadams I know very much more about the school than most parents would know, and yes I know a couple of satisfied parents, one of my kids used to play rugby with them. These, parents were arrogant, thinking being rich gave them magical super powers, more than a little bit thick and first time buyers of private education so easily swayed by the superficial.
I do understand what you are saying about a good fit for the school.

Toadsrevisited · 05/10/2018 02:09

It's you're, Amadans. A good fit indeed for a school which calls itself a Collegiate (that's meant to be an adjective Confused)

pumkinspicetime · 05/10/2018 02:23

I came on to recommend Bootham, I know a couple of DC that have gone there and really thrived both academically and pastorally. (You can do day or boarding) I believe the mount is also good but my only experience is using the swimming pool for lessons, I don't know anyone who went there.

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