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Secondary education

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Original poster

Grammar school at Leeds or a good state school?

15 replies

hotchocolata · 06/03/2019 10:34

Hi everyone, I'm new here so hope I'm doing it right!

So Offer Day is behind us: DS's got a place at a good state school in Leeds and an offer from GSAL. Do people think GSAL really offers excellent education or is it just expensive?

Can't really judge apart from the GSCE and A-level results, but seeing as the kids have to pass an entry exam I'm not sure what the results actually say about the quality of teaching Hmm...

We're looking for a place with good drama and sports and interesting extra-curricular activities, something that will give him a push to excel but not too stressful.

Any thoughts? TIA x

OP posts:
Justanothermanic · 14/03/2019 21:14

My eldest is currently at GSAL (GCSE years) can’t recommend it enough. Definitely pushes him to excel and has lots to offer extra curricular wise. It is £££’s but worth every penny imo

Don’t know much about the local state schools as both mine are in independents but from my experience I’d say go for it. He also began in yr 7

GreyGardens88 · 14/03/2019 21:18

I was a pupil at GSAL. I hated it. Bullying was rife, and the teachers don't do anything about it (swept under the rug).

Rosieposy4 · 15/03/2019 20:47

GSAL can offer everything your post requests
Which state school have you been offered because tbh there aren’t a lot of good ones in Leeds.
Have to say I would opt for gsal every time unless it will cause you massive financial issues

Justanothermanic · 16/03/2019 00:43

Surprised to hear that greygardens. What year did you leave?
Luckily the old head left shortly after my son began, I did hear about bullying and poor pastoral care however I think that left with him. My son hasn’t had any major issues but anytime he or I have reported anything it’s always been taken seriously and followed up with me by HOY.

greenant · 16/03/2019 01:14

I grew up in a quite posh village up north, most of the kids went to private schools. Except a few. The few who didnt are high achievers and earners across the board. The ones who went to private school are still bullying each other, and none have worked or ever embarked on a career. They seem to lack drive,a pattern I've seen a lot in adult years. It seems like they're stuck in their school years but now with kids of their own. If you find a good state school it's seriously the best preparation for life and becoming a fair human. Don't create another person who has some weird self entitlement over everyone with nothing to show for it.

Bigharry · 10/10/2019 22:23

GreyGardens88 - surprised and saddened by your message. Bullying is taken seriously at GSAL, all staff are made aware of policy and Heads of Year do investigate and act, at least in the last 10 years or so. Inspectors, who interview pupils and give them the chance to raise anything that they want, have not found any issue. Were you perhaps at the school some time ago (for which I could not speak)?

Tvstar · 13/10/2019 11:32

I don't think it's that good. Lots of ds primary school peers went there while others we t to a real grammar school and the latter did much better

Rosieposy4 · 13/10/2019 21:47

Which real grammar school did they go to Tystar, as there isn’t a local one, suggesting they must be very bright indeed to get an out of area place, and happy with the 50 minute plus drive.

Tvstar · 16/10/2019 08:05

Boards at Ripon grammar

PullingMySocksUp · 16/10/2019 08:10

Depends on what the state school is.

We think general attitude of parents and pupils is important, and unfortunately that seems to go hand in hand with deprivation level. So we looked at catchment areas (well where pupils had come from the previous year as depending on area there is so fixed catchment) and % free school meals when we were choosing schools. Might be some use. This shows deprivation by postcode.
vis.oobrien.com/booth/#

PullingMySocksUp · 16/10/2019 08:10

Oh god, zombie thread.

PullingMySocksUp · 16/10/2019 08:12

Bigharry obv works there and is doing a search of GSAL 🙄

Velveteenfruitbowl · 16/10/2019 08:14

The easiest test of quality of education is talking to humanities teachers. See what is on the curriculum are they teaching dickens or Tim winton? Are they teaching the Russian revolution or fashion in the 1960s? If you can talk to the teachers themselves (I know this isn’t always possible) then see what they have to say on the topics - do they actually understand? Or are they just regurgitating what is on the exam? You can also try speaking to current or recent pupils if you know anyone who has children/family at the school.

Bigharry · 16/10/2019 08:56

Bigharry has worked there but no longer does. That doesn't mean he loves the school, though. Do most people uncritically support their employers? However, he does therefore have knowledge of the school and that could be useful to readers of this thread.

benthecat · 13/03/2020 13:43

Revisiting this thread - any more recent views on GSAL please?

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