Birmingham secondary schools - grammar/private

[hoping2016]

Hello!

I am looking for advice please on both grammar and private secondary schools. We live in Sutton coldfield and are considering the following schools for our daughter:

Edgbaston high
Solihull school
Lichfield cathedral
Highclare
Kehs ? - possibly too academic ?

Sutton girls
Queen Mary Walsall
Handsworth grammar

I'm really interested in the culture of these schools please and also level of homework, how pushy they are, how the children come across etc.

Many thanks

That's a lot of options! I have a daughter at KEHS, so I can tell you about that. Is your daughter currently at a prep school or state primary?

We found the majority came from preps (unlike my daughter) and initially she felt a bit behind as they'd done languages, science etc etc. In reality she was fine, it was just a perception.

My daughter is one of the 20% or so who have a bursary and that hasn't been a problem. Girls seem very accepting and she's got lots of lovely friends.

They do have a fair amount of homework, although it has varied from year to year and I think they've made a decision to cut back recently for the year 7s. Also in years 7-9 they have a no homework week each term.

Dd has been really happy there, but this year (10) she's started to find it a bit pressured. I'm not sure whether this is just the nature of GCSEs though, as others on the year 10 thread have said similar. There are the usual issues that come with an all girls school and dd is fairly sure she'll move to a co-ed environment for sixth form - but the same issues will apply to a number of your options.

They're fairly egalitarian and don't encourage competition particularly - so no sets, no results read out in order from top to bottom (which used to happen in my comp and also happens at ds' grammar). Class sizes are around 22-24 and the teachers are generally very supportive. I think you will find teachers in independent schools have more time to support individual pupils than in state schools, grammar or otherwise.

Dd also took the 11 plus and she could have gone to Handsworth or Sutton. We visited and really liked both - but KEHS was nearer.

Also, lots of girls travel from Sutton to KEHS by train.

If you're concerned KEHS is too academic, you probably won't find QM, Sutton girls or KE Handsworth very different.

Thank you for your comments...do the grammar schools have sets?

I thought kehs was more academic than the grammar schools thank you for clarifying that for me ... I don't have any experience of private or grammar schools so new to it all

Of the grammar Sutton girls is better than Queen Mary’s, but that has a very supportive culture for pupils

The only grammar school I have recent knowledge of is one of the boys’ schools, where they are setted for Maths, and then English and Science from year 9. My sister went to another girls grammar (in the south of the city) which was quite pressured and competitive - more so than KEHS I think. But I don’t know about the three you’ve mentioned as I’ve not got girls there.

You should go to all the open days and ask these questions. I’ve also heard that QM has a slightly wider ability range and is very supportive.

If you live in Sutton I probably wouldn’t choose KE Hamdsworth over Sutton girls as I’m not sure what you’d gain from the extra travel? They’re both state grammars with very similar intakes. Obviously QM is a different exam so it’s possible your daughter would score more highly in the Walsall exam so best to have that as an option.

In what way did you think KEHS was more academic? Harder to get in or harder work when they’re there? Lots of girls get offers from both and once there, they all do the same GCSEs so really, there can’t be a huge difference. My son at grammar has done similar work to my daughter at KEHS.

If these are all academically selective schools what provision have you made for her not passing the exams?

In what way did you think KEHS was more academic?
Probably due to the headline GCSE 9-7 grades of 92%!

To clarify - there's a significant gap in the exam results achieved between KEHS and the rest of the schools on OP's list.

Thank you all for your replies I'm most grateful.

Crazycrofter - I have been told the entrance exam for kehs is much harder than the 11plus for grammar schools so on that basis I assumed it was a more academic school. It's good to here that it isn't too competitive. I'd like my dd to go somewhere that isn't pressurised as she always tries her best and doesn't need extra push (my ds on the other ...different story). I'd prefer to avoid schools where they rank the children etc

HPFA - yes true we need a back up - we should be in catchment for plantsbrook.

Sansou - thank you....it seems like kehs might be more for the super bright children I need to investigate further

I wouldn’t worry that KEHS is for the super bright - certainly my dd found the entrance exam easier than the 11 plus. She scored just about enough to get into Sutton girls and KE Hamdsworth, but not a high score, yet she was awarded a bursary, as was a friend who didn’t get into any of the Birmingham grammars.

The GCSE results suggest there is a much smaller ‘tail’ of lower (B grade!) performers but that’s possibly to do with other factors, maybe the support most of the girls have outside of school, as well as smaller classes and more support in school. They take a similar ability range to KE Hamdsworth from what I can see.

Ps try the elevenplusexams site - the Birmingham forum - for opinions about the other schools

If grammar doesn’t work out and you are looking for a half way house between KEHS and less academic schools such as Edgbaston or Highclare (latter generally has poorer GCSE results than a good comp) then Solihull would be a good compromise. There are buses from Sutton. However I will caveat that by saying Solihull suits a certain child. The day to day pastoral care isn’t there although kicks in really well if there is something serious going on. The school also really likes compliant DCs who are outstanding in something eg in sports or drama or academics. Otherwise your DC will tend to get slightly sidelined. There is also a lot if nepotism in the school (prizes always going to teachers kids). Having said that for those who suit the school, the DCs are generally a nice social bunch and they will have a great time.

I think KEHS does brilliantly with its girls but can be a hot house (not because of the school but because of the type of high achieving families who are attracted there). Some friends have pulled their girls in 6th form because of this.

Dancingdreamer - thank you for such valuable information, very useful as I'm new to this. How do ehs and Solihull compare? In terms of hot housing?

Are these private schools more hot houses than the grammar schools or is the education similar ?

Does anyone have any experience of plantsbrook please?

Thanks again everyone

Also an idea of ability range at these schools would be great to know if anyone can shed light on this?

EHS is seen as a back up to KEHS for girls in the Harborne, Edgbaston area. It’s a nice school but suffers from comparison with KEHS. Solihull tries to claim that it is highly academic but it’s really not on a par with KEHS. It is more of an all rounder school with excellent music and drama and decent sports.

I am not sure how interested you are in pupil progress or added value. Academically the information I have seen suggests that KEHS, EHS and Solihull all have a neutral added value scores meaning the the children achieve in line with expectations but don’t exceed them. I think it is much harder for KEHS to prove increased academic outcomes given the strength of the cohort but some people would expect schools to demonstrate some increase for the money paid.

I forgot to say that Solihull probably puts a bit more pressure on their DC academically and will ask students to leave if they are not considered to be performing. There seems to be a small number of DC each year also being asked to leave between LIV and UIV mainly because they have partied too hard and forgotten their studies. I don’t hear the same about EHS or KEHS.

Queen Mary's was my old school! Left in the late '90s but very fond memories and was so happy there. Some of my old school friends are going through entry with their daughters now.

I would definitely urge you to look at the school. It's not a super top Grammar, but I see that as a good thing. I'd expect it's still very down to earth being in Walsall too.

Hello! Would anyone on this forum be able to shed light on levels of homework between Sutton girls, kehs and ehs please ? We've narrowed it down to these three now!!! We are in Sutton so the former is the most convenient, however need to consider other factors as well Thank you so much really appreciate your advice 😊