Essex Schools- Westcliff/Southend Girls?

[essexmum2020]

Hi,

DD is sitting 11plus in September but after the open evenings for Southend High for Girls and Westcliff High for Girls we're still undecided about which would be the best option for her if she were to pass the test (quite likely- we're local and she's performed well in mocks/at school).

She liked both schools equally.

Does anyone have experience of either school?

Yes, of both. Well, DS1, who was at SHSG for A levels, and DD, more than us. DD was at SHSG to GCSE, then (having never liked WHSG at all previously) decided to move for sixth form. And regretted it, but realised that she would really have preferred to stay at SHSG just too late to ask to go back without waiting to restart year 12 the following year. Not that she would wish to dis Westcliff, but she felt that SHSG was overall a happier, more relaxed school. There will be a new HT (?in September), though, which may be good/ bad / make no difference.

If your DD has visited both and genuinely has no preference, then I would go with the one which is easier to get to. Remember, if she passes, you will be invited to visit again between results day and the CAF submission deadline (although I think the WHSG meeting has been just for parents in the past?).

(SHSG has the nicer uniform, imo).

SHSG. DD will start y11 in September.

The choice was difficult - both schools were attractive in their own ways.
In the end I made the decision based on my gut feeling after the respective headteachers talks on the open days:
WHSG's was all about the school, its achievements, its goals and what honour it was to be its student.
SHSG's was all about the girls, their potential, development, goals in life and what honour it was for the school to have such great students...

To be fair to WHSG, it's the only place I've visited where the sixth form open evening talk by the HT included the following,,,

Powerpoint mentions Russell Group
HT: ' What is the Russell Group? some of you may be wondering.

Team Frogs sits waiting for the inevitable paean of praise for The 24.

HT: The Russell Group is a group of 24 universities, that like to think that they are better than anywhere else. But they are not necessarily the best place to look for your particular course. (Examples given being Bournemouth for something in the digital arts line and Sunderland for Midwifery).

MarchingFrogs very glad chairs in hall have backs, otherwise she might have been asking nice man behind for help in scraping herself off the floor.

It is possibly only this episode that convinced me to support DD's decision to move.

(Not that SHSG would have pushed the RG at any cost line, from earlier experience).

DD starting WHSG in September. I preferred the feel of SHSG but she took one look at WHSG's library and didn't want to go anywhere else.

Am a little worried about September as she's naturally bright but lazy with it- am hoping that she falls into line at WHSG quickly!