Ibstock Place School

[givemesomewineplease]

Can anyone give me some up to date experience of this school? I've heard lots of pros and cons but things may have changed so any current parents' view would be appreciated. Need to decide whether to apply for 11+. For an academically capable girl, so I'm especially wondering how strong the teaching is and how nice the environment is.

Bump anyone?

Not very selective, traditionally. If you're really interested, you may want to look at some sample 11-plus papers. You could even write to the school to ask them what they're looking for in prospective pupils.

Where do you live exactly? I could suggest alternative schools.

I've heard it's become more selective in recent years and is getting tougher to get into and shouldn't be regarded as a back up school

We've decided to apply for 11+ for DD - who is reasonably academic but unfortunately quite disinterested in 11+ process! I think it would suit her, but let's see. I didn't warm to the headteacher - she seems quite old school, but seems to be doing a good job.

There were good things about the school when I looked around but I'm not quite sure what to make of the Head. Also there has been talk about the excessive amounts of homework, which I don't think should be necessary at least until later. So I wondered if things like that had changed. Tbh, looking at this as a back-up but I don't want to apply if we wouldn't really consider sending her there. And I just don't feel I know it enough. Most of the schools we're applying to are super academic so if things don't go to plan, we need a slightly less uber selective school.

How about St James's school for girls or a Consortium school instead? Ibstock is quite a "marmite" school for a back up.

I just don't think St James would cut it for me - the girls I know there are v average academically. Ruling out FHSS based on the limit of 9 GCSEs and the impossible logistics of the early morning sports training. We are applying to NHES as we really liked it but that is literally all we have in terms of back-up schools ... and I am fully aware that isn't a guarantee. My dd is v bright and I think should get into one of the super selective schools but what if she fluffs the exams or isn't good at interview. But we don't have a guaranteed good state option so I'm trying to work out on worst case scenario, which school would I be happy with (and happy to fork out £££ for!). Passed on Harrodian so now umming about Ibstock. But concerned about the mixed feedback about it.

I have a great tutor who has students from here form primary and secondary it's quite pushy they get a lot of homework if you dd is academic she'll be fine however if she needs pastoral care and attention it doesn't sound like a school that gives this.... it's a lovely school down the road, however we require strong pastoral care so I doubt we'll be going for it.

Dd won't need much nurturing, just inspiring and good teaching as she has great potential. But it strikes me as odd that for the high fees and lovely setting, how can the school be falling so short on the pastoral side? I'm beginning to think FHSS might be a safer option in spite of the downsides.

Will start by saying I don't have a DC there but know quite a few happy children there and live nearby.
Both my children applied there and got in but to be honest I wouldn't really have wanted them to go there - was very much a back up if didn't get the independent/state schools we wanted.
Didn't like the head at all and found the whole admissions process very unfriendly. The offer letter just came with a bumper pack of rules.
Their results have improved a lot in recent years but some of the parents I know say this is because of huge amounts of homework from day 1 and revision, revision, revision. Not much chance to go off piste and explore outside the curriculum etc. Very strict on uniform and no SEN support whatsoever.
In contrast my DCs very selective school has very little homework in early years and screens all children for SEN when they start at the school. But it doesn't have beautifully manicured lawns and flower arrangements.
But as I said, I know happy children there- just not for us! As someone said upthread- a real marmite school! Getting more selective but everyone from my DC's class who applied got a place bar one- a clever child with SEN.
Surbiton High, Kingston Grammar?

We didn’t apply even though it has amazing dance teaching (which dd would have loved) partly because of the lack of public transport options, and partly because of the reputation for huge amounts of homework. The girls dd knows there are happy enough, but by comparison with her school it is very picky indeed about uniform, never seeing phones etc. So it would suit a child who needs very clear boundaries, I think.

Having a dd now in secondary school, I really wouldn’t under-estimate how important it is for them to be able to get themselves there and back, both at normal times and for early / late sports etc. Unless you don’t work (or your partner doesn’t) having your lives revolve around school runs by car in London traffic is something I wouldn’t be prepared to do.

Our back up was Sutton High - is that too far for you? Lovely school, very nurturing, quite small. And a only a few minutes walk from Sutton station.

Thanks @HighRopes and @centralheatingison. Your thoughts sum up exactly my concerns. My dd is naturally well-behaved and compliant, as well as self-motivated and hardworking, so she has no need for strict behaviour or uniform policies. She doesn't need piles of homework to keep up as she's a quick learner so that puts me off - I'd rather her in a fast-paced school that covers most of the work in class, at least in the initial years. I'm looking for a school that not only covers the curriculum but also goes off exploring themes on tangents. It sounds like Ibstock may frustrate me somewhat.

I also don't like that there are two exam stages even though everyone sits both, why can't they just do it all in one day, it seems unnecessarily strung out!

Sutton and KGS too far from us - we're West London. Ibstock is just possible because of the train links but not ideal, so our preferred options are closer like G&L and LU.

I think maybe as an absolute back-up I'll add FHSS to the consortium list - at least it's not another exam - but hope that she gets one of the more academic options, which I think will suit her.

I must say, these registrar/ admissions people really need to smarter up their act. They are trying to attract customers not put them off! I think they're getting so arrogant about the numbers that apply that they think children should be honoured to even be considered. From reading Mumsnet, it's incredible how many people are put off a school by their dealings with the admissions offices. Likewise a warm, friendly admissions office may encourage potential applicants to think more highly of a school. My short conversation with the registrar at IPS on the open day was off-putting as she showed absolute distain at the prospect of my dd having a quick look around on a weekday as she hadn't been able to make the open day. Surely, even if a request is against school policy and not possible, these registrars should know to look enthusiastic and say they'll look into it - just as I did in my client-facing job however ridiculous the request. It was a complete turnoff.

Why on earth would you discount a school for limiting GCSES to 9?

And just go to the open day. You sound pretty hard work tbh.

We have a child at Ibstock and I have to say it has been a wonderful school for her. She is bright and has done very well academically so far. It’s not pushy but they do care about academics and want the children to do well. Very supportive staff and despite what everyone thinks about the Head, she has done a great job with the school and has an amazing team of staff running the show, as it were. The pastoral care has been wonderful too.

It is known as a strict school but I like that. The girls definitely wear their skirts short enough and they like the boys to have a tucked in shirt... but so what?! Not a deal breaker tbh! The no phone rule is brilliant in my opinion as no self-regulating teen can let go of it these days!

If you are not 100% sure about it as your dd’s ‘back-up’ school then don’t apply! You have to view your insurance school with this point of view “If it was the only school my child gets into, would I be happy to send them there?” If the answer is “no” then do not apply! Simple as that. Things can go wrong and you just never know. I hope your dd gets into all of her highly academic schools and this isn’t an issue for you.

A bright child will do well in any of the West London schools on offer and there is no such thing as the perfect school but it always amazes me how people have an opinion about a school they do not even send their kids to!

@Trewser - ha, maybe I am hard work - truly I'm actually not but we don't have enough spare cash that I'm prepared to pay for a school that isn't worth it. Do you have personal experience of the school, if so please do share.

I went to the open day, and what was said matched pretty much every school. So how does one choose between them if, as in this case, I don't know anyone at that school to give me genuine feedback. Being in W London there are lots of schools to which we could apply so I'm making choices based on tiny differentials, and in this case I don't know enough. The Ibstock open day was self-guided so I didn't have a pupil to give me the ins and outs of their school. So far no one has come on to give a positive spin on IPS.

Have you thought about St Paul's School for Girls or Latymer?

We loved the school when we looked around and found the registrar very helpful. Why wasn’t your daughter with you on the Open Day? Surely that’s what the day is for? Imagine how busy registrars would be if they showed around anyone when it just suited them?! They shouldn’t have to bend over backwards for you!
I would choose another school if that’s truly how you feel.

Thanks so much @GandTtime! So helpful to hear from a parent there - and I assume there must be many happy parents or they wouldn't keep their children there. I did see a lot I liked about the school during the open day, otherwise I would have crossed it off the list. But concerns over excessive homework, strictness and also whether an academic child is suitably challenged are bothering me ... but tbh these mainly come from MN where people talk about schools that their kids don't even attend. Hence wanting to hear from current parents. Thank you, I really appreciate your feedback.

I wasn’t referring to you personally OP about not being at the school. I’m referring to other posters who seem to think that they know the schools well just because they have applied in the past.

I only have positive things to say about Ibstock and we are really happy with it.

GandTtime - I was in the same position as the OP, and had to make a decision about where to apply. So I shared the considerations that swayed me at the time. Of course I know much less about the school than a current parent! But that’s not the perspective I was offering - I was suggesting factors (like the journey and the level of strictness) that would differentiate it from other potential choices.

OP - if you want a school that is fast-paced and covers themes on tangents, I assume you’re looking at SPGS?

Bright kids do extremely well at Ibstock. By Year 9 they are set in all core subjects, bar humanities. The top sets do extra work and are encouraged to extend their learning.

Despite rumours they also apparently have an excellent SEN provision for those children who have been diagnosed with a learning disorder once they have started at the school. Again, something people don’t know about unless you are a parent of the school.

Thanks HighRopes. I wasn’t directly criticising you and I understand your point of view totally. Some other bold statements about the school from other posters on here just seem unfair and not substantiated with personal experience.

Yes surely SPGS has everything you are looking for.

Thanks again all. Have applied to SPgS, and yes I loved it but it's such an elite school that I can't imagine how my gentle little summer born state school dd has a chance but anyway, she's going to give it a go! She's academic but certainly no genius. Tbh, dd is v easy going and would love any school - state included - and I know she would love the grounds of Ibstock. But there's so much choice for girls, and only so many exams I can make her do, that I have to narrow it down. V happy with our main choices, it's just the elusive back-up. Thanks again for all the thoughts.

Have you considered Surbiton High as your ‘back up’?