Girls schools in Reading

[IdaBow]

Hi mumsnetters - needing some input on school choice for Y7 2021. It is very hard to pick schools without stepping inside them. For academic, sports loving girl would you suggest The Abbey, St Jo's, Queen Anne's or any other suggestions? Thank you!

Leighton Park?

I would say that out of those three, Queen Anne's is the most sporty and The Abbey is the most academic. Queen Anne's is more of an all rounder school and The Abbey possibly more of a 'hot house', so it depends what you are looking for really.

Kendrick Girls School?

Kendrick

Thank you! Kendrick requires a great performance in a one-off exam so can't just consider that one. Any recent views on The Abbey and new head, lockdown learning etc? Does it beat local secondaries?

@teachcolate Leighton Park isn't a girls school is it?

I wanted to go to Queen Anne's as a child. It looked unbelievably posh! Sorry not helpful.

I know of a few very bright girls at Queen Anne's, so it does also cater for more academic girls. Some of their parents actually chose it because they wanted a more rounded experience for their daughters. I also have a few friends with girls at The Abbey and St Joe's. I don't know any details particularly, but they all seem happy with their daughters' schools, so I think they are all good schools. St Joe's is obviously co-ed which you may or may not want.

@ImNotWhoYouThinkIam St Joseph is also co-Ed. So I thought she considers co-ed, too.

My DD was offered a place at The Abbey this year but we didn't choose it because of recent issues and some negative reviews. I don't have any personal experience at other schools but heard good things about QA. I agree with PPs. The Abbey is the most academic and QA is an all rounder school.

@teachcolate ah it never used to be and I didn't realise it had changed. My apologies.

I have a DD at the Abbey. She is settled and happy but I have my reservations - new Head Teacher of Junior school and new overall Head of Senior and Junior.
There is not enough focus - in my opinion on the academics - yes the pastoral care and the focus on it is good - but the school appears to have become ashamed of being an academic school and in one virtual speech recently, the head of Junior school seemed to dismiss exams as "just an entry into something else".
Sorry - if I ever need brain surgery, or go on a plane - I would like to think the person in charge has had an excellent education and is highly intelligent - not skilled at identifying "unconscious bias".

I do have some pretty strong reservations about the direction the school is going in but I don't think I would move my daughter - I just feel that I have to be very involved in how she is doing at school and make sure for myself that she is on track.

May I ask *teachcolate" where you did choose?

@ambybamby I will PM you.

From recent postings on the school‘s website, I worry that the new leadership in the School are more interested in pushing their agenda to comment on “a wide range of issues that affect education, the UK and the wider world“ and less interested in actually teaching children and enabling them to become future scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers etc etc - professions that require you to be able to learn something at a deep level and have a respect for that learning.
I hope they are not going to push away the good teachers who want to get on with the business of educating the children.

Interesting. As an Abbey old girl, it was entirely about academics and nothing else. In contrast my DH went to a similar boys school which was packed with pastoral activities.

If it's now teaching girls more than academic hothousing that would be a big plus to me.

Well it is very far from an “academic hothouse” . The academics are getting forgotten in every single thing that this new head is saying. So it seems that the school wants to bend over backwards to lose it’s old reputation - and the current pupils may very well pay the price for that.

Thank you for your honesty ambybamby. That makes it difficult! Fees are so high these days that it has to be good. I am still uncertain over private education I think!

I don't want to be negative - there are many good things about the school, the IB is a great advantage I think. But when a new Head says nothing about the importance of science, maths, of learning core, fundamentally important subjects and all you hear is stuff about "being nice is the most important thing" I want to tear my hair out.

Maybe it comes from him coming from an extremely privileged background (from what I have been able to read about him) whereas working class people like me, people who see the huge amount of money that you are sacrificing to give your child a better education because your local school is no good and you want your child to have the opportunities that you didn't have - people like me understand what is important in education.

Hi mums,
We have been thinking for applying for Abbey School, Reading for our daughter. She will be looking to join YR 3.
Been reading a lot about teachers leaving due to employers pension discontinuing, new head teacher, etc.
Not came across much regarding junior school. Can anyone share their experiences please?
Many thanks.

my daughter has joined the Abbey Senior School this year. We have been very impressed with the care and support they have given the girls over a very difficult time. The online teaching has been great and the pastoral support outstanding.
The new head is focused very much on ensuring that the girls achieve and are successful by being happy and confident, without forcing constant academic pressure.
We have been super impressed with and have every confidence in the way the new Head is leading the school.