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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

I read in the Telegraph (I know, I know, but bear with me) that there are a couple of websites with warts and all independent discussion of private senior schools...

80 replies

MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 12:33

but I cannot for the life of me remember what they are called, nor can I find the paper I read it in. Anyone have any idea? Not the good schools guide - more informal. I have a feeling one was called Peter something but I may have made that up.

Alternatively, I've been hearing some pretty hairy things about Marlborough College recently - anyone have any info about it?

Ta muchly

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 16:51

(nb Enid, tis good to see you .
In your absence I made a chocolate cake from your recipe with the vinegar, which was superb, and had a daughter.)

heifer · 16/10/2007 17:04

Mrs B good to see you have your priorities correct, telling Enid about the cake 1st and DD 2nd!

MrsBadger · 16/10/2007 17:06

chronology, not priority
cake was for my farewell work party

batters · 16/10/2007 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Enid · 16/10/2007 18:11

oh badge that is fantastic about the cake

Tamum · 16/10/2007 18:16

That is really upsetting about the shaggability lists. Definitely worth avoiding for your dd

Original poster
MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 19:17

enid, not L, but going to look at ssg next month! aurgh! makes me want to pierce my nose IMMEDIATELY

yes it is horrific isn't it, but I only know about it because my niece told me. what's to say it (or things like it) don't go on in all sorts of other places? that's what I find scary....

bearsmom there is a bit of an exodus from StFP at the moment, are you aware of that? Are you north of marlborough or south? I can fill you in on prep schools in the area if you are interested...

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Tamum · 16/10/2007 19:54

PPH, we model pupils at BSFG used to snip bits out of safety pins so we could make them look as though they went through our lips. I can show you how if you like, I'm sure it would go down well

Original poster
MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 19:58

ha hahahahahahahaha
I seem to remember doing something elaborate with paperclips and the tops of our ears, in a similar vein

OP posts:
Tamum · 16/10/2007 20:01

Oh, you're going to look a picture Perhaps you could rig dd out in similar fashion, to really stand out from the crowd?

Original poster
MintyDixCharrington · 16/10/2007 20:03

oh god I'm not bringing HER, that's like SO unCOOL....

OP posts:
Tamum · 16/10/2007 20:04
Grin
bearsmom · 17/10/2007 07:54

Minty, interesting about the exodus from StFP - any ideas why? I wondered why their reception year was exceptionally small and why they were so desperate for me to sign up (and why they indulge in saturation advertising in the local papers!). Despite it being my second visit I still didn't warm to the place so it's definitely out for us. Would definitely be interested in anything you know about other prep schools in the area (we're just on the edge of Marlborough).

MrsJohnCusack · 17/10/2007 08:39

I nearly went to MC for the 6th form, and the reason I didn't was because of the attitude towards the girls and the shaggability lists etc. (and when I was going to go, there were even fewer girls at the school, so it would have possibly been even worse)

Thank god I didn't go, because I do think it would have finished me off altogether

Original poster
MintyDixCharrington · 17/10/2007 10:40

I don't know chapter and verse (although I can find out, let me make some enquiries!) but I think the head is not popular, and has slight delusions of grandeur. ie it used to be a really nice, friendly, small school but it is now trying to be much bigger and bigger league and has turned off a lot of parents in the process.
Other choices are Pinewood (you should go and look, excellent), Farleigh if you are more that way (has its detractors but v good I think), the Mill at Potterne if you feel like going towards Devizes is sweet and nice, and St Margarets Calne (but no good for boys, they all disappear off to boarding schools at 8 because it only goes up to 11, they can't put together a team with the boys that are left!)
Pinewood your obvious choice. Need to get names on lists now though. CAT me if you want full details!

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 17/10/2007 11:01

My son (3.7) has just started Pinewood and he absolutely loves it. He's in the nursery and is really responding to the traditional, non-pushy approach -home corner emergant (sp) writing ect.

The older children are always poilte and have wonderful manners.

Meadowpark in Cricklade was very pushy in getting the children to write their names and branding them less able if they couldn't at 3!

ProlificRegular · 17/10/2007 13:46

I also have a child in the nursery at Pinewood! As well as a couple more higher up the school. Don't worry Muppet, I won't try and ID you if you don't try and ID me! I agree it is fab, both at the preprep level which is very lovely and nice, and at the prep school. I have no complaints at all. It is on a bit of a roll though, and most of the years are pretty full, so it is worth going and having a look and getting your name down. The Good School Guide is quite accurate I think. There are a lot of people there who have left St Francis Pewsey to go there, so there is obviously something going wrong with that school I'd think. Good luck!

bearsmom · 17/10/2007 15:03

Thanks Minty. I didn't like the head of StFP at all. I'd agree that he has delusions of grandeur and I got the feeling that he sees the children who are at the school simply in terms of what they can do to raise the school's profile rather than seeing them as individuals with different talents and needs. Also during our visit he also managed to make racist remarks about the residents of a couple of European countries which left me very unimpressed. I think Pinewood may be our best bet and I'll book a visit (I think I have their website bookmarked but if I can't find their contact info I'll CAT you). One question - do you know if any of the years at Pinewood have to attend lessons on Saturdays?

Sorry for hijacking your thread a bit, but thanks for the help.

bearsmom · 17/10/2007 15:04

Too many "alsos" in there. Have spent the morning on a course about tax. Has fried my brain!

BeetrootMNRoyalty · 17/10/2007 15:07

Maybe to the school my kids are at?

Original poster
mintydixcharrington · 17/10/2007 16:31

bearsmom, do email me on minty at matmel dot com, that would probably be better than me posting here with too many Pinewood parents around for comfort...

aurgh! triple aurgh! re racist remarks. Isn't it dumbfounding that (a) he has those views and (b) he shares them with prospective parents. Sort of insulting personally too, because presumeably he thought you'd agree with him??? Depressing.

OP posts:
Original poster
mintydixcharrington · 17/10/2007 16:32

beety you are MILES away from us really
good school though (you know my mil is a gov?!)
pity

OP posts:
BeetrootMNRoyalty · 17/10/2007 16:34

yes I remember. Shame !

Original poster
mintydixcharrington · 17/10/2007 16:47

actually I've CATed you bearsmom

OP posts:
bearsmom · 17/10/2007 20:15

Minty, I didn't have myself set up to get CAT messages, so your message might not have got through. I've just changed the settings so things should get through now.

Yes, the racist remarks were dumbfounding. Luckily we were close to the end of the tour by that point and only had to put up with him for another five minutes or so. Awful man.