St. Catherine's, City of London Freemen's, Caterham, Chigwell & Headington Y7 - grateful for your thoughts

[CCGL]

Hi all,
We are currently overseas and didn't get a chance to visit any of the above schools which our DD has received an offer (Y7). Would be most grateful for your views and opinions. DD is academically bright but may not be the most confident type.

Hence any thoughts or experiences re pastoral care, typical style / type of students, acdemic requirements (day, hot-house or not) & any bullying at schools etc, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks you!

Very different!

St Catherines is single sex, so is Headington. The rest are co-ed.
St Catherine's in in the countryside (a village), the rest aren't as rural. Some are predominantly boarding, others less so.

Questions to ask: how many are around at weekends? What are her interests etc. (For example you can have lessons n the Church organ at St Catherine;'s).

That's quite a range, are you looking at boarding?

Thanks both
We are applying for a day place. Would love to know more about the school's ethos and "character", say competitive level betweenstudents, pastoral care, and emphasis of the school apart from academic, etc. As we are relocating from overseas, dd may too need a bit of time and support before she can settle in, and to explore her interests and strength (though, comparatively, she may be more a sport, than a music person)

As we didn't get the chance to visit any of the schools, we can only learn from the schools' websites etc, hence wish to have more opinions from you all.

Thanks again !

Caterham has quite an international feel, although perhaps less so until further up the school as more boarders arrive. Decent pastoral care, strong sport and wide range of co-curricular activities. Main intake at 11 of which the prep school is around a third with most of others joining from a range of local private schools. CLFS has a reputation for strong academics at the expense of pastoral care.

Thanks LIZS. This is helpful to know.

As between Caterham & St Catherine’s, any thought? got an impression that St Catherine’s is more competitive with quite heavy emphasis on excellence in whatever they are doing. Wondering if this is the case and if this would breed too much competition or too hot-housy? thx

Avoid City of London Freemen's. It's an awful, brutal, uncaring place. Pastoral care very poor/non existent. Boys get a much better deal sports wise than the girls (unbelievable in this day and age but true!). Bullying rife and school couldn't care less. Teaching is uninspiring and stale, especially in the junior school. Caterham though is great - super pastoral care, great sport, fabulous music, supportive and enthusiastic staff. Children are supportive to each other.

Congratulations! I hope you can have a decision so that places can be given to those on the WL.

Thanks !

We have decided to go for Caterham, and have already released all other places earlier this month... Hope DD will have a good time there.

Thx everyone for your very kind sharing!