Sevenoaks School or Caterham

[SensibleMum1]

Would be interested to hear views from parents at both schools. In particular is the IB (offered by Sevenoaks) harder than A levels. With Caterham, my concern is that we live in the Sevenoaks area and I have seen a number of people from different parts of Surrey (e.g. Epsom) also considering this school. This makes me concerned about how difficult it would be for DC to meet up with friends.

Both seem to be fantastic schools.

There is school bus route from Sevenoaks to Caterham. There s a wide geographical spread but they find a way to meet.

There is school bus route from Sevenoaks to Caterham. There s a wide geographical spread but they find a way to meet.

Current Sevenoaks parent (name changed) and love love love it. Live in Kent, chose it over SS grammar. Seems to manage to get stellar results without feeling like a hothouse. Sense of curiosity and enquiry when it comes to academics, very light touch on assessment in lower years, with more of an emphasis on learning for its own sake, which feels right at that age. Lots of focus on student independence and service, nice feeling of modernity and not being bound by tradition. Lovely campus. Sport, music and drama are very inclusive - lots of opportunities and recognition even for those who aren't 'stars' in their field. New head seems great so far. Very international outlook. Obviously lots of wealth around, but has always felt pretty down to earth - few extras on the bill, a sense of awareness from the school that not everyone is loaded, increasing focus on bursaries.

Re the IB, we're not quite there yet, but from talking to others I think it's not necessarily harder than A levels but it's not for everyone. Suits a relative all-rounder, and perhaps a greater volume of work than three A levels? There's always the option to move for sixth form - plenty join at Year 12 but some leave too, to do A levels elsewhere.

Be aware though, that although Sevenoaks has plenty of local kids, it also has quite a lot who travel out of London on the train (plus international boarders of course), so don't assume that all the day kids will be local friends. And don't forget to look at transport - if you're not walking distance, then there's no school transport apart from the minibus from the station.

Don't know Caterham at all, so can't compare.

Thank you, that is very helpful

namechange
Sevenoaks has been fantastic - intellectual, curious and outward looking culture, not arrogant or stuffy and properly co-Ed. Wonderful campus. IMHO not at all a hothouse just full of naturally academic curious motivated students. Lots of fantastic co-curriculum in the timetable as well as all the extra clubs and societies. Oh and prep is very light touch until IB.

IB is not for all but I would say very very different to A levels - not better or worse. My DC relieved to not narrow subject areas too soon but I realise many would prefer to wave goodbye to more subjects!
Day students come from wide area. Friendships strong across day and boarders. We live a train ride away as do many and it doesn't seem to impact friendships at all. Also, lots of social opportunities at school.
I don't know anything about Caterham really apart from hearing of it when siblings are there.

My two pence worth is Sevenoaks is like a mini university. For the self motivated go getter type of student there is a wealth of opportunities to excel. But I don't think there is any push or pressure to participate.

Same with academics. Excellent teachers and feedback but it's up to the student if they want to take it on board or not.

I think IB IS harder than AL but no one can really say unless the same student has done both at the same time which is impossible. To get a level seven in higher level maths I feel is so much harder than AL maths. If aiming for the top Unis most specify 7's or 6's in the higher levels subjects. So it's like doing 4.5 AL and you still need to do theory of knowledge, extended essay and community service on top .

I think educationally it's a superior course (IB)

Sevenoaks is also a very modern almost international school. So there is not much culture or tradition involved. If this suits you and your child it's fine.

Don't know much about Caterham except the people I know whose kids go there are happy. It's not as academic as Sevenoaks though

As for friendship groups, as long as you live in a train route I don't think it's an issue although more socialising takes place in Sevenoaks than Bromley for example as in students who live away tends to come into Sevenoaks to socialise more than the other way round

Any school but Sevenoaks, I would rather send my child to a prison!!! The staff do not listen. Remove your child whilst u still can!!!

I agree with post of 17/05. The pastoral care is awful at the school. A lot of children are highly tutored and I suspect great IB average comes from the foreign element. I have 2 children at the school and am not putting my third there despite being offered a place.

I agree too with the sentiments posts of 17/5 and 20/7.

The environment is really pressured and then all the pupils pick up on that and everyone feels pressured. Survival of the fittest (mentally) otherwise it’s crushing.

Staff are nice and helpful but it is like university. There is a weight of expectation (95pc A star A grades at GCSE doesn’t come through osmosis).

The pace is very fast so if something happens and your child is seriously ill then it’s very difficult to catch up and the onus is on them to do it, but if they’re fed up/ overwhelmed then it’s hard and there is little slack.

The environment and facilities are wonderful and the pupils nice so once in if you find it’s the wrong school, then the pupils can feel as though they’ve not cut the mustard if they leave.

I have learned that bright children don’t always flourish in the “best” environment because that comes with pressure.

The staff are nice but don’t really seem to understand mental health.

Also although it’s not stuffy, it’s very posh and there is a lot of money (and expectation that everyone is loaded) which can be a bit much for your child.