Cheadle Hulme School entrance exams

[GaryWilmotsWedding]

Hi all. After a slightly strange few weeks of rushed thinking and messing about, my 2 DCs have been offered places at CHS, in infants and juniors. They currently attend a very nice state primary, but are not particularly stimulated/stretched. This is not necessarily an issue but we do have some concerns. There are many reasons why I am totally conflicted about what to do but rather than bombard people with that, can I please ask about experience of CHS entrance exams for Senior school?
One of the main reasons we are considering taking up the offers is to ensure a place at secondary as there are limited private co-Ed options near us. Is this total overkill? They are both bright although not seemingly ‘gifted’, but hard to say at their ages and I’ve not really worried about it to this point - they’re just tiny kids! So, how hard is it to get into CHS from state primary? Any thoughts/experience v helpful, thank you. I’d really appreciate specific local experience. I’ve agonised over the more holistic arguments around state versus primary so now looking for real world experiences if possible. Thanks!

You’ve now got me singing the theme tune to So you wanna be Top, btw 😂

@Garywilmotswedding I don't think it's difficult to get into CHS in terms of the exam, I don't know anyone who has "failed" the exam. Purely anecdotally though I've heard this year the school is massively oversubscribed and several people who saw it as a safe bet if their children didn't pass the Trafford grammar tests haven't got places.

CHS is defo seem as the easier one to get it. I know plenty who didn't get into Trafford Grammars or MGS who are heading there. All the Didsbury schools are good. Huge benefits to local mates and being able to walk back and worth to school etc Didsbury High has current area cut off at less than a mile. It's a very densely populated& very demographically mixed area round there and the siblings have just started coming through.
I'd say it depends on if you want to pay out that much in fees etc for several years when it's prob not needed.
I wouldn't forget that Parrswood is one of the best schools in Manchester and sends an impressive number to oxbridge every year.

[quote Liverbird77]@GaryWilmotsWedding I have a boy and a girl. I think some of the local schools are nice, but we aren't religious, which rules out some, and my boy is quite shy and sensitive and I think he'd struggle in a huge primary. I also worry about the class sizes.[/quote]
Just because a school is big your child doesn't suffer. Whatever school they go to their world will evolve around the 15-30 children in their class. Their teacher & TA are the most important things. I've been into a huge number of schools and seen this first hand. Big schools are organised differently and often have better resources and specialised staff. By Yr6 tiny schools are claustrophobic for many children: I know several saying that from year 4-5 at the school in question.

[quote Chihuahuacat]@Liverbird77 I think the catchment is currently so small as it’s one form entry - I believe they are planning to expand but not sure when.

Out of interest, what made you choose a knutsford prep rather than moor allerton / a Trafford prep?[/quote]
Didsbury High has an intake of 210 kids. It's a tiny catchment due to the density of the housing round it - Big estates and loads new housing. They'll be two forms of WestDids kids in that area also applying from next year. Off topic but worth noting

@firedog would you mind me asking where you got the information about Parrswood sending pupils to Oxbridge? As I wrote earlier in the thread, we haven't lived in the area for long and don't know the schools well and I'm looking for the future for my child. The info I have found points to Parrswood being average across the board. I don't necessarily mind this, and my child may end up there, but it would be lovely to find out it's as good as you say.

www.pwsfc.org.uk/Life-at-PWSFC/Oxbridge-Pathway/
They have an Oxbridge pathway

firedog you’ve reminded me of my brother being pulled in for a chat with a senior member of staff at MGS when he announced he was going to Parrs Wood for 6th form.
‘Do you know what their average results are compared to ours?’
‘But I’m not average, Sir’ he was a cocky little shit really but it was true...

@Neptunesgiraffe I can't find the numbers but it's quite a lot and 2019 was a record breaking year. The overall results may look more 'average' but that's because it's a big diverse catchment and hence cater literally for all. A lot of kids do the more vocational stuff etc High performers are pushed. I know a vast number of kids there and also teachers.

@firedog thanks for sharing your insights.
I was aware that PW had some Oxbridge success, along with medical school also.
I think my concern is that it is such a huge school. I'd be worried my kids would be lost in the system. Also, there was a recent story about a girl who killed herself because of bullying there.
I suppose I'd have to look round closer to the time.

I briefly worked with a teacher who sent his kids there. He said it was fine if you were in the top sets, but not so great if you weren't. Does that reflect what you know about the school?

Personally I think success at High School is down to a complex range of things...Intake, the group of kids your child hangs out with, how much a parent engages with it, how much you push your own child, the child's motivation etc. A lot of non selective state schools IME have the 'middle' effect.. SEN and those needing support get it, High sets get pushed hard and the middle get a decent education. I certainly know that not all kids at eg CH Laurus get top results either... (Teen suicide has happened there too and lots of other schools in the area. That's a whole different thread re teen bullying).
It very very much depends on your measure of success. PWHS has a fabulous art dept, recording studios, dance studios, good sports facilities and over 50 clubs. For a less academic child success may not be 9 GCSEs etc

@GaryWilmotsWedding I think it depends on how happy you are to spend around £20k a year for the remaining primary years and how dead set you are on that school for secondary. The DC there will come from a big area so we

..oops.. so weigh up the benefits v local friends: albeit they'll probably stay in tough with their existing ones.
I've personally never known anyone fail the CHS exams. I think as long as they are bright they get in.

I wouldn't be that concerned with local friends if I didn't think the school they were at was as good as it could be.
There's lots of stuff to get involved with locally anyway, and existing friendships can be maintained.

I went to private primary about a 30 min drive from home, then secondary, which was more than an hour away. I made great friends at both, socialised with them when we were at school and my best friend to this day is a girl I met at seven years old! As long as your prepared to be a bit of a taxi service for a few years then it's all good!

*you're
In my defence, I have spent the best part of the day at an outdoor play centre, and I am absolutely knackered!!!

@Liverbird77 I get that side if you have a gregarious outgoing child. Most if not of the local clubs round Dids are packed with kids that all know each other or at least go same schools etc The child that starts knowing no one often does have to then try break into friendship groups. I've seen this across a range of sports, drama, Cubs etc It can be harder to make full local friendships.
They don't get the benefits of being in just meeting school mates in park after school, popping between houses constantly and by Yr5/6 going there and the village on their own.

@minuetpiece I agree, but the OP's children already have friends in the local school.

I am not concerned about my own children missing out because we know so many people from the various baby and toddler groups.
I think my boy will do Scouts or Boys' Brigade, as well as a couple of sports, so he'll meet plenty of local kids.

Yes. OP just needs to decide if she's definite on CH for High and whether it's worth the extra £20k year to get a place in advance.
I'd not fancy all the extra driving myself but the facilities and privileges are great. I might think differently if I was minted

@minuetpiece it all comes down to cash, I suppose.
I mean, if I was absolutely minted I'd be sending my kids to Marlborough, or maybe Gordonstoun!

Out of interest, have you heard anything about the Barlow? It's obviously between that, PW and maybe Burnage Boys at a push for state secondary.

Not heard anything bad about Barlow. Smallest of the 3 Didsbury schools and large catchment. RC obviously so depends if you want catholic. Plenty are perfectly happy with it. StCaths is the nearest feeder school but StCath's kids also go all over the place for high.

I actively want to avoid it because we don't want a Catholic education, but it's the nearest one to us.
Thanks for all the info!

The students we know who go to CHS are mainly happy there, though we do know of a couple who left as it didn't suit them. We don't know of anyone who has 'failed' the entrance exam. It does tend to be seen as a school where pupils who don't pass for the Trafford Grammars and aren't in the catchment for the excellent Wellington school go to. I believe that the Cheadle Hulme High school (state) that backs on to it is excellent and considering the intake get comparable results. I would consider the Trafford Grammars/Wellington, Parrswood, Stockport Grammar and Kings Macc before CHS.

Thanks everyone. It’s not about the cash really, more about the value of it, iyswim. Expensive doesn’t always mean better (in fact only occasionally has this been true in my life!) and it’s not about buying a solution - I am prepared to be very involved in their education and support them in extra curricular activities. For my kids, there’s a great deal of value in the set up we currently have that goes beyond the classroom, and I don’t want to lose that. But I also don’t want to forgo what could be a great opportunity for them. Ultimately I’m not sure it’s the right time for them to move, and I think I might just have to grit my teeth and cross fingers they can both get in at a later date. I can’t really get over the idea of taking my eldest out of a school she is very happy in. It seems kind of crazy! I really like CHS though....

In terms of PWHS, I have only heard really good things about it from teacher friends and parents. BUT, as others have said, those a very bright students and involved parents. Might be that those less able aren’t getting the attention they deserve.

Should also say that it’s less about academics for us, all about attitude and having a go. I want them both to be in an environment where they feel no fear of failure and enjoy taking part for its own sake. So CHS exam results are of less interest and more about the values and attitude of the school. All I really want for my kids is for them to learn as early as possible that life is more fun when you get involved, whatever the ‘result’. My elder child is already showing plenty of signs of being afraid of trying in case she fails and the school don’t do much to coax her out of this.

I don't know what CHS is like for that but schools do vary in that respect. Some schools seem very set in their ways. Confidence issues are so common in girls who often then just opt out of trying. Luckily there are sooo many clubs round the area to help with that even if the school don't see it as a big issue.