New to the county and dreading the time. Help!

[dreadingthetime]

Hello, I have newly moved in Essex (out of M25) and looking for independent school for my DD. Seems like there isn't many options. Brentwood and Felsted are probably the only good options. Can any one give me an insight on how good they are with regards to academics? Like their approach to push the most ables, commitment towards STEM subjects, extra carricular activities. Being independent schools they are good in beating their own drums. So really want some genuine feedback on them.

Little bump for you, no personal experience but I have three friends with 8 children between them that attend Brentwood and they don't have a bad word to say about it.

Any suggestion how the teachers are? do they manage to push children to their next level? how they encourage participation in various co curriculars? Would be interested to know about the science and maths department.

There’s also New Hall in Chelmsford. If you want a very academic school, have you thought about the grammars?

New Hall is a religious school as well. We decided not to go the grammar route as DD will best flourish in an independent school. Am not looking for too academic school. But a good school should be able to challenge all abilities and help them to reach and exceed individual potential well.

Yes, I know that New Hall is Catholic as my DC have attended it. However, there are very few Catholic children there. Mine were very much in the minority as Catholics. It’s got very good academics, but we didn’t feel that it stretched our very academic DC1 so we opted for grammar for them. Exam results wise it’s better than Felsted. Felsted was traditionally used as a back up for New Hall prep parents who were worried that their DC wouldn’t get into the senior department at New Hall. Brentwood and New Hall are a similar level result wise though this year New Hall accepted children who didn’t get into Brentwood.

Oh and both Felsted and Brentwood are Christian school with their own chapels.

Hmm good point. Noted. And seems like Brentwood is better than Felsted and Newhall academically as well?

Are you too far out for Bancroft’s? It is more academic than the others mentioned.

Bancroft is far and completely other end of Essex inside M25. Also I checked, it do not have any school coach as it tries to encourage kids from relatively nearby places to attend so they can then participate in various co curriculars etc, which I understand. My DD is very enthusiastic in participating in various activities, has natural talent in art and also keen on maths and sciences. So trying to find a school which will have good co curricular provisions and will be able to support an academic enthusiast :-)

Ah OK. That’s a shame.

Brentwood School Leavers destination looks impressive and is very thorough. Seems like it has an edge over other indies in the area

Bumping on to this oldish thread. My DD got an offer from Brentwood. Please share good/not so good experiences. Will be really good to know the culture, work load, academics, life in the school.

bump :-)

@whatinname I'd recommend starting a new thread and making sure Brentwood and the county/region is in the title, to get a better chance of hearing from people with local knowledge.

Hello,
My daughter was at New Hall Preparatory and also year 7 and 8 Senior school. Teachers kept leaving and had about 6 different teachers in one year in Maths, she was about 2 years behind. On top of that she was terribly bullied, so had to remove her from the school as was very worried about her mental health.
She also attended Felsted School which was equally dissapointing, as very poorly academically and unfriendly, as the children that have been there the longest already have their close groups and the new ones are excluded, so in my experience you just pay for the name of the school and nice grounds. Waist of money both schools! I have 2 friends with children at Brentwood and they seem very happy.