TGGS (Torquay Girls) or Churston Ferrers Grammar School

[Cindefuckingrella]

My daughter was lucky enough to get a yes to both TGGS and Churston grammar school however we need to decide without seeing the schools in person. Can anyone with experience of either help please? We’re keeping an open mind and live between the two, although Torquay is more convenient. Thank you 🙏

I have no insider information, but the two are seem like really quite different.

Most people have an instinctive preference for, other things being equal either co-ed or single sex.

Most people have an instinctive preference for, regardless of whether the fees are affordable or not, state or private, often [though not always] driven by which route the parents went down.

Families' ability to pay the fees varies on a spectrum from, I suppose, 'impossible' through 'tough' and then 'OK' right through to 'trivially easy'.

I suppose what I'm saying is: only OP can really choose, in the absence of e.g. a dud Ofsted report for one or the other or some other form of bad publicity.

I went to Churston and I would choose it for my kids in due course.
I know plenty of people from either school who have interesting, successful professional careers (people I might not have guessed having known them as spotty teenage oiks!)
I would base the decision on your daughter’s personality and whether you think she would thrive in a single sex environment, and if she has any keen hobbies/interests that would be supported better at one school over the other.

Thank you for your replies. I can see the benefits of coed and single sex! Unfortunately for me I’m not dead set against either! I went to an all girls school and loved it, but I also know plenty who have gone off the rails too! If we could go into the schools I think we would just ‘know’ but unfortunately it’s not a possibility. I think ultimately she will do well wherever, but where will she be happiest? On paper TGGS is a better school in terms of results, whereas it looks like Churston’s pass mark was actually set higher this year so is taking the highest scoring students. I’ve heard good and bad about both.
We always assumed she’d want to go to Churston- we’ve always used it to encourage her to try hard at school. Perhaps we built it up a bit as when she saw it on a video she was a bit disappointed! Whereas she was more encouraged by what she saw of TGGS. But I’ve probably heard more strong negatives - and positives - about TGGS. I think focussing on the hobbies may be what determines it for us. I may also ask her teachers as she does tend not to speak up much in class. Maybe all girls would help with this.

I think you’re in a fortunate position as either could be the right choice, for slightly different reasons.
Another thing to consider, as they are so close academically, is whether one end of the bay or the other is more accessible by public transport- this could make a difference to your DDs independence and social opportunities a few years down the line

Thanks BeastOfBODMAS that’s a really good point. I think it will just have to come down to those sorts of things- thinking ahead a couple of years. It is nice to hear from someone who went to the school and would choose to send their own, so thank you so much for your input, it’s really appreciated

I went to TGGS. My cousin's daughters went to Churston. I am surprised that you got a "yes" from both - aren't you only in the catchment for one or the other?

If you don't care, then let your dd choose, or go for the nearer one.

I found TGGS very bitchy but that was 30 years ago!

ColintheKoala it doesn’t go on catchment as kids bus in from miles away- Exeter, the moors and beyond! It all goes on how they scored relative to everyone else on the day and each school sets the mark they will accept. It seems Churston required the highest mark this year (probably as it’s more popular as some people prefer coed) as some children got a yes for TGGS and a no for Churston but my daughter got both yeses. We’re in Paignton so either is possible but TGGS definitely easier. Had we been able to see them then I’m sure she would have gone for the one that felt right but due to Covid this hasn’t been possible unfortunately.

If your DC are academically bright then they will likely thrive at either.

I went to Torquay Girls and I was academically average (although ironically have done very well and am a senior academic now) and I felt very low down the pecking order and definitely wasn’t given the same attention/encouragement as the oxbridge candidates. I didn’t hate school but it definitely didn’t do much for my self esteem.

I have friends who went to Churston and they were much happier. Although all high achievers so might have been happy at Torquay Girls too.

My son went to churston (finished in 2020), he loved it. Pastoral care was excellent.
I would definitely recommend it!

I went to tggs. Not a good experience as my face clearly didn't fit. That was in the nineties though so it might have improved since then.

I think if they seem close on paper, go for the one that's easier to get to. It took me over an hour to get home from my school and I didn't have any friends I could easily get to without lifts from parents.

We are in a similar predicament now, due to moving into the area. Which did you choose and how has it gone?

We went with TGGS and she absolutely loves it and is doing really well (yr 8 now). It was 100% the right decision for us. Let me know if you have any questions 😊

Thank you for replying, and pleased that she loves it😀. Have they been supportive if necessary? I’m slightly concerned that it might be too academic focused. The word people use for churston seems to be ‘softer’. Daughter is not a huge academic by any means, but likes structure and order, but then would be moving from a small very caring school. Also, is there much bullying, or pressure to conform? Thank you

We are in the same boat, we are going with TGGS as first choice due to it being my daughters preference and the travelling involved for Churston.
Does anyone have any knowledge on the grammar stream at Spires? Ive put it as third choice but can't really find out any information online.

Also does anyone know the chances of getting into one of the three if you have three yes's?
As there are no scores to give you a clue its a worrying wait till march!

I can’t really comment on the supportiveness as she hasn’t really had any need as of yet. I also don’t really know many parents that well to know about whether they’ve had any experience of it. It is academic and my worry was always that she may struggle- she’s bright of course as she got in but she is by no means super academic! But I’d say with a couple of exceptions most of her class and friendship group are around the same achievement wise. They’re averaging 7s and 8s with a couple of 6s and the odd 9. She’s definitely not a straight 8/9 girl but from what she tells me this is seems to be the same for her friends.
My daughter also likes rules and order and I believe it is stricter than Churston but she likes that. I think Churston expects less in terms of behaviour but I don’t always think that is a good thing. I’ve heard more about bad behaviour, conforming and bullying at Churston than at TGGS. But you will always hear bad things about any school. I love the fact that my girl comes home with grass in her hair from rolling down hills at break time and is just enjoying being a girl and a kid still. I don’t think she’d be doing the same if boys were around. She probably tended to be a bit on the shy side before and her confidence has definitely increased. I said to her when she started to take the opportunity to do new things and she’s certainly listened and it’s really empowered her and helped her confidence. When we visited I was really inspired by how confident the girls there were.
She also came from a very small caring village school and has been absolutely fine. It would be nice to hear from a Churston parent too! One good thing I’ve heard about Churston is they have banned phones recently. They have not been allowed at TGGS during school hours since my daughter started which I fully support.

I think with 3 yeses you should be ok. Depending on the year, you may not get your first choice but I should think that you would get 2nd or 3rd. Just choose wisely! It is so stressful.

Thank you, I was hoping that was the case! I wonder how many yes's they actually send out compared to number of places?
My daughter sounds a lot like you describe yours so hopefully we have made the right decision with TGGS being first choice.... we just need to cross everything and wait till March to find out now!

I know in our year Churston had the higher pass rate (I know this as some kids got yes for torquay grammars but no for Churston) so if this is the case this year then I’d say you shouldn’t have any problems getting in to TGGS as a first choice. I think issues arise as some kids sit at one school and then change their mind and apply for another. Which is fine and permitted, but it makes it harder for the offers to be accurate. I also heard that some parents hoping for colyton use the torbay exam as a practice and a back up and will take colyton places if offered, so it’s all a bit tricky and confusing!
I think once the deadline has passed it does all move to the back on your mind a bit. But at the minute it’s probably all consuming!!

It really is! Especially as we were meant to move months ago as we are relocating due to my husband's work!
He is now working in Devon and having to sleep in our holiday caravan, whilst the kids and I are still 150 miles away trying to sell our house so we can buy down there! Obviously as not currently in catchment we couldn't apply to any state schools so the three yes's were a silver lining to what has been a difficult year!

Wow it sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate! I don’t know the ins and outs of it but I know we had to apply through the local council anyway before the deadline regardless of whether it was for state or grammar once we had the 3 ticks . Is this not the case for you?

Yes but the grammars aren't done by catchment rather they take from the 11+ results so we can go ahead and apply for her school place before moving to Torquay as soon as the house finally sells!

Ah fantastic. Best of luck for the move and for allocation day!!