Solihull Secondary Schools reviews pls

[Mommaofdeux]

Hello lovelies. We are currently looking to relocate from Kings Heath into Solihull and am currently researching secondary schools. Still on the house hunt but wanted to see if anybody could shine some light on Arden Academy, Alderbrook and Tudor Grange pls. What are the schools like in terms of teaching and children’s well being? My boy is almost 9 and we’ve been looking in the TG catchment area but the houses are extremely hard to come by and if we do manage to get a viewing in, we are outbid! So, am widening to Arden catchment as have heard mixed reviews on Alderbrook.
Grateful for some insight pls. Thank you

Tudor Grange has a really strange catchment area. Some places further out from what up you expect will be in catchment over those nearer the school so do have a look carefully. The nicest areas of Solihull are actually not in the catchment for any of these schools. You will find most of the DC in those areas go to Solihull School.

I have/ had DC at Alderbrook. Overall we are happy with their experience. It hasn't been perfect but which school would be? Eldest DC got fantastic GCSE results there. Alderbrook has lots of good, caring teachers and the new head is excellent. All 3 of the schools you mentioned are good schools though, as is Langley. I also know parents with kids at Lighthall and Woodrush too and all are generally positive.

As PP said, the catchment maps are vital. We are very close to TG but outside catchment. I'm not sure what the previous poster means about the nicest areas not being catchment for any of these schools ...unless they mean Hampton in Arden? Most of Knowle and Dorridge will be Arden catchment and really expensive roads like Alderbrook Road and Lovelace Avenue are TG catchment. It will come down to what you can afford, and TG catchment costs a premium, that I personally doubt it's really worth.

From what I hear, if you're not high performing at Tudor Grange, you get a bit abandoned. Very STEM heavy. DD(13) is at alderbrook and loves it. It's got great performing arts resources. They start GCSE. prep in year 9, so you pick options at the end of year 8.

Arden is supposed to be great, but I didn't get the nicest feeling there. Might be because it looked like my old school. Heart of England is supposedly not so good but I really liked the teachers and the atmosphere.

Steer clear of Lighthall.

PS absolutely beware the Tudor Grange premium when viewing houses. Monkspath and Hillfield cost a fortune just for that, even tiny ones.

Thank you all for your responses, really appreciate the feedback.
Just really stuck on school vs where we actually live, and completely agree @Smelliethenelephant and @ImNotShpanishImEgyptshun that the homes in the TG catchment come at a premium, some homes defo not worth what they are! This is why I’m exploring other areas. It’s just a so so stressful

Did you go to Arden academy hen you were younger or did you go in for a viewing? Just you mentioned about not Gabon’s a nice feeling xx

Niece went to Alderbrook, all the way upto sixth form I think, she's grown up to be lovely, mature, supersmart and caring girl, now off to a very good university to study medicine.

momma I agree it is stressful. We moved out of Birmingham and into Solihull when eldest DC refused to do 11plus. We felt there were no other good secondary choices in our area then, although I think choice has improved since. Our house in Solihull is not as nice as the one we moved from, and I think we will move out of the area once all DC have left school. However as I said we have been happy with Alderbrook and I do think most schools in the Borough are actually pretty good.

Thank you. I’ll definitely be looking at school open days to get a feel too. Just on the hunt for a property to need a good understanding of what the schools are like. Housing market is very cut throat at the moment.
Appreciate all the feedback xx

@Mommaofdeux I just went for a visit when DD was choosing. I went to a very inner-city Birmingham school so they were all amazing in comparison 😁

@Smelliethenelephant

I have/ had DC at Alderbrook. Overall we are happy with their experience. It hasn't been perfect but which school would be? Eldest DC got fantastic GCSE results there. Alderbrook has lots of good, caring teachers and the new head is excellent. All 3 of the schools you mentioned are good schools though, as is Langley. I also know parents with kids at Lighthall and Woodrush too and all are generally positive.

As PP said, the catchment maps are vital. We are very close to TG but outside catchment. I'm not sure what the previous poster means about the nicest areas not being catchment for any of these schools ...unless they mean Hampton in Arden? Most of Knowle and Dorridge will be Arden catchment and really expensive roads like Alderbrook Road and Lovelace Avenue are TG catchment. It will come down to what you can afford, and TG catchment costs a premium, that I personally doubt it's really worth.

Sorry I should have been clear I meant central Solihull and places like Olton not being in catchment for the 3 schools mentioned. Then you have bizarre areas further out like Tidbury Green being in the TG catchment

The local reputation is that Alderbrook is more nurturing and therefore better for children who need additional support whilst TG is more academic and suits high-flyers. The true picture is undoubtedly more nuanced but nevertheless there is consequently an element of self-selection in each school’s intake which then perpetuates the reputation.

The catchments are weird because there are three schools essentially on one enormous site. Most of Monkspath is Alderbrook catchment. Property in Knowle etc is even more expensive than Solihull but children consistently get in to Arden from 3+ miles out of the catchment.

Hi all
i too am looking at secondary schools and always thought Arden would be first choice. However, they’ve had an ofsted this week and the rumour is that they are no longer outstanding - can anyone confirm?