Grammar v Independent in Bucks

[RoseBucks]

Looking for some insight into the choice between grammars and independent schools when living near Beaconsfield. Assuming your children get in of course! Are the grammars good? Do they provide all the extracurricular stuff you can expect in an independent school?
Thanks!!

It’s not that easy. Not all schools are the same and it depends on what criteria you use when assessing “good”. Yes the grammars get good results but then they are only selecting the top 25-30% of students so something would be very wrong if they weren’t.

All the grammars have a different vibe too. Some feel hot housey and others much more relaxed. Single sex or coed? Some have a lot going on with extra curricular, some not so much. The school day will finish around 3.30pm vs 4.30pm or later at an independent. You just can’t fit that much in to a significantly shorter day.

Likewise, not all independents are equal. I have seen some offering hardly anything or doing one thing really well but something else not so well (sports vs arts for example). Some schools include extra curricular activities in the fees, some you have to pay extra.

You do know as well that there aren’t that many secondary independent schools in Bucks? You may well have to travel closer to Reading or the Herts side of Bucks to find an independent you are happy with.

If you mention specific schools by name then you might have more luck.

Thanks! So I was thinking of Royal Grammar High Wycombe v Merchant Taylor’s or Berkhamsted for boys. And maybe Beaconsfield High v Wycombe Abbey or say Headington for girls. But interested in other independent options too.

The results in the Bucks grammar schools largely relflect their intake, as do the results at the independent schools. You may get more extra curricular stuff at the independent schools, but of course for £20000 a year your child could play a lot of football/cricket/rugby or go to a drama club, have music lessons or whatever.
The indes in Bucks don't tend to have quite such good results as some outside Bucks (Wycombe Abbey is a bit different as it is a boarding school), largely because of the 25-30% of local pupils who have chosen grammar schools in preference to paying.
Piper's Corner has never been considered terribly academic, but it has a very good reputation for pastoral care & is becoming more academic. Others around the edges are Claire's Court (Maidenhead), again not so academic but people seem to be very pleased with it. Royal Masonic School is another one people go to from Bucks.

have you heard of Chalfonts Independent Grammar in High Wycombe? My daughter's friend goes there and I was chatting to her mum the other day. They do the IB and it seems like they do things a bit different to other schools (really small classes and I think the IB has other differences too although not surel). She is really happy there and doing really well apparently.

I always feel slightly suspicious of schools like this. It is neither in the Chalfonts (it's very definitely in High Wycombe), in spite of some versions of its adress being "Chalfont St Giles, High Wycombe" nor is it a grammar school & never has been. Some previous grammar schools have kept the name grammar for historical reasons, but this one is playing on both the Chalfonts (leafy Bucks feel to it) & grammar (selective). It has very few pupils which could be a worry for the financial viability (58 pupils at the last inspection I believe).
The inspection was rated "good" btw, so maybe I'm being unecessarily negative. It's certainly not up there with Wycombe Abbey, Merchant Taylors' etc etc.

Beaconsfield has one grammar school (Beaconsfield High School) and is 20 minutes on the fat train to London. Lots of pubs, restaurants & great countryside nearby.
Slight downside is that it has some of the most expensive houses in the country.

Fast train not fat

RGS is a very good school and I believe strong in rugby. Berko also good at sport, particularly rugby. It's a good all round school.

MTS is a bit more academic than Berko, great sports facilities but better at cricket and hockey than rugby (although it's ok, just not at Berko/Harrow rugby level).

You're right. Only one grammar in Beaconsfield.

Wycombe Abbey is day boarding for local girls which quite literally means going home only to sleep. Day boarding is 6 days of school plus Sunday evening chapel. It’s not really comparable to any of the grammars or independent day schools.