Manchester / Stockport schools

[longshot]

DD is going into Year 6 in September. We are considering options for her for year 7. She is bright and sporty (although not wildly so!) and also musical but not enough for a scholarship application. I have narrowed the list to:

Stockport grammar
Manchester High for Girls
Withington for Girls
Cheadle Hulme School

Does anyone have any recent experience of these schools. DD has always said she would prefer mixed, hence Stockport and Cheadle being on the list but lately she's said all girls isn't out of the question. We've seen a tutor to ascertain her level and been told she would likely get in at all 4. But I am interested in pastoral care, culture, homework levels, expectations, competitiveness etc. Although academics are important I mostly just want her to be happy and would like to hear how others have found these schools.

Which is easiest to get to.
Do you want semi local friends.
Has she been to look round them all?
All are good in different ways.

@longshot where did you apply in the end? I’m thinking about looking at SGS and CHS, so wondered what your experience of these were

There is no better insight that visiting & within a normal school day if you can.

We applied for both and she’s sat both exams this week! Her preference is SGS and from what we’ve seen and experienced that’s the harder one to get into exam wise (slightly I think). She will hopefully now be interviewed by both and then will make a decision.

The exams are very different at these schools, be prepared for that if you apply to both!

i’d definitely look around both. We as a family preferred SGS but honestly they both seemed great and for my DD a good choice as she didn’t want single sex. I don’t know why we preferred SGS. It’s less impressive in terms of the grounds / building (but still lovely) but the staff to me seemed friendlier and there was a lovely vibe throughout. Also the results have been slightly better recently I think but it’s marginal and not the most important thing for us.

Art seemed amazing at CHS, my DD isn’t very arty and is more drama / music / maths and sport and I think both schools do those things well.

Thanks @longshot she sounds like my dd, also into music, maths and sport. I hope she gets the school she wants.

How did she get on @longshot
I've heard from lots of people that applications are up 50%

She got on well. We will hear in about 10 days time but both interviews went well for her so fingers crossed. I’ll update once she’s had an offer (hopefully) and chosen.

@snowtrees the numbers who sat the exams weee definitely up. 600 children at both of the schools apparently. So they will take about 35% of that amount I think. Definitely competitive!

I live in Stockport and know a few families who send their kids to SGS. They are all very happy and the kids are doing great there. We are tempted for our (younger) sons. The only con I’ve heard is that with the catchment so wide none of the kids seem to have friends living locally to them. That will be an issue with all of those schools though.

@StillWantingADog that's defo the case from friends we have at SGS.
Fab school but your best mates could easily be an hour or more away. Few impromptu meet ups & walking to mates houses afterschool etc etc.
I'm sure CHS is similar as I used to see the school buses in Macc etc

It’s definitely the case they both have a wide catchment, one is quite a lot closer to us and we hope we get the offer there…also there is a bus that runs from our town and quite a lot of children attend, at least 5 are hoping to go from my daughters’ year 6 class so I guess that’s a good start, they’re all close by (although they’re not all her closest friends to be fair). I would be less keen if I thought she’d have no friends nearby but thankfully I think she will do.

Wow 5 is a lot. There's 150 places at SGS but of course loads of the DC will have sat multiple schools and may get multiple offers