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Secondary education

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Original poster

The Broxbourne school vs Goffs Academy/Goffs Churchgate vs Wren Enfield

53 replies

Tulip2277 · 04/08/2022 00:19

Hi all,
Does anyone have any first-hand experience with any of these schools?
According to league tables etc. The Broxbourne school is the front-runner. Wren Enfield is new so data limited. Any advice/experiences welcome.
Many thanks!

OP posts:
markusdam · 13/10/2023 17:41

Yes you can live on the moon and get in if you are one of the 24 children that is offered a place on aptitude.

however if you are not one of the 24 then you have to live extremely close as they are all sort after schools in the area.

do you live in Enfield or cheshunt/broxbourne ?

AF1976 · 13/10/2023 18:38

If your child gets one of the highest 24 scores in the test they will get a place. The problem is you just do not know what other kids got as they do not release this info.
My daughter got 39 and I know of 4 children in our school that got higher than her! We live in Cheshunt so have no chance for Broxbourne other than the test but are likely to get Goffs due to being at a high feeder school.
We just need to decide if we’re happy to risk Goffs as a second place to chance her 39! Very stressful!

markusdam · 13/10/2023 18:44

What did your daughter get for the goffs test?

i would take a chance!

Teene · 13/10/2023 19:03

I am in Cheshunt and I will only get Broxbourne on aptitude as I live too far.
She got 38 and I'm hoping that's enough, but it all depends on the scoring of the other children.
I did see Turnford school and I was impressed, so I'm keeping that as a close second. So many people are saying that it's a school on the up!

markusdam · 13/10/2023 19:07

My child would be home schooled if they got turnford school!!!

Teene · 13/10/2023 19:08

😂
Ohh goodness.
Is it that bad?????

Teene · 13/10/2023 19:10

This decision is just so hard, because we only have a few decent schools up this way

markusdam · 13/10/2023 19:15

We have to pick 4 and when you’ve taken the 2 selective ones away it doesn’t leave many.

every time I went to look at turnford my kids said please don’t send me here and that includes looking at it a few weeks ago!!!

it doesn’t have a good reputation in my opinion

Teene · 13/10/2023 19:21

I was told that Turnford is the school that would take those who got kicked out of either Broxbourne or Goffs (not sure how true that is).
However I think in recent years, especially since having the new head, they are trying to move away from that old legacy and reputation

markusdam · 13/10/2023 19:24

Yep it is the school that will take the expelled children.

thing is reputation’s are really slow to change and they have a huge discipline problem(I know someone with a child in year8 who does what she likes and the school do nothing)

AF1976 · 13/10/2023 21:50

She only scored 38 on the Goffs test which was the average.
we are a 16% feeder for Goffs Academy and it’s our closest school.
I am Just worried if I put Broxbourne first and she didn’t score enough I then jeopardise her Goffs place as a second option as so many people will put it their first choice.
I am waiting for Goffs admissions to call to explain the process a bit more 🙈

markusdam · 14/10/2023 07:47

To be honest I would put goffs 1st as on paper you have more chance of getting in on 1st choice.

i don’t think many if any children get goffs academy/goffs churchgate or Broxbourne on anything except 1st choice as they are so oversubscribed.

krisiti · 14/10/2023 08:39

It doesn't matter in which order you put your schools in. You cannot jeapordise her space. Each school would offer a place separately without knowing shere else you are applying and then the local authority would give you a place in the one that you have put highest and has a place for you.

markusdam · 14/10/2023 08:54

How does that make sense!

you,said it doesn’t matter which order you put the schools in and then go on to say the local,authority would give you a place in the one you’ve put highest!!!

it does matter hugely what order you put them in

AF1976 · 14/10/2023 11:28

In the Broxbourne letter and and after speaking to the school admissions they said If she wasn’t offered her first option then she would be offered her second (Goffs) if she met the criteria (which she would being a high feeder and or being so close to us ) but I cannot see how she would not be bumped down the list compared to those who put it first. It’s so unclear.

markusdam · 14/10/2023 11:31

They would offer her the 2nd place (goffs) IF they had places but to be honest they probably would be full from the 1st choice children.

it is so stressful but Goffs is I think on a par with Broxbourne academically.

Teene · 14/10/2023 11:44

From my experience I would suggest putting the schools in the order of YOUR preference

krisiti · 14/10/2023 15:00

Each school could offer her a place, if she meets one of their ctiteria. The schools confirm the places to the local authority, independently of each other, without knowing how many schools you have applied to and what order you have chosen. Then the local authority looks at all the schools that have a place for that child and places the child at the highest choice.

So if you put Broxbourne 1st and goffs 2nd, and only get a place at Goffs, then this is the school you are going to get.

If I can compre it to asking your partner to book a restaurant and giving them 4 options. Now imagine them going asking all 4 restaurants if they have a table available. Then they only book the one you have said you like most, despite all restaurants having availability. The other scenario is, your 1st choice, doesn't have availability, how would that jeapordise the booking in the 2nd restaurant if they don't even know that they are not your favourite and are independent of the 1st restaurant.

Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but if you call the local authority they would be able to explain it better.

Teene · 14/10/2023 15:11

Thanks Krisiti, you have explained it well. Thanks so much.
I can't wait until this entire process is all over!

AF1976 · 14/10/2023 18:07

This is so helpful thank you!

Justamother75 · 14/10/2023 20:52

2020 entry is here. The highest score was 42. My DC got 38, he got the place.

Justamother75 · 14/10/2023 20:55

Siblings in admission criteria above the distance

Justamother75 · 14/10/2023 21:16

Put The Broxbourne first, Goff’s second, Goff’s Churchgate third. If basing on distance Turnford is closest, you do not need to put this school on the list even as forth option. If you are unsuccessful, you will get a place there anyway, places always available. Even its mentor is the top independent Haileybury school can not to help. Nothing will change people who live around. But if St Mary’s is the closest one, then put Turnford as forth option.

My child studied at the excellent Flamstead end - feeder school for Goff’s and Goff’s Churchgate but I still think The Broxbourne is the best option.

AF1976 · 15/10/2023 09:03

On the letter from Broxbourne it says the lowest score awarded a space in 2020 was 41?

krisiti · 16/10/2023 08:21

It doesn't matter to the schools that you are applying to. They wouldn't know if you put them first, last or it's the only school on your application.