Ipswich high

[nicemarmot]

Wondered if there are any parents who have experience of Ipswich high?

DS is currently in year 7 our local state secondary but we are unhappy with it & looking to change. He does well academically, enjoys sport (rugby & football) & also has an interest in drama. We have been round Ipswich High, Ipswich & St Jos. So far he favours Ipswich high. I know there have been quite a few changes but wondered how it feels from a parent/ pupil perspective? Also what’s the experience of the sport. Looks like you can take part in a fair amount of sport but am I right in thinking not as competitively as St Jos & Ipswich?

I don 't have any direct experience (DS is at another independent near Ipswich) but I know children who've been to or are at all the schools you mention. I think IHS has had a tricky time of it in recent years, but I know children who have been happy there. I think you're right - it's probably less competetive - but I also don't know how extensive the sporting opportunities are for boys yet, so that's worth checking. St Jo's is much more sporty, and probably less academic, but again, I know people who have been very happy there and done well. Ipswich is much more academic and competitive, and felt very 'corporate' to us...

Have you looked at RHS or Finborough or are they too far away? Finborough has an excellent rugby team and their pastoral care is brilliant.

Yes, RHS is always my recommendation - but I'm biased! Plenty of competitive sport, but plenty also who don't excel. Loads going on, great facilities, fab teachers, amazing ethos and 'feel'...
They run about 10 bus routes for day pupils, so pretty much anywhere is commutable from - and busses home are after activities, unlike Ipswich etc...

Thanks for the feedback. I did like St Jos too- has to be one of the friendliest & most enthusiastic school I’ve been to. Hadn’t heard of Finborough but just had a look and it’s too far for us sadly. I had discounted RHS as I felt the high proportion of boarders & the Saturday school weren’t right for us.

I understand the Saturday school thing putting you off RHS. We haven't found it a big deal though, and you get used to it very quickly. We had no other children to consider though. which I know can make a difference
Don't be put off by boarder numbers - day pupils account for about half the school (and I think that number is steadily rising), and the set up works very well for day pupils - they have their own houses for Y8-12, for example.

When it was a GDST girls school it was very academically competitive , certainly more so that St Jos which I love but is definitely not an academic powerhouse but does offer a lot of nurturing options for the less academic or confident.

I would second not ruling out RHS but also recommend Woodbridge as a very good all round option which caters for a wide range of academic abilities but is also very strong on drama, music, art and sport and has no Saturday school . Their open day is this weekend I think , I saw the poster on the A12.

The other problem with IHS is that it is owned by a Chinese investment fund now , which for me completely rules it out. All the other options are charitable foundations with boards of governors .