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Secondary education

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Original poster

Borlase vs John Hampden

26 replies

Pipsquiggle · 19/10/2022 20:53

Hi would deeply appreciate any advice on the above 2 schools.

We liked them both so it's a question of which down we put down first on our preferences

At the moment we are leaning towards Borlase as it's easier to get to and, as he gets older, he will be able to get to Marlow independently without relying on lifts from us.

OP posts:
schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 21:08

You don't say where you are, but if he is having to travel to Marlow, is SWBGS actually an option based on distance? Recent years' stats show places allocated to a distance of usually between 2.8 and 3.3 miles, except 3029 when it was only 1.7! Shock www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-admissions-guides-policies-and-statistics/school-place-allocation-statistics/

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 21:09

Total date fail!! 2019! I've not visited the future, obviously 🙄

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 21:16

Contrast John Hampden, which offered places this year to 9 miles under the distance rule, and 13 miles for boys who also met another admission criterion.

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 19/10/2022 21:46

Yes we've done our homework and looked at all the distances over the past few years.
We are within all of Borlase catchment distances except 2019, however, they have increased the intake since then.
Having said all that it's not an absolute certainty we would get in.

We are definitely in John Hampden's catchment.
We are also in RGS catchment, however, the logistics are just too complicated so we have discounted that one.

OP posts:
schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 22:23

So, it comes down to single sex or co-Ed, and is he ok with compulsory dance? 😁

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 22:24

(Disclaimer: we are opting for Borlase)

Itisbetter · 19/10/2022 22:25

RGS

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 22:27

I'm with @Itisbetter in that I'd absolutely rank RGS ahead of John Hampden if you are in catchment for both.

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 19/10/2022 22:33

@schoolsquestion22 does borlase do compulsory dance? Well I am guessing if everyone has to do it, they're all in the same boat

Do they do any other sports? My DS is keen on rugby.

@Itisbetter RGS looks like an amazing school but no transport from Berks so he would have to train it to Bourne end then get on a bus and the timings just don't sync. I just don't think the journey is sustainable

OP posts:
Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 19/10/2022 22:40

An easier option for transport /logistics (after Borlase & JH) would be Burnham Grammar but their catchment is tiny and we would have no chance of getting in.

OP posts:
Itisbetter · 19/10/2022 23:01

Is there not a coach from Maidenhead?

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 23:02

Burnham not great for sport anyway. Yes, Borlase is sporty. Rowing and hockey are the big two. They play rugby too. No idea about their standard though I'm afraid.

dilemmasdilemmasdilemmas · 19/10/2022 23:40

When we were deciding between Borlase and Wycombe High for sport loving DD, we opted for Borlase as then she had a 1 in 75 chance of being in teams (150 in the year, probably a 50:50 split) rather than a 1 in 210 chance.
Also, if you're coming from Berks, to get to Borlase you only have to worry about crossing the river rather than crossing the river and the Handy Cross roundabout! Both have a high potential of getting snarled up. On the other hand, where are friends from his school/your neighbours going? What's easiest from a lift share perspective.
Yes, dance is compulsory but they all seem to just get on with it. Loads of boys apparently do the dance clubs too, more so than the girls.

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 05:50

Itisbetter · 19/10/2022 23:01

Is there not a coach from Maidenhead?

@Itisbetter
RGS - no coaches from Berks. The closest coach starts from Bourne End which means my DS would either need to take an early train to hang around for 30 minutes to catch a bus or me crossing the Cookham bridge every day - I work in the opposite direction.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 05:58

dilemmasdilemmasdilemmas · 19/10/2022 23:40

When we were deciding between Borlase and Wycombe High for sport loving DD, we opted for Borlase as then she had a 1 in 75 chance of being in teams (150 in the year, probably a 50:50 split) rather than a 1 in 210 chance.
Also, if you're coming from Berks, to get to Borlase you only have to worry about crossing the river rather than crossing the river and the Handy Cross roundabout! Both have a high potential of getting snarled up. On the other hand, where are friends from his school/your neighbours going? What's easiest from a lift share perspective.
Yes, dance is compulsory but they all seem to just get on with it. Loads of boys apparently do the dance clubs too, more so than the girls.

@dilemmasdilemmasdilemmas thanks for this.
The handycross roundabout can get busy, he would be on the bus though and the bus stop is at the end of our road so hopefully won't be an issue
Most of his class will go to Furze Platt, then Newlands and Desborough.

Does your DD enjoy Borlase?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 06:01

schoolsquestion22 · 19/10/2022 23:02

Burnham not great for sport anyway. Yes, Borlase is sporty. Rowing and hockey are the big two. They play rugby too. No idea about their standard though I'm afraid.

@schoolsquestion22 thanks for this. I wouldn't mind my DS trying out both of these sports.

Does your DC enjoy Borlase?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 07:05

Before we knew my DS had passed 11+ I did seek out whether other local children went to RGS. I found a lady in the village whose DS went there and he loved it, great school etc. I asked how she navigated logistics, she told me her son was a weekly boarder. Sounded great for him, not sure it would be right for my DS right now.

OP posts:
schoolsquestion22 · 20/10/2022 07:21

@Pipsquiggle DC1 will be starting Sept 23.

TizerorFizz · 20/10/2022 08:23

Borlase’s is a much older school and has been a grammar for centuries. John Hampden was built as a technical school and became a grammar relatively recently by comparison. These schools were frequently second choice grammars for parents and are mostly co Ed in Bucks. SHF in Aylesbury and Chesham Grammar are others who started as technical schools. So I would choose the best for DS. If you don’t get into Borlase’s then JH is a great alternative. RGS was a sport powerhouse. I cannot believe you haven’t looked at the schools in detail for sport curriculum and teams.

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 09:02

Thanks @TizerorFizz

Interesting that you say 'These schools were frequently second choice grammars for parents and are mostly co Ed in Bucks.' - which would you say were the 1st choice grammars that usurp Borlase and JH?

Yes I have done the research on the sports and the histories of the schools. As you say RGS screams sports and is overtly rugby. It has been difficult with Borlase as they haven't done big open days / evenings with talks from the Head as all the other schools have done. They've tended to have smaller groups led by pupils which has its pros & cons as it was very much their view of the school and the girls taking us round were definitely not into sports so played it down .......... then you turn the corner and see the huge state of the art gym / sports hall. I had heard about the hockey though

JH seemed to do lots of different sports and didn't focus on any in particular

My son does like sports and is pretty good at them but I wouldn't say he is 'elite' he just likes giving most sports a go and see how he gets on.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 20/10/2022 09:14

None usurp Borlase’s because DC wouldn’t get into them. It’s Marlow’s grammar.

Traditionally AGS and AHS are first choice over SHF in Aylesbury. Previously Chesham Grammar was less popular than DCG or DCH. In High Wycombe , RGS trumped JH. At appeal, some grammars were always full so parents had what they were given. If you only have one option, you take it. RLS at Buckingham is the only choice. However they are ALL fantastic.

If DC isn’t that sporty, then don’t worry too much about it. I would do Borlase’s first and JH second.

Original poster
Pipsquiggle · 20/10/2022 09:18

@TizerorFizz Good sum up.

Yes I think Borlase 1st, JH 2nd

OP posts:
BackOnTheBandWagon · 20/10/2022 09:53

The cultures may have changed since I was there 20 years ago - my brother went to RGS and found it pretty miserable - big on rugby and academics and if you don't fit their mould then they discount your abilities. JH is generally friendlier / more down to earth, and Borlase is nicer still. I loved Borlase when I went to look round, but the distance was too hard so I went to WHS (lived in Wycombe).

Your ranking of Borlase 1, JH 2 is the one I'd pick

BackOnTheBandWagon · 20/10/2022 09:54

(Based on my very historical knowledge!)

dilemmasdilemmasdilemmas · 20/10/2022 15:08

DD is very happy at Borlase. Mind you, she's pretty easy going and hard working so I wasn't particularly concerned about how she'd get on.
The factors which swung it for us:

  • sport (as mentioned)
  • it's co-ed. I don't like the idea of single sex schools and particularly not for DD whose always had quite a few boys in her friendship group. Also, we have a son and, if he passes the 11+, it would be easier for them to be at the same school
  • if she had to, she could walk home safely. It would take a while but its do-able
  • the catchment area is smaller and therefore there's more chance of her friends being local which just makes socialising outside of school easier.

Of course, there is a downside to the size of the catchment area which is that it's very Marlow and not very diverse.