Thornden School Chandlers Ford. Is it really 'outstanding'?

[miljee]

Sigh, we've reached that battle for secondary school places stage- almost. DS1 is in Yr 4 but decisions have to be made. We rent thus can possibly move into a 'better' catchment. I'd 'discounted' Thornden though it is only 3 miles away (there are seven closer schools, most of which I wouldn't grace with a bargepole!). My thoughts are that it's hyper academic (its catchment is VERY middle class!) but DS1, whilst capable of the golden mean of the 5 GCSEs, I believe, may not be about to devise space programs in his spare time... DOES anyone out there have experience of Thornden, or the Winchester Comps? We're catchmented to Mountbatten, Romsey which is 'ok' but has- how can I put this?- recently had a sizeable influx of DCs from the rougher end of Southampton. Thanks

I would agree about Romsey School being quite tatty.

We do a lot of activities at the school and it could do with a really good spruce up and rebuilding work.

Looks very 60s.

..through work I participate with some events at schools, at Kings we run some classes on interviewing skills and at romsey additional maths classes.

Kings struck me as huge, nosiy and impersonal... very big school. We had 1 class who were bright and articulate and 1 class who weren't!

I was surprised when talking to 1 girl who caught a train from Basingstoke every day to get to kings!

The maths class at romsey was the top set... so bright and interested.

Yes, I gather that DCs come from MILES away to go to Kings. Someone- perhaps on MN mentioned that there are London parents relocating to this area and then commuting in (it's only an hour by train if commuting floats your boat!) then send their DCs to the local comps. I do know of people who come from Portsmouth every day! But it's also a strength that apparently this year's intake come from 76 (!!) different primaries. I think Kings IS huge in terms of numbers but it does seem very ordered. To me it felt more like a grammar school. Numbers in themselves don't frighten me- it's the way those numbers are managed, really. I went to a school of 1020 in 1973 and there did seem to be that number of us, vast crowds milling around, squeezing into the assembly hall, demountable classrooms all over the playing fields. But the few Kings parents and DCs I've met don't convey that feeling.

Thornden's ethos is weirdly different though their OFSTEDs are broadly similar. That felt far more 'comprehensive-y' complete with scruffy uniform, 'relaxed' atmosphere- yet exam results that ascend to heaven and an OFSTED that starts 'This is an outstanding school.' But we WILL have to move to get DS1 in, albeit 1.5 miles! We can probably get into Kings from where we live now (though it's further away).

To be honest, I'm not going to look around Romsey. The only reason it was on my books was because DS1's school goes there. It's on the far side of town thus would be a fag to get to, a thing I would do IF the school was really good and perfect for DS1.

I'm also not going to look around the other comp in Winchester as a) you HAVE to be in catchment, and that's an expensive proposition and B) I'm increasingly hearing it's very liberal and casual (gets the results, mind!) but I don't think 'liberal' would suit DS well at all.

Anyway, DH looked around Thornden and was very impressed and will visit Mountbatten next week. THEN decisions will have to be made.

I'll be moving into the Winchester area in December 09 and will need a place for my son in year 7 and my daughter in year 5 from January. I've been reading OFSTED reports and don't really know yet which schools would be better suited for my children. In the area I currently live, there is no guarantee that you will get into a school even if it's in your catchment area. If you move into a catchment area, if your local school is full, you have to go the next available school.

Does anyone know if it's the same in Winchester? I don't want to move to an area, hoping to get into a particular school, only to find they are full and cannot take my children. On the other hand, they won't normally consider you until you can prove you live in their catchment area.

I only have 3 months to sort something out.

Help!

jaycee:
There are 3 comps in Winchester-
Westgate: (Good results but 'artier' and more 'liberal perhaps?') currently you do pretty much need to be in catchment to get in. Catchment is suburban/urban Winchester and can be quite pricey.
Kings: (FEELS like a grammar- strict streaming) Appear to take DCs from a fair distance out. I gather DCs from Romsey, 8 miles or so away get in.
Henry Beaufort: perhaps the weaker of the 3 and not hard to get into.

So regarding getting into a secondary a term into Y7, obviously it will be the luck of teh draw esp re the first 2, I'd've thought.

How far out might you live?

And I name changed and have actually MOVED into the catchment of Thornden and DS1's CAF is safely in the hands of the Hampshire Education Authority!

I can safely say now, having done as much research as I can be bothered with, that I also feel Mountbatten would have been absolutely fine as well. The new head has been in place for a year longer and seems to be walking the walk to the satisfaction of the parents, which is great!

Now it's about time I started getting cold feet about Thornden...sigh!