St Chris’ Letchworth 6th form

[boygirl118]

Hi I’m considering this sixth form for my DS for 2024 entry. I can see the results online so not concerned about those. Would like to hear any experiences of the 6th form at St Chris’ in terms of teaching, pastoral and peers.

Their 2023 results aren't online yet, for a reason! I know the school well through close friends who are staff there and I wouldn't go near it. They've had 3 Headteachers over the past 4 years and the place is in chaos, with lots of good staff leaving. They failed their inspection at the end of last year (but have since passed). There are lots of better local alternatives, don't waste your money there.

My DD transferred to St Chris I believe different schools suit different kids, it doesn’t have an entrance exam, it doesn’t conform to the competitive male dominated atmosphere of other private schools, there are children there who have struggled in other environments, it’s not about getting the right kids into the school to get the best exam results, it’s about creating the right environment to get the best exam results for your child. My own experience of the school is fantastic - watching my child become the person they were meant to be is joyous. My DD is flourishing at St Chris, working harder than ever, inspired by the supportive teachers, has a great group of friends and her personal horizons have expanded in a few short months. I haven’t noticed a feeling of chaos in any way (I have three children who have all attended different local schools including a good experience at Bishops Stortford College) but if I won the lottery St Chris would be the school I would choose to educate my grandkids…. A unique and special place IMO.

I think you have to go and see it for yourself and if possible have your son spend a few days there (I think they offer this). It's a very unique school as PP has said, but for some children the style and pace of teaching would just not suit them.

FlakeyPagan what age/Year are your children in please? I am considering St Chris for my son who is really struggling in a London mainstream academy - he would go into Y9 in September. Thank you!

I'm interested to hear more about St Chris.

by 'pace of teaching' what do you mean? I have heard that there are as few rules as possible and wonder what that is like with teenagers? Would a quiet, academic autistic girl thrive there? Or more suited to young people with a greater physicality that struggles in a classroom? I have no idea what that looks like on a daily basis for the young people who are in lessons there. I am interested in the ethos but just wonder what it's really like as a place of learning.

I don't know how well suited it would be to your child if they were looking for a strong focus on academia. St Chris tends towards a more relaxed style of teaching and letting the children set the pace. That said, the classroom sizes are small and if your child is in a higher set, it could work out really well.

I can’t say I agree with the poster above. We’ve been at the school 10 years. The first head was there years and years and retired. There was another short lived head but left for a valid reason. The current head was deputy and has children at the school. Parents view on staff leaving is actually down to the fact long lasting staff very set in old ways. The new head is set to do great things to the school. We are very pleased and feel they cater to all types of children.

Thanks for this information about the new head. I guess what concerns me personally is paying a lot of money and children not able to learn in a calm environment with work set to their level.

In my experience that is 100% the case. Maths and English are set and then science from year 9. My son is bottom set maths for example. He has 9 children in that group and 2 teachers. He’s never said to be he finds anything distracting or not calm. He has adhd so struggles in a loud environment.
The work is set to their level and adapted. I know kids in the older groups who are very very academic and they are thriving.

thank you, that's good to know! It's hard to know what this student led approach and as few rules as possible looks like with teenagers. I know the state secondaries have very challenging behaviours and have to be very strict to manage so many teenagers! So worried the behaviour would be terrible if there weren't so many rules and consequences.

I know what you’re saying, I thought the same. It’s definitely not a case of as few rules as possible. A boy in my son’s year just got suspended for something he said on a WhatsApp chat about another pupil. It wasn’t the worse thing in the world and it wasn’t an in school matter but they took it very seriously and the others are now very aware of what could happen. I think it’s more a case of the teachers have so much respect for the children rather than setting over the top boundaries and therefore they get the respect back. I can only way what lovely children every child I’ve met there is

thank you so much. I'm just repeating things i've heard through grapevines. I have a ND child but they must feel safe at school as both my children are shy and sensitive so vulnerable to bullying. I'm glad to hear they deal with matters swiftly and appropriately

my DD (lots of support needed) joined St Chris for 6th form and has never been happier. It’s a supportive friendly & caring place and I’ve been hugely impressed with teaching and pastoral care. Wish we’d moved sooner.

my DD asserts that the standards of behaviour at St Chris are very high compared to her previous (highly ranked) state school and in comparison to her sister’s private sixth form environment. But I am sure all years are different, in a small environment big personalities can skew experience. I hope anyone interested in St Chris looks around it because it’s a very different type of school and it’s hard to articulate how, by taking a slightly different approach, a school can get the best out of a child, certainly one who might under perform in a different environment. St Chris’s expects a lot of the child, they are treated as individuals and through that experience they find the space to discover and enjoy their individuality, from whence they then try, thrive and believe in themselves. I don’t mean to sound too evangelical, but my experience has been all good….

Sorry my DD is year 12! I only looked round it due to numerous parental recommendations from people who had sent their kids to school from years 7-9 onwards. My DD felt immediately it was right for her. She is aiming very high for her results, it’s not a non academic environment, but equally for some kids being there is a result in itself. This makes it a better environment with everyone running their own race.

Does anyone know if there a lot of ND children? Autistic children? I am interested for one of my children but met someone who told me they were not accepting children with an autism diagnosis a few years ago.

My DD went there and I agree with @FlakeyPagan . It’s not an academic hothouse, but bright children do well and they get the best out of kids who are less academic or have SEN. There are ND children there, and they do well.

DD left a few years ago, and if the current head is the old deputy, he is excellent and will be great for the school.

From what I’ve heard through the grapevine.. having a ND child myself. St Chris seemed to have gained a reputation or stigma for being the school kids went to if they didn’t ’ get in anywhere else’ therefore some years were overwhelmed with SEN making it hard for school to cater to everyone. I think they’re trying to lose that reputation and just cater for everyone from the most able - children with SEN and make it fair. So some year groups can’t accept it. My child’s year has a very high number and it’s made it harder for him to receive more help.
I have to agree with the comments above, I think the standard of behaviour is very high and they do expect the children to do their best

My child is one that is very academic and needs to be stretched. Also autistic though and socially very nervous and vulnerable to bullying. I'm wondering if she needs a very strict-on/behaviour senior school in order to feel safe but the state senior schools who are very strict seem to be very strict on minor things like uniform not being perfect or detentions for very minor problems like forgetting equipment which she would find very stressful!

@CanteringAlong one of my DD’s (not St Chris pupil) was diagnosed latterly with autism at Uni after a long battle with MH, she’s currently at a top uni doing an incomprehensible discipline which she professes to find easy. I am not sure that the academic outcome isn’t almost a given with high performing girls, but the right environment isn’t. I am not AT ALL pretending to know what that is for your DD. I just want to share that the ‘winning post’ isn’t simply when you open that envelope and see all of those A’s, I bet you know that, but stupidly, I didn’t. Watching a child cope academically at Uni, but unravel in every other way is soul crushing, knowing whether to step in and say ‘enough’ and take that last vestige of ‘success’ away is the ‘Catch-22’ of every parent’s nightmares. I know you will find that right environment, wherever it shall be, but I just want to send you an absolutely massive hug.

@FlakeyPagan exactly this! We don't care we get grades our children get. We just want them to be happy and accepted by their peers at school. That's why I'm trying to find out why and how St Chris is different and if they would even accept a different girl like mine (which isn't a given for private schools), let alone if she would thrive there. It's hard every day for our ND children! Hugs back to you all.

Could you please tell me how small the class sizes are in the junior school?

I can't I'm afraid as I don't have any experience of the junior school. If the website doesn't tell you, I'd just call or email them, I'm sure they'd be happy to advise.

Do you know any good alternatives for a 7 year old autistic boy. Very bright but finds social cues difficult. Looking for a place for him to be happy. :)

@Atlas007 I've just sent you a pm.

I don’t think you have a sixth form age one, but I hear good things from those who do currently. The sixth form at St Christopher is pretty popular this year and last and despite VAT they have more students in those years than they did a few years ago.