Kent College Pembury & Mayfield Girls positives and negatives

[FME31]

Looking at both schools from yr7 for my DD who has dyslexia and short term memory/processing issues but is otherwise a bright and bubbly child. Loved both schools when we visited by worried she won't be offered a place due to poor results on entrance assessments. Any thought on either school with regards to admitting girls with SEN?

Mayfield is more academic than KCP, which is seemingly becoming more sporty - many more sports scholarships than academic awarded in the last 10 years and slightly dipping exam results. They are meant to have a good SEN take a lot of children who failed 11+ and have fairly complex additional needs. Mayfield is also good with SEN but expect a higher level of English to get in. I hear better things about Mayfield in general and their pastoral care on the whole.

Mayfield is significantly better than Kent College Senior school.

@Forgottenmyusername2468 can you elaborate on why you think this? Always useful to have more insight.

Since posting I have heard some very negative experiences of KCP. Several of the girls I spoke to had left and gone to Mayfield in the last year and are much happier. KCP appears to be having pastoral issues, SEN issues and general academic confusion.

Yes. And there is another recent thread on mumsnet where ‘aretheysellingpolishedturd’ summed it up rather well.

I have a dd at Kent college, and am very happy with the school. I don’t know much about Mayfield, having rejected it as a choice for dd when we were looking at secondaries.

Kent college has provided good support for dd’s SEN, and excellent pastoral support throughout her time there.

she has been stretched, achieving above average to excellent exam results across all subjects, and has been nurtured in her many interests and hobbies.

I don’t feel that KC is becoming significantly more sporty. They do have a healthy sports department, but also a thriving drama department, and a strong music department.

Our children did not attend Mayfield so I cannot say anything positive or negative about Mayfield, but I have heard some good things about it.

My DD went to Kent College Pembury from Year 7 to Year 13 and loved every minute of it. Her teachers were passionate about their subject, they did wonders for her self-esteem and nurtured her into a confident young lady. Her form tutors were approachable and responsive and the school offered her many opportunities to take part in sports, trips, concerts, drama performances etc....

My DD was an average pupil at primary school, did not pass the 11+, but achieved great results at A level and went on to study at a top Russell group university. Most of her cohort achieved excellent results and went to their first choice university.

To sum it up, we are glad we chose KCP for our DD.

I think it would be helpful if posters actually specify when their DD were at the school as it seems to be this and last year where issues have arisen. Luckily it seems the last two posters DD's have already left the school and their experiences aren't particularly current.

Anyway I hope that you have made your choice by now and you and your dd are happy.

Thank you @futuremoneyinbank , I agree that would be helpful given the extreme views posted on MN. Ultimately though it’s about whether a school is the right “fit” for your child and I always think “can I imagine my child at this school?” when I’m walking around on an open day. I’ve now been to KC twice and it’s a no so we’re focusing on our other options.