Chesham grammer/ Berko/Amersham school - opinions, experiances and guidence pls

[primprincess]

Hi All,
I was wondering if you could help.

I am looking for your experience and feedback on the shortlist of schools or general views on the situation.

Background - I am currently in the early stages of looking for senior schools for my son (currently in yr 5 and july born if it makes a difference). He was given a 100 on average on his CATs. He is a keen learner and tries very hard at school (all his teachers have said so), yet he still struggles when compared to other boys in his year. Especially with English / spelling. We are giving him additional private support to help him with that.

He is in the catchment for both Chesham and Challoners so we signed him up for 11+ tutoring years ago assuming that’s where he will end up. At the moment we aren’t sure if he should even sit the exam in September but he seems keen to give it a go and likes the grammar schools we saw on their open days so wants to try.

I know the pass rate for 11+ is 121 and many have told me (his tutor included) not to bother as he won’t pass. I am however noticing such an improvement in his school work that I don’t want to stop and he doesn’t always mind the work.

My preference is Chesham grammar but it depends on if he sits and passes the exam. I liked that better than Challoners but have also seen lots of negativity about it recently ie falling GCSE performance and the headmaster’s management of the school.

The alternative is Berko (private and fee-paying) or Amersham school (state-funded more local).
Re Berko – I hear it’s filled with those who didn’t make the 11+ cut and wealthy parents spending cash so the kids may also be not that driven. There aren’t any other private senior schools within a commutable distance from Amersham.

Amersham school – wasn’t that great a few years back but seems to be doing much better now. It’s a free school so won’t just be filled with wealthy kids and can offer a mixed environment to develop in – offering a more realistic reflection of the wider world. Possibly more support for kids who need it.

I could at a stretch send him to Berko (if the taxes on fees don’t come into force) but struggle to afford additional tutor support if he needs it and socially we would struggle with holidays and lifestyle choices – would he be missing out on life experiences?

Or I could send him to Amersham School – get him tutoring if he needs it, and socially have a bigger fund to splash out on trips away and experiences for the family.

Do you agree with my summaries of the schools? Do you have anything to add or have different opinions/experiences? Any suggestions on what we should do/ think about?

I say this in the kindest possible way, but you have lots of professionals telling you that your son is not going to pass the 11+. This is not something they would say lightly but I think you should remove the grammar schools from your thinking as a result. My DCs both passed but were are the top of the year academically. It sounds like your son is a long way off.

However, Amersham School is excellent and gets really good results considering all of the brighter children are in the grammars. You are extremely lucky to have it as an option.

I don’t know if you are aware but Westbrook Hay is opening a secondary section at the school. He sounds like a perfect fit and would thrive in the sort of environment they offer - and the fees are cheaper than Berkhamsted!

I’ve heard the same things as you about Berko though we liked it from an open day, and it has decent (though not outstanding) academic results so I assume the kids must be reasonably driven. We ruled it out as being too far for us.

“I could at a stretch send him to Berko (if the taxes on fees don’t come into force)”

The consensus is that it’s overwhelmingly likely that Labour will get in and if they do it is a manifesto pledge to add VAT to school fees. That will lead to an estimated 16% rise in school fees, on top of the above-inflation annual rises to which they’re normally subject. So in your shoes I would rule Berko out.

Thank you DibbleDooDah,

I fear you are right regarding the 11+ process.

regarding Amersham school - I just wonder if it will be too big of an adjustment for him from private school luxuries (smaller classes, facilities, lunch options) and wouldn't like it there. Some schools do a taster days, I'm not sure Amersham does that.

Thank you for telling me about Westbrook, I didn't know that. I will look into it. Initial thoughts are their prep destination schools don't seem to be as great as the prep we are at at the moment so I'm not sure if that's a good move. Maybe Berko would be better if we can make some lifestyle changes to make it work when the taxes come into force.

@primprincess Don’t discount WBH purely on the basis of leaver destinations as they pride themselves on helping you find the school that best fits your child’s needs. Be that Egerton Rothesay, Tring Park, the highly academic and selective St Albans schools or boarding. A lot of families there don’t live in Bucks or in the Herts catchment areas for the grammars so many don’t apply, and the school actively discourages parents from getting their children to sit the exams if they are unlikely to get in.

The thing is, no children are allowed to coast there. They all reach their academic potential. For some that would be nine grade 9s at GCSE and for others a bunch of 5s, 6s and 7s. WBH is practically non selective and the intake is largely average and above. It is small enough that actually your child is very visible and known. It’s a very different environment to Berkhamsted.

Places for boys at Berko at 11 are few and far between. Their biggest intake is at 13. Does his current prep go through to 13 as that could be an alternative. Gives you time to work out if his academic progress is on an upward trajectory.

Remember that you are looking for a school that fits the needs of your child. Not where everyone else is going or where the children come out with qualifications coming out of their ears but are miserable.

Berkhamsted is an excellent school but it’s very good with all the hype and the marketing sell. It pays to dig deeper and ask the relevant questions. You’ll find some interesting answers like them being able to kick your child out at the end of Y12 if they aren’t making the grades…….

I hear what you are saying regarding affordability but I think we can still stretch that with compromises and some lifestyle changes.

Do you know the schools around Amersham well? That is where I am based but I don't know of any other privates within an easy commute from here.

Merchant Taylors is an easy commute from on the Met Line from Amersham, but as it's considerably more academic than Berko, probably not the right choice for your DS.

Re. the 11+ don't forget Bucks is an opt-out area so the vast majority of DCs have a crack at the exam, even ones that are struggling much more than your DS is. Very few parents actively withdraw their DCs, so no harm in trying. There are surprising results every year.

Amersham School has improved massively over the past 10-12 years, you are right @primprincess. Some parents were horrified when DD2 went there, but a strong HT and SLT have improved it immeasurably and these days it is over-subscribed. Also I think any reservations you have about its size are probably misplaced - the classes aren't any bigger than they were at DS's grammar school, and the school as a whole isn't any bigger either. It always felt like quite a small school to me whenever we went in for parents' evenings, awards evenings, etc etc.

FWIW on the academic side, all 9 of DD2's friendship group at Amersham School went to university and 4 of them (including DD2) have Masters.

Sorry, I live the other end of Hertfordshire so don’t know the Amersham “scene”, though I agree Merchant Taylors is much more academic than Berko.

If you go to the Good Schools website you can search for schools in your area and then see what comes up. I’d start by looking at what seems commutable (most schools have a page about coach routes) and then look in more detail.

I have a child at Amersham School, we've been very pleased with it. It really is an excellent school, the staff look after the students extremely well but also have high expectations for good results.
It is over subscribed, we live out of catchment and got in last minute... I don't think we'd stand a chance of getting in now.

@primprincess Often preps in Bucks are “opt in” to the 11 plus in that they ask you what you want to do. For my DD, we talked to school and opted out. Other parents opted in to test the water regarding how bright DDs were. Then applied to top level independent schools for 13!

Bucks Secondary schools might have at least 30% higher achieving dc. There is clearly an overlap between many of these dc and the grammar dc. Just a few marks in the 11 plus. Therefore Bucks secondaries can, and do, get very good results. They don’t have the larger numbers of bright dc, but have quite a lot and of course these dc go to uni. My neighbours DC went to our local Sec and did maths at Exeter.

It’s a problem if you want private secondary for boys in Bucks and you aren’t near Stowe or Oxford . Berko is just about the only middle of the road option and of course, as it’s in Hertfordshire, not all have taken Bucks 11 plus. It’s been the go to school for boys in my area of Bucks who don’t get the grammar exam. The girls go to Pipers.

Chesham Grammar is a state Grammar academy. The Amersham School is also a state Academy. Neither started as free schools but have changed over the last 60 years. They have funding based on pupil numbers but Amersham might get more PP funding - I haven’t checked!

Can you stay at your prep until 13? What do they think you should do? Usually preps offer guidance. Would he get into Berko? If not, I think the Amersham School is excellent.

I also have a child at Amersham school and am really pleased with it. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Hi
i can’t comment on private schools but I can give first hand experience of DCGS and feedback on Amersham school.
we discounted Chesham Grammar when our son was looking/ open evenings were chaotic and we unimpressed with the head. We had wanted our son to go to a mixed school so this was disappointing. Im not sure whether your comments in the original post re the head and falling GCSE grades were aimed at Chesham or DCGS? If the latter, we find the head is exceptional, he is very involved, still teaches, and as for GCSE grades , DCGS has amazing grades. We have lots of friends with kids at Amersham school which is also amazing, great head and a brilliant school. Most important of all though, our son loves DCGS, there are lots of extra curricular activities and the teaching is fantastic

It’s a total luxury to discount a fantastic grammar school. Not a showy enough head and probably too many people at the open evening. Happens at most Bucks grammars as they are populated by loads who don’t get the pass mark.

Hi @TizerorFizz yes, appreciate how lucky we are. Was just trying to understand ops comments and give my first hand views. I think you have to look at your child to see where they would thrive and I don’t think my son would have thrived at CGS, thousands do I know!

@Holidayqueen1 Yes. We all do that!
We chose private for DD1 - she got a high pass mark. We wanted something completely different for her and she wanted a change and chose boarding . I’m not convinced heads should be viewed as sales people though. We also found our grammars rammed on open evenings. So poor advertisements in a way and not remotely representative of their strengths. However nearly everyone still wants those schools. It is a luxury to walk away and pay.

This resonates with our current situation. Just wanted to check if you did go ahead with 11+ & if your dc passed? Alternatively which school did you decide on ? We are looking at Amersham school too though haven't been there yet for open days.