Meadowhead School Sheffield

[Ermintrudewasinnocent]

Hello, any thoughts on this school - moving from London in-year transfers. I've noted the catchment is very "mixed" but I like large schools and they seem to have a lot of options and new buildings. I've also noticed they offer a lot of BTECS so was wondering particularly how they might be able to support More Able Learners at GCSE?

If anyone has any recent experience it would be great to hear

I know. I said so earlier in the thread but PP didn’t put that in her list.

👍

Ecclesfield is full too - I tried them. I think Chaucer has space but nowhere else for year 8/9!

I'm not really wedded on S11 but would be working SW Sheffield so its more convenient.

Don't send your child to Chaucer.

I did look at it but agree!

Couldn’t agree more. There’s a reason they have space!
Tapton, Chaucer, bradfield & forge are all part of TSAT but there are massive differences in catchment & provision.
Are Westbourne / Birkdale options?

Have you check High storrs?

No space at HSS, plus there's a waiting list.

😩 I really can’t think of any others. I don’t think we’ve missed any between us have we? From the options with spaces I really would be looking at private OP.

@TribeofFfive it's true. Sheffield has grown massively in the last 15 years, and there really aren't enough school places, and the pressure on the popular SW ones is enormous.

we live in Bradfield (not our school) but kids in our village do get into Tapton. But thanks for your feedback

You’re welcome.. I think?! There’s obviously a reason you didn’t send your child(ren) to Bradfield if that’s where you live…

I secnd, third and fourth avoiding Chaucer. I have a friend who was head of dept there and he does not speak well of it!

Meadowhead used to be awful. I thought it had improved in recent years with the addition of a 6th form - has it slipped again? Its immediate catchment area certainly has a lot of social problems but it's such a big school that a lot of its intake don't live in the immediate surroundings.

Mercia is the best school in the city by many miles, academically. It's a Marmite place - the most oversubscribed school in the city, yet you hear many, many people describe it as a "concentration camp" (often without actually knowing much about it). Perhaps surprisingly, it does have pupils who have entered the school at random points in their school career - not many, but even in y11 there are children who've arrived only that year. NB Although it has excellent exam results, it's poor on MFL provision (only French) and much better on STEM subjects/Ebacc.

Newfield Green is part of the same Trust as Mercia School (the trust itself is also called Mercia), and several of the Mercia teachers used to teach at Newfield Green. I understand though that the ethos at NG is very different from that at Mercia and academically they are also very different. NG has however improved massively over the last few years and I wouldn't write it off as a possibility.

All saints is another option

It’s not our catchment school

That's RC, isn't it? Is the entry criteria different? The Head is quite good, although they have had problems with a particular cohort.

As in - Bradfield school is not located in Bradfield village

Some of the pupils are awful! I actually went to All Saints and it’s always been the same.
Huge issue with certain groups with gangs which was the same when I was there. If you’re local you’ll remember a high profile murder in the late 2000s. Similar issues now as when JM was a pupil.
Miss Siddall who I think is now deputy head is brilliant. Staff retention is good but they’re usually over subscribed like Notredame.

l live in SW Sheffield and taught there fir 25 years.

Try for Tapton/Silverdale, they tend to be the top, but swap places .
High Storrs
King Ecgberts
King Edwards ( at a push)

l wouldn’t consider another school. And not Meadowhead. They had a bad rep a few years ago.

Mercia is not my place. But if you want a vegan lunch and no speaking at all in corridors and ‘teacher tracking’ in lessons, then it’s the one for you. I think it’s now one if the top 5 schools in the country.

Yeah, I’m guessing from where you are it’s either Forge or Stocksbridge for comp?

@Ermintrudewasinnocent Late to the debate.

Handsworth Grange, in the south east of Sheffield, hasn't been mentioned but it's 4th on the list of 'oversubscribed' and part of the Minerva Trust, along with High Storrs, Stocksbridge and Ecclesfield. A nurturing ethos and effective behaviour policy but tends to get overlooked as it's not in the affluent south west or in the 'avoid' category. It was outstanding but has slipped to requires improvement because of communication over a new locked lavatory policy. Might be worth an enquiry though.

A friend's two boys recently left Meadowhead. She was really concerned about the school's reputation before they went but is thrilled with the school and how it has responded to the different needs of each.

Population of Sheffield since 2019 has risen by about 15% after being stable for years.

Mainly in the SW of the city.

Yes I know. That's my point upthread.
I also said that 30% of properties bought in the last few years are from people moving up from the South East.

I know l was just reinforcing what you said.

Op l taught at one of those schools. There was always some movement in y8.

Sorry! I live in Ecclesall and also teach in the SW!