CGS or DCHS

[Monicat77]

Can anyone share their experience with CGS or DCHS? I'm looking for insights into which environment is more supportive for children who are at the slower end of the spectrum academically. Thank you for sharing with me.

Might be helpful if you actually gave the names of the school, there’s one or two in the U.K. ☺️

@Monicat77 Chesham Grammar and Dr Challoners High School. Local people will know this and others won’t know the schools.

Traditionally CGS had a fewer of the very brightest DC and more getting in on appeal. Almost certainly there’s not much difference now but these are the stats you want so look at Bucks CC allocation and what spaces are left after first allocation. I’m assuming it’s not many for either. Obviously you know something about the schools but you need to go and visit if you haven’t already. What year is this for? Are you y6? Or lower primary? If moving to the area, no chance, probably.

The main difference is mixed vs single sex. Agreed, best to visit. They are both excellent schools & your daughter is likely to get similar results from either. Traditionally DCHS was seen as the more high pressured & academic of the two, but I don't know if that is still the case.
Is she likely to pass the 11 plus?

I think it really depends on your child. CGS is obviously mixed sex, a bit more "family feel" and nurturing imo. Big emphasis on extra-curricular activities so if you've got a sporty/dramatic/musical child it's a good shout. The single sex environment at DCHS may be a drawback or an advantage depending on your child. The academic pressure is a bit higher. I've got friends that teach at both and all of them are lovely and extremely talented teachers.

They're both highly academic schools, is a grammar school going to be the right place for your DD if she will struggle academically there?

Also, bear in mind that while you can take the Bucks 11+ exam from wherever you live, both schools operate a catchment area system and you will only get a place if you're in it. Historically CGS took some DCs from out of county but close to the school, but I'm not sure if that still happens as it has grown in popularity a lot over the past few years.

Thanks to all for your helpful insights. Perhaps I should answer a few questions you raised.
Yes, we live within the catchment areas for both schools and would certainly gain admittance. My daughter is in year six currently and we are roughly familiar with both schools, having visited both twice.
Yes, she is academically oriented and, I believe, will enjoy the grammar environment. She is emotionally quite resilient and has a bright future. She's just slow and will always, I fear, be in the bottom quartile at any grammar. Well, somebody has to be Q4; it's not the worst thing!

My concern is whether the student body has any kind of social caste based on academic performance. I wouldn't want her to be shunned or teased for not being brilliant, but merely good enough. For example, I have heard that DCHS is a wonderful place to to be Q1 but not a happy place to be Q4. I would like to know if anyone else has had heard this experience.
Thank you to MrsSunshine2b for the comment about extra curriculars! My daughter is quite active so this should definitely be taken into consideration.
Something else I need to consider is... She tends to wear her heart on her sleeve and, as a result, has been prone to manipulation by some female friends in the past. Does anyone know if this fear is justifiably applicable to DCHS or CGS?
Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your thoughtful insights!

Sorry, it sounds like you already know loads about both schools.

FWIW DD2 also doesn't really do big groups of girls as she finds them rather intense and she enjoys male company so she has always preferred mixed friendship groups. That has been the case throughout school and both universities she has attended.

If your DD is of a similar mindset, then she might prefer CGS? I stress this is very much a personal preference though, not a criticism of DCHS per se.

My DDs went single sex (not DCHS) and also liked mixing with boys. Just not in lessons. DD1 always had a massive group of friends. Still does! DD2 was more circumspect but wanted a smaller group. No one can tell
you what DC will arrive at either school. We noticed a big difference between DDs in two different years at DDs school. These dc simply aren’t all the same so who knows who will be in DD’s year. Maybe reflect on the parents at the open days? Were they intends high achievers or fairly normal folk? The truth is most dc are happy at both these schools. CGS put up with my neighbour’s DC!

I meant intense high achievers!

We are also in catchment for both schools and my 2 daughters have joined CGS (one Y9, one just started Y7). Both are very happy. My eldest is not as academic as some in her year- she’s doing well but definitely not top set (and we did wonder initially if a grammar school was right for her). She loves school and her lessons (on the whole!) and doesn’t feel stigma or pressure for not being top set (they only set for maths from y9, and PE I think).
We also visited DCHS for my youngest and really liked there too, I think she would have been happy there. But with no strong preference she was happy to join her sister and go to a mixed school.

Oh and my eldest has had a recent diagnosis of dyslexia and the school are being supportive with this (and letting her take the lead on what would work to help her)

No personal experience but a friend has a DD aged 13 at CGS who is loving the school. I don't think they are top set in maths, but are loving their language, English, humanity lessons etc. Friend is v happy with school and her DD is very settled and happy.