Grammar School: Skinners vs Beths

[CoombeTracey]

Our DS has to decide between Skinners (cleared waitlist) and Beths (already accepted). We visited both schools last year and he seemed to like Beths more. Whilst we are supportive of his preference and have heard good things about Beths, we also wanted to make sure we are not missing on a great opportunity for DS.

He is passionate about science, loves reading and wants to go to Cambridge to pursue biochemistry. He also writes well and one day wants to author science books aimed at young children (like Adam Kay).

He is a bit timid and has a tendency to undersell himself. He has also struggled with his concentration (ADHD diagnosis came out negative).

We are therefore trying to decide which school will bring out the best in him. From what we've read and heard, both Skinners and Beths have strong academic focus and pastoral care, so it's not an easy decision (we are also equidistant from both schools).

Any input/insight would be really appreciated!

Thank you.

My sons are both at Beths and very happy.

My older one is v sporty, pretty academic - sort of sails through life. He’s in y13 and has been very content at Beths.

My younger son (y10) is very different. He has ADHD, social anxiety, difficulty making friends, and panic attacks. He has had amazing support throughout his time at Beths. Counselling, brilliant pastoral care, and lots of understanding which is often all he needs. There are lots of ND pupils there and they are very strong on SEND support and wellbeing.

My son was having panic attacks at the thought of going to school in y7 and is now adamant he wants to stay at Beths for sixth form.

The school does have its faults. I alway laugh wryly when I see posters sharing their opinions that girls can be “bitchy” because trust me, boys can be so cruel to each other. But issues are dealt with and the teachers are responsive.

I don’t know anything about Skinners though!

Oh also, Adam Kay’s nephew (?) goes to Beths. Adam Kay has done at least one talk to the kids.

Thanks a lot, @BettyEagleton. DS will be thrilled to know about the Adam Kay connection!

I have a DS at Skinners and cannot fault it so far. My DS is very independent, just gets on with it, keen musician (the music dept is excellent) and has settled in well and found is "people" - it's the type of school where it is cool to be a keen learner and they push the boys to be the best they can be both in and outside the classroom. Loads of extra curricular clubs available during breaks, lunch and after school - my DS seems to always be at something! Sport v strong across the board too although my DS isn't keen he still enjoys Games and PE lessons. So yes I'd say it's a great "all-rounder" school.

Meant to add that if you're completely torn and would be happy with either, maybe use the ease of commute as a decider - which one, genuinely, can your DS get to the quickest and easiest by himself/on public transport as this could make a big difference to the extra curriculars he can do after school for example and the length of his school day.

Thanks @Burntsausages. I agree. Commute, plus his preference for Beths, and now the Adam Kay link (!) may well tip the scales in favour of Beths.

Many thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

Hi there @Burntsausages , DS has an offer at Skinners and I was wondering if I could PM you with some queries as we are not too sure about the school.

Of course, hope I can help.

I have four very close friends who used to work at Beths for years and they either recently moved to other schools in the last 3 years, or leaving at the end of this academic year. I am not going to share all the details I got from them which are all consistent. But, I can strongly say that it is a grammar school in the name only. I don't know much about Skinners. I would not wish to see even my enemy's kid attending Beths.

I tutored an amazing young man a few ago. He was desperate to get into Skinners and has absolutely thrived there. I've only heard positive and happy stories about the place - but I'm not local, so it's only what I hear back from my students.🙂

What do you mean by “grammar school in name only”?

Do you mean Skinners Tunbridge Wells? If so I absolutely cannot fault the school.
My boys truly loved every single day at Skinners and thrived socially and academically.

Probably means Skinners has a more genteel catchment being Tunbridge Wells. Beths draws from a different type of catchment.

The school is cluttered by several behaviour and safeguarding issues. For example, they are not aware of county lines problems or they prefer to not see it. The last Ofsted graded them "good" in all areas but "outstanding" in behaviour: that is almost an oxymoron. A teacher was hit and injured by some year 10 students in a mayhem when a huge number of students created havoc in one of the many narrow corridors. The teacher had to take days off before returning to work. The school is unmanageably overcrowded.

I gotta stop... It is a good comprehensive school. Not a "grammar". My personal view is formed up by a bunch of consistent intelligence from inner sources.

Of course, there are some happy, and naïve students. Bless them. And, of course, there are some hard working professionals.

Well as the mother of two of those “happy, naive students” I can say this is not my experience.

My DC is not at Beths but they do know kids who are. It still has the Mandarin Excellence programme, sounds amazing. There are definitely kids going there who aim very high. Obviously it is going to be a little rougher than Royal Tunbridge Wells, so what. May prepare better for the real world and Mandarin will be great in business, diplomacy etc - well worth considering.

Same. Not my experience or my DC experience at all.

But that's what you get in an anonymous forum. Anyone can say anything.

Both my sons went to Beths, DS2 has just left having taken his A'levels. Both have loved it and thrived there.

It is a very diverse school and as so, it is different to, I would say, all the other local Grammar/selective schools. I think now over 50% of the students are black which does bring issues that maybe are less common in other local schools. We are white and have had numerous, thinly veiled racist comments from parents from other schools but, for us, it has never been an issue.

In our 12 year association with the school, we have never had any negative experiences. It is very much a boys school but in our experience, bad behaviour is not acceptable and when students have got over-excited, it has been swiftly dealt with.

i do believe it has a different vibe to the other selective schools and only your family can decide if it suits you. It absolutely suited both our boys.

Absolutely: anyone can say anything. That's a good thing. People just need to process the information with their intellectual tools in the way they like. That's why these type of forums are really useful.

@alwaysonthelearnersidewhy do you say it’s a comprehensive school? The ability isn’t so it must be the intake that you think fits that demographic more?