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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Millais School in Horsham

14 replies

poppyandmax · 19/06/2009 20:34

Does anyone have experience of this particular school? What are your opinions, good and/or bad gratefully received. Thanks.

OP posts:
badgerhead · 20/06/2009 09:00

Both my dd's attend Millais. The eldest is just finishing year 10 and has not been happy there. I think that this stems from some bullying she received in yrs 7 & 8. In fact in yr 8 we had a pretty rough time with her not wanting to go into school. Things settled down & although she 'says' she doesn't like the school I know the staff like her! I always get the impression that her dislike is a way of her expressing herself, as academically she has done well there and my feelings are that if she really didn't like the school she wouldn't have bothered to work as hard as she has!
Youngest dd is just finishing yr 7 and seems to be enjoying herself. She is making new friends (has always only had a few friends)and like all children has her liked and disliked staff members.
They are strict on their uniform policy, which has changed in the last 2 years) but although dd1 thinks that it makes the school look like a private school, the uniform certainly does look good when you see the girls wearing it around the town.
There are a good selection of trips organised throughout the school, including foreign exchanges, dd2 has a chance to go to Denmark next year and she has a day trip to France at the end of term as part of activities week. The school specialises in foreign languages with all girls doing two languages from yr 7. Everyone does French & then depending on which form they are in a different second language from: Italian, German, Spanish & Japanese. These are done until the end of year 9 & then they have the option of doing one or both at GCSE. DD1 has dropped french & is doing Italian, dd2 is also doing Itailian as her 2nd language.
If you want to know anything else just leave a message.

Whizpuff · 25/06/2011 17:07

Hi,

I appreciate that this post is two years old, but please, badgerhead (if you read this thread again) I would be very interested to hear how Millais addressed the bullying- I'm also considering the school for my DD (although a way off yet!)

Many thanks!

badgerhead · 27/06/2011 14:22

Milliais is still an excellent school, got Outstanding in their inspection last year & although dd1 has now left dd2 is still there, about to start yr10. The bullying died its own death, I think she decided to stand up for herself & the girls matured & realised that what they were doing was not cool.
dd1 still likes going back to visit the school & intends to go on their open evening in October to say hello to some of the old staff who taught her. Her old form tutor had dd2 the other day for textiles & called her her sisters name at first much to her disgust Wink dd1 finished with good gcse grades is thriving at 6th form and looking at unis now with a view to studying Psychology. She decided to go to an out of town 6th form & is pleased she did as friends who did have not all been happy in their choice & one might well move in September to dd's choice.
I'm a childminder & several of the children I have looked after over the years have moved onto Millais & all of them seem to have thrived there & achieved well, with another one moving on this year & one more the year after all being well.

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 27/06/2011 18:33

A friend of mine has her dd in there & another one about to start,she says it's an excellent school & has no complaints.

Whizpuff · 26/07/2011 20:44

Thank you for the info both of you- really reassuring and helpful :)

mrspolarunner · 25/08/2012 22:17

Hi, we're thinking of moving to Horsham and were wondering how difficult it is to get into local schools, the Millais school in particular. Does anyone know roughly how close we would need to live to it for our daughter to get in? Any advice gratefully received, thanks!

nocake · 25/08/2012 22:29

There are three scondary schools in Horsham and they share a catchment area but if you're on the east side your DD will have a better chance of getting into Millais rather than Tanbridge. The map is in this leaflet www.westsussex.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=7ff4583a-792a-4989-876b-42aeb47e2bbe&version=-1

HayzE75 · 27/08/2012 10:21

We are also considering moving to Horsham. I called West Sussex council and spoke to a gentlemen that deals with the schools admissions. He said the catchments are pretty fixed. If, one year, there is a need for them to change (eg due to an increase in birth rate) then they undergo a year of consultation with the local area including parents. You should be able to live anywhere in the catchment area - kindly linked by nocake, and get in. It goes as far down as cowfold but always call the council and check the post code of where you are moving to. Good luck x

HayzE75 · 27/08/2012 10:22

Forgot to say - When I said catchment area I meant the East side for Millais - the chap I spoke to also said that people on the East side often get into Tanbridge (this does not always work the other way around - that is the West side do not always get inot Millais)

tattychicken · 25/09/2014 09:43

I realise this is a v old thread, but would be interested in any up to date info on Millais and Tanbridge? My DD needs to apply this autumn, we are in catchment for Millais but I really like the look and feel of Tanbridge! I also have another younger DD and and two DS so like the idea of them all being at the same school. However the general local consensus seems to be that I would be mad not send the girls to Millais. My eldest DD is also keen on Millais as that's where most of her friends from primary will be going. Any thoughts or advice would be very welcome!

tattychicken · 25/09/2014 12:33

Bump...

inthename · 25/09/2014 14:21

Locally, Millais is considered to be equivilent to a private school educatoon for girls. Tanbridge seems to be expanding, don't tend to hear anything about it, but a lot of local youngsters go to The Weald at Billingshurst which has a huge catchment, even if they are nearer to Tanbridge.

tattychicken · 25/09/2014 16:56

Thanks inthename! Am just really torn....but I know all the schools are really good so I guess it's a good problem to have...

Concernedparentoftwo · 20/05/2015 18:21

Bitch hole with lots of bullying & clicks. Letting no one new in.

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