Chigwell or Forest School?

[hamsterB]

Does anyone have any helpful thoughts? My Dd just received offers for places at Forest School (Snaresbrook) and Chigwell School. (apologies to those further afield for whom this won't be relevant...) Also offered free tuition in 2 instruments at Chigwell. Difficulty is deciding which to go for... things that matter to us are Dd's happiness, confidence, being with like-minded kids who enhjoy learning. Chigwell is smaller, therefore perhaps leading to more sense of community (?). Music very important to her... If anyone has had personal experience, or knowledge about either school, it would be v gratefully received. Thanks!

My experience is probably very out of date but I would consider transport quite carefully. There are a lot of after school activities at both and if your daughter is musical then she will be called on for musicals, concerts etc, so you need to be happy that she can get back from school late at night (or even into school early in the morning) apart from the school bus scheme.

In respect of Forest I would check when MSE is due to retire, as their impressive Oxbridge record is down to his research and advice. Forest does seem to keep many of its teachers for several decades which I think is a good sign.

I know the both DD is at Braeside so both maybe possibilities in the future for her... I would choose Chigwell myself between the 2. I am in Loughton so closer and having seen both and having had friends that went to both I prefer Chigwell. It is also better academically and has a better rep. I like the grounds and look and feel more as well but that is a personal choice. Dies your DD have an opinion??

Thanks Ladymuch and Squiby for your replies. I hadn't thought about Oxbridge, but that's a good tip... Will check out transport, as I agree this would be a very important consideration. My Dd was initially wowed by Forest, but now loves Chigwell...! She asked this morning about their uniform, and I think has started thinking of herself as going there. Will do some more research - very grateful to you both - thanks.

I'm not sure whether Chigwell is that much better academically but haven't gone back over all the league tables to check them - both seemed to get 80% A/B at A level last year which is generally good enough. However Forest has always punched above its weight at getting its students into Oxbridge and onto medical courses - for decades. Over the last 20 or 30 years the results at say Bancroft have been better in terms of grades and league tables, but I suspect that Forest had more into Oxbridge and into medical schools. I appreciate uni is a long way off, but getting pupils onto the right course is Forest's speciality academically rather than trying to be top of the league tables. But Spencer Ellis and Honeysett must come up to retirement at some point! But I can't see that their ethos (if not their connections) wouldn't have got passed onto someone else by now.

That said I guess you can always look again at schools come 6th form.

I am a teacher and I know of both schools. I believe Forest is better.