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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Colfe's School - anyone know it?

23 replies

Caoimhe · 25/03/2010 18:17

A friend is thinking of moving her ds to Colfe's senior school. She and her ds liked it but she doesn't know anyone with dcs there so I'm just wondering if anyone on MN has direct experience of the school?

She's looking for a smallish school with good pastoral care and reasonable academics.

All views welcome!

OP posts:

MinaTannenbaum · 25/03/2010 23:34

Colfes will give all of that. My dcs are not there but it is one of the destination schools from our primary and it is well-liked by everyone we know whose children have been to the senior school. Three of ds' classmates are going there next year and really happy about it.

Original poster

Caoimhe · 26/03/2010 18:48

Thanks Mina - sounds good!!

OP posts:

MinaTannenbaum · 26/03/2010 21:13

If we had been in the market for independent it would have been in the running. Very good pastorally.

Original poster

Caoimhe · 27/03/2010 08:51

Sounds exactly what she is looking for Mina. Pastoral care is her top priority I know!

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FlowerPotWeed · 27/03/2010 20:36

Caoimhe suggest that if your friend's priority is pastoral care, then she should also look at St Dunstans. We know a couple of families whose kids are there and they rave about it. We wish we could!

Original poster

Caoimhe · 28/03/2010 09:19

Thanks FlowerPotWeed - I will mention St Dunstan's to her as I haven't heard her talk about it.

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blametheparents · 28/03/2010 09:24

DH went there many moons ago, and he has turned out alright!

Original poster

Caoimhe · 28/03/2010 09:31

Oh which one, blametheparents - Colfe's or St Dunstan's?

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ditavonteesed · 28/03/2010 09:37

think that may be where dh went, can't check though as he's gone out for the day, just marking a spot to inform later. also really thick and northern but wtf is pastoral care???

blametheparents · 28/03/2010 11:17

Colfe's

MrsWobble · 29/03/2010 09:41

2 of my dc are already there and the third joins them in September. We like the school and I think it probably meets your friend's objectives of "good pastoral care and reasonable academics"

Original poster

Caoimhe · 29/03/2010 17:15

Thanks for posting, MrsWobble. Any negatives she should know about?

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MrsWobble · 30/03/2010 10:25

not really - my dc are happy and doing well so it's hard to think of anything to be negative about. is there anything specific your friend is concerned about?

mrsfred · 30/03/2010 10:33

I have friends with children there. Very good sports and drama departments.

Original poster

Caoimhe · 30/03/2010 14:32

Thanks mrsfred.

MrsWobble, I think her biggest worry is bullying - I've known her ds all his life and he is a bit of a fragile soul although a real sweetheart. This is why pastoral care is her big priority.

I know you can get bullying anywhere - it is how the school deals with such things that is important!!

OP posts:

MrsWobble · 31/03/2010 14:51

then based on my experience she should consider colfes. my dc1 had a "friendship issue" in year 7 - i thought she was probably being a bit over sensitive but given she was clearly upset i emailed her form tutor to ask for her advice. she telephoned me back within 2 hours and saw the three children concerned within another 2 hours and the issue was resolved within the day. the form tutor then followed up with me when we next saw her (a few weeks later) and then again at parents evening.

the aspect that most impressed me in the handling was that the teacher was completely non-judgemental - there was never any probing into who said what and what did they mean by it - it was addressed purely from the angle of dc is upset, how can we sort it out. I think this was exactly what was required - no-one had to admit to being "at fault" or "to blame" so the issue blew over very quickly.

and finally, i was never made to feel like an over anxious mother with a pfb - my concerns were taken seriously and dealt with. and this was a teacher that neither dc nor i like particularly - but i have serious respect for her professional handling of the issue.

Original poster

Caoimhe · 31/03/2010 15:05

Thanks MrsWobble - that sounds really good! It's nice to hear of a school handling these issues in a constructive way.

OP posts:

bouverie · 31/03/2010 16:28

I went there for the sixth form (girls not in main school then), but 20 years ago so not much use to you I expect.

skihorse · 09/04/2010 05:46

bouverie In which case, I'll know you by name.

My first boyfriend went there - alcoholic, woman-beating, arrogant shithead. He fit right in.

annielouise · 06/05/2010 12:01

My friend had a terrible experience of the school. Her son was there in the nursery till 7 then she took him out. One of the teachers actually said to her I can't bare looking at him sometimes. I think he's about 4. He was youngest in class, didn't have any older brothers or sisters so was less mature in some ways than the others. She often got called back to the school about 9.30am. By 6 it was clearly not working and she was told in no uncertain terms he won't pass the exams to get in to the next stage - is that prep. Just her experience - she thought the pastoral care awful.

Summersoon · 07/05/2010 15:45

If bullying is an issue, I would be careful about St. Dunstan's. I know someone who was verz badly bullied there and the school did not handle it at all well. I am sure that there is a greater or lesser degree of bullying at all schools but it is how the school handle such incidents that really matters.
I am afraid that I don't know anything about Colfe's.

ozhodge · 27/11/2010 11:10

Sorry for the ignorance but what does Pastoral Care refer to?

LadyLapsang · 27/11/2010 13:17

I would echo Mrs Wobble, Colfe's is very strong on pastoral care and the children and young people are brought up to be kind and supportive to each other. I have never waited more than an hour or two for a teacher to return a phone call during the school day and emails have been replied to promptly, even on a Sunday!

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