Cathedral School Cardiff and Westbourne Penarth

[annielouise]

Hello
Does anyone have any information (good and bad experiences) on either The Cathedral School Cardiff or Westbourne Independent School Penarth? Any recommendations for Cardiff/Vale of Glamorgan independent schools? Many thanks

Why do you want these two schools?The reason I ask this is because there is Howells - girls school.Do you have son or a daughter?

notanidea - I've a son. Sorry, should have said.

Is their any reason for choosing only these two schools. You have King Monkton in the town(pain to get into so we ruled it out) and St Johns College which is coed. I have friend who send their children to cathedral school and are very happy- only one parent was not happy and child was happy in a state primary. Lot of emphasis on extra curricular activities, but it is only upto GCSE( I guess you are looking for secondary education as you have posted in this section)

Kings Monkton didn't have a great Estyn report and limited extra-curricular activities so haven't considered going there as first resort but might look at them. St John's College I thought was Catholic, which we're not. Thanks for the info on the Cathedral School.

Friends have their boys in the primary at cathedral school-they aren't thrilled but due to convenience of location for them, after school club etc. feel they don't have any other option. I have been slightly amazed at some of the things they have described (DD is at a private school in England so i have no axe to grind). Academically seems ok though.

I did some work with all the private schools in cardiff when we lived there, as a result we would have considered Kings monkton or St John's if we were still there. St john's is RC but not what I'd consider "full-on" (but I'm RC so a statue of mary in the corner of the classroom barely registers whereas if you're not used to it...)

I can assure you this - Although it says that it is catholic, it really does not matter.It is a lovely school and the pastoral care is excellent, it is very academic(but children are not hot housed), excellent GCSE results and the children who leave the school go to very good universities.Many of them return for their annual dinner every year although they have left the school. Their music provision is excellent but must admit that their sports provision is not up to standard.You can always supplement it outside. If you dont mind me asking where do you live.If you live in the Vale, then it might be a long travel.But I know children travel from chepstow, llantarnam etc., to the school.It is not a easy decision. good luck

Thanks Marialuisa and notanidea. I won't write off King's Monkton after what you've said. I should know better than taking an official report as the starting point. So much depends on the feel so I'll go and take a look. Have friends with children at Cathedral and they say it's not perfect but no actual problems. I'm renting at the moment so could move anywhere. In Lakeside (Cyncoed some say) right not so Kings Monkton and St John's not hard to get to. Hoping someone gets in touch about Westbourne as it does the International Baccalaureate in the sixth form. It's only just started it so not sure how well it's going.

There are some very good secondary schools in Penarth area. I used to work in a private school in Cardiff, and they are not so good. Does it have to be an independent you go to ?

Hi pop1973 - still deciding. Leaning towards independent.

I have heard good things about Kings Monkton and the Cathedral school from both a former pupil and parent angle

Oh and I went to primary school in Lakeside - then on to Cardiff High but no idea if its still such a fab school or not now - was often getting top results in Wales when I was there

Pop 1973- That's interesting. ML I know you lived somewhere near Hereford. I am in a dilemma whether to move to Monmouth or stay in Cardiff.How about schools in Hereford or Monmouth?It depends on where I get a job.Sorry annieluise for asking this to ML.Why don't you ask for the destination of leavers from Westbourne this year.It depends on which I know that at ST Johns - 5-6 go to Oxbridge and few go to top level universities.This is out of 20-25 students.At least three are heading to Oxbridge this year and I personally know one of the boys.If you can move then your choices are wider. We don't have lot of choice when it comes to independent schools in south Wales.

Pop 1973 can you elaborate if you don't mind. It would give us some insight into what actually happens.Cardiff high gets good result any longer and almost all children I know,who attend the school get tutored.

Choices do seem limited for independent schools in S. Wales, you're right notanidea. What might be good for one isn't for another. I'll just have to do the rounds and see. Thanks

Hi Not, my mum is just outside Monmouth and I did time at HCS and HMSG. Have posted on here before that if we lived in Herefordshire i'd be trying state first as find HCS underwhelming, although usually gets a fair few into Oxbridge. HMSG has better facilities and is nice enough. Both schools take from a massive catchment area. Monmouth Comp has always been well though of.

We love Cardiff and would seriously consider moving back if the opportunity arose but Monmouth is pleasant. You might have to contend with my dbro and his hoards of mates drinking by the river though

Having now moved around a bit I find the variation in quality of private schools amazing. I've turned my nose up at schools in my current area that would have been outstanding in another part of the country. Wales is also a bit funny because private schools are few and far between.

I am not sure if I will get a job in Hereford or in carrdiff.So options would be Haberdashers or St John's.I love cardiff and if possible wont leave this place.But again, it is not in my hand.I know it is a difficult question to answer Do you think Haberdashers is better than St Johns college? Thanks ML

I would go for St John's but that's partly influenced by a strong yen to put DD in a catholic school (however "lite"). I think the character of the schools is quite different, HMSG perhaps a bit more of a traditional private school IYKWIM. Really though, it's a nice choice to make-more about where your dD would be happiest than whether she'll be all right academically.

Thanks ML Hopefully things will be clearer in the next few months and I will have job.

What about Christ College Brecon?
www.christcollegebrecon.com

My DS is in year 7 at this school and we have been impressed by academic provision, sports opportunities & facilities and music / drama standards. Pastoral care is also excellent and the campus is beautiful with 35+ acres directly surrounding the school buildings.

It is about an hour's journey from Cardiff. There are school buses from the Monmouth area. Full or flexi boarding is available - one of DS's friends weekly boards and is from Penarth area.

If you would like more info just ask!

Thanks FlankerMum. Sounds great but a bit too far out to travel daily and I don't think boarding would suit him (or me). Thanks anyway.

I have first hand knowledge of this school as I went there in the 70's. I definitely cannot recommend it. Most teachers I knew, some of which are still at the school today were nasty people who sadistically bullied children. Including the now headmaster. There were 2 facebook groups set up for Westbourne. One of them, I believe, was started by a relative of the headmaster. This was quickly taken down as there were so many negative comments about bullying and racism towards the teachers from former pupils, even up to the present day, that it obviously didn't look good. The other, by a former pupil, is still up. I was contacted by quite a few former students, including a parent who took her son out of the school who said he was experiencing the same.
I remember how different the teachers were to our parents than they were to us. We were too scared to say anything. A kind of brainwashing that myself and others still struggle with today.
If you are thinking about sending your child to this school I would think again. Not fit to teach children in my opinion.
This is my real name and I'm quite happy to stand up and be counted as I know others are too.

I was talking about Westbourne House in Penarth btw.

Hi AnnieLouise,

I live in Monmouthshire & sent my DD to HMSG, based on the fact that it is a girls school, and IMHO girls do better in single sex education. In the 6th form however, many of the classes are shared with the boys school.
It suited her & she went on to uni, & is now in a graduate job.
It wasn't particularly academic when my DD was there - ranking about 100 - 140 on the best Independent Schools according to A level results.
Pastorally it was brilliant. Girls are bussed in from a very wide catchment area, and there is boarding too. This was used by some of her friends occasionally when parents had to go away on business (including weekend stays), and it allowed me the occasional late pick-up as DD could stay & have supper with the boarders...

The advantage of Monmouthshire is that you have access to the Bristol Schools too- Redmaids is a lovely school, and Badminton does very well academically if your DD is academic. There are others too!

I'm working with Kings Monkton School from this year & I wouldn't take much notice of the Estyn report. The school was taken over by new management in April (I think), with a fabulous new Principal, and there are really exciting plans ahead with massive investment. Go and see it before you decide.