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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Gunnersbury boys catholic school, Brentford

40 replies

VanessaF · 03/07/2010 20:09

Hello - I am considering sending my son to this school and would really like to know more about it. Any parents, teachers or pupils out there who could let me know what they think of the school, the teaching and the general standards. Thank you. Also whether you have got in and are from another borough, were there problems?

OP posts:
Lenkamew · 11/07/2010 15:12

My son is starting in Sept and we are all THRILLED!! We are out of borough and got a place a few weeks ago from the waiting list. We feel really lucky, the school has outstanding status. Which borough are you in and which Deanery?
Are you looking for a place Sept 2011? I suggest you go to the open eve in Sept...

seeker · 12/07/2010 09:04

Julian Clary is an Old Boy!

Lenkamew · 13/07/2010 12:33

Are you not thinking of St Benedicts?!

seeker · 14/07/2010 13:06

Oh, yes, so I am!

Taji · 14/07/2010 20:56

I know someone whose son is at the end of Y7. She is really pleased with the education that he has received and from what she has told me, the staff seem very adept at getting the best out of him. They don't live in the Borough and there haven't been any problems.

Original poster
VanessaF · 21/07/2010 18:44

To Lenkamew - I live in Ealing so will be out of Borough, although I believe a lot of Ealing students go there. I am also considering St Benedicts but it is the cost -£12k per year is a bit harsh.

To Seeker - Did you like it there, how long ago were you there?

To Taji - Are your friends from Ealing.

OP posts:
sue52 · 22/07/2010 10:45

Have you considered the Oratory? I know a few Ealing parents whose sons went there and spoke very well of it.

GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 22/07/2010 11:11

I'm an old Oratorian (girls in 6th form) and it is a very fine school. Many of those I knew came from the Acton/Ealing way. I imagine it's much the same as it used to be (it's that type of school). V hot on discipline but provided a well-rounded and enthusiastic education. I consider it to have been the most influential I attended. Many of my friends have gone on to have varied and interesting careers/lives.

Taji · 22/07/2010 19:15

Yes, the family I know live in the Borough of Ealing at the Acton end. I don't think that he had any problems at all in getting in.

Funnily enough, I bumped into his mum today who said that he'd finished today for the Summer. She was reflecting on the fact that this time last year he was very nervous at the prospect of going to secondary school (no one else from his school was going)but that he has had a great Year 7.

Original poster
VanessaF · 23/07/2010 21:37

I had never considered the Oratory because I though it was too far, but I will investigate.

OP posts:
sue52 · 25/07/2010 22:46

Do have a look Vanessa. After all it was good enough for Tony Blair and (I think)Harriet Harmans boys.

seeker · 26/07/2010 07:31

Sorry, Vanessa - I misled you - I didn't go to any of the schools mentioned here. I was just mis attributing Julian Clary to Gunnersbury! I went very briefly to a school called St Anne's, which no longer exists, and we used to "dance against" Benedict's and Gunnersbury in the hope that we would meet nice Catholic boys!

sue52 · 26/07/2010 12:28

Seeker I went there too and well remember those dances at St Benedicts. I avoided ending up with a nice Catholic boy though!

seeker · 26/07/2010 12:41

Oooh - I wonder if we know each other? Never know what to do in these circumstances!

sue52 · 26/07/2010 12:49

I left in 1970 after 6th form, so I'm a very old old girl. My brother went to St Benedicts and loved it but there has been some negative publicity about it recently.

seeker · 26/07/2010 13:12

Gosh - even older than me! I was there from 1974-76. Do you remember Sr Mary Stanislaus?

sue52 · 26/07/2010 13:32

I Loved Sister Stanny. She was at least 100 when I started there. She taught Latin as well as being Headteacher. Altogether now; amo amas amat. Happy days.

seeker · 26/07/2010 23:49

Well, she was at least 120 when I knew her....

Trying to remember the name of the ghastly woman who was head during my brief ill fated stay. The only redeeming feature for me was a Miss Nethercott.

Lenkamew · 29/07/2010 13:07

What year is your boy in now Vanessa?

rosalee10 · 11/08/2010 16:51

seeker, does the name Miss Salmonson ring a bell with you? She was the head at St Anne's when I was there, I didn't like her much -Miss Nethercott also taught me for English, small world, eh...??

Original poster
VanessaF · 13/08/2010 20:25

Hi Lenkamew - My son is in year 5 now, but I want to sort out what school he goes to before he gets into year 6.

OP posts:
Lenkamew · 14/08/2010 14:39

Hi VanessaF! :) Yes you need to make plans now, get all the info you can. I would talk to the admissions sec and see where you stand on distance based on this years intake, they are really lovely at Gunnersbury and will be candid with you. I am thrilled my son is going to Gunnersbury, thought Oratory was a bit dry but each to his or her own!!

seeker · 15/08/2010 07:53

OH god - Miss Salmondson was ghastly. Hello, rosalee - small world indeed!

I loved Miss Nethercott - she was the only teacher I ever had that I had any time for at all.

Original poster
VanessaF · 21/08/2010 09:38

thanks for the advice. I have just checked out their A-level results and they are quite good, but other schools are a bit better. This is so stressful....I will see what the GCSE results say.

OP posts:
mrsshrimpy · 02/07/2011 21:36

I'm very pleased with Gunnersbury, thought they all looked miserable at the Oratory