Beaconsfield High v Dr Challoners High

[thirdtimelucky]

I have two DDs at BHS (Y8 and Y10) and can categorically say that you do not need to fit any mould whatsoever to enjoy the school. Quite the opposite, in fact! It is a very inclusive school with a huge range of extra-curricular activities - something for everyone, I would say. My DDs are very different - one is very academic, one musical, both enjoy dance - which is highly competitive, I might add - getting into the advanced dance groups is a challenge but there are all-ability clubs run by sixth formers which my DDs have always been part of and have performed in the (truly fantastic!) dance shows. My Y10 DD is currently having a blast in New York on the dance tour, which is open to everyone, whatever their level (from Y9 upwards). Music and Drama are on a rapid improvement programme having been a bit 'lost' in the last couple of years - new heads for both disciplines this year. Academic standards are high, but achievable targets are set and homework is not too onerous, especially in Y7 as they are settling in. When I have had queries and concerns, they have been swiftly addressed and I feel that my viewpoint is both welcomed and valued. I think behaviour is good; there will always be the odd minx in any school but issues are always dealt with and the new HT is a strong leader who has set out her stall on standards and behaviour from the start. Staff are engaged and involved, pastoral care is excellent and there is a very strong sense of community within the school.

Socially, there are termly discos for Y7 and Y8, and children from all local schools; boys and girls from grammars, uppers and independents are welcome to attend. I love the fact that the school is a short walk from the new town where girls can go to Costa for a hot chocolate, meet friends and feel safe.

For my girls, it ticks all of their boxes and they are very happy there. Hope that helps! I wouldn't hesitate to choose BHS again (though my DS might not be too keen!)

[Dollydripmat]

Can you expand on fitting the mould with regards to BHS scary mum? I haven't heard this at all. I have a few friends with girls in various year groups and haven't heard this saying before. My DD is a very normal down to earth girl which came from a regular state school, she has made friends with girls from all different backgrounds and all she says is the girls are lovely and very friendly. She has always been very excited about school and very self motivated. She is having a good experience so far. I'm curious to know why BHS appears to be quite negative to some. Dollyxxx

[thirdtimelucky]

Can you expand on fitting the mould with regards to BHS scary mum? I haven't heard this at all. I have a few friends with girls in various year groups and haven't heard this saying before. My DD is a very normal down to earth girl which came from a regular state school, she has made friends with girls from all different backgrounds and all she says is the girls are lovely and very friendly. She has always been very excited about school and very self motivated. She is having a good experience so far. I'm curious to know why BHS appears to be quite negative to some. Dollyxxx

Me too, Dolly! I don't know anyone who has taken their DD out for 'not fitting in' reasons. My DDs have friends from state, independent, OOC....we've had no issues.

[bucks mum1]

I have a daughter at BHS and a daughter at the secondary school opposite. I also find your commrnts about the secondary school sad. I find it by far the happier of the two schools although I guess it depends on whether you feel happiness is less important than 3 A grades at A level.

BHS gets great results but I think the single sex hot house environment breeds unhappy girls. I do believe you need to be a certain sort of girl to fit in at BHS and thrive. My daughter was from a state primary school and I now wished we had tried to get a place for her in a mixed sex Grammar such as Chesham or Burnham. I have no experience of DCHS.

[trudie]

I have to agree with the sentiments of bucks mum 1. I was only boring someone about this very element today - why the need to prioritise the status of achievement over happiness...?

Anyway, digressions, digressions...

To choose between two girls-only grammars is a bit of a hiding to nothing. They are the same side of the same coin, however different they seem. However, the new team - namely the HT - at DCHS is great. They will lead the school to strength, and stem the problems that arose out of having a HT who for specific reasons was not respected by the whole school staff.

[Guest55]

Some of the GS manage to encourage happiness and academic achievement ... as do some of the Uppers.

[Dollydripmat]

We had our Y7 parents welcome evening and I got the impression that although achievements are high and hoped for, they specifically mentioned how important it was to be well rounded and they know how pressured this environment can be with regards to young girls and excelling. I know it's early days, maybe these problems arise in later years. Dollyxxx

[scary mum]

We had our Y7 parents welcome evening and I got the impression that although achievements are high and hoped for, they specifically mentioned how important it was to be well rounded and they know how pressured this environment can be with regards to young girls and excelling. I know it's early days, maybe these problems arise in later years. Dollyxxx

Dolly, this may well be the new head's influence, which can only be a good thing. Or sales talk

[trudie]

Some of the GS manage to encourage happiness and academic achievement ... as do some of the Uppers.

Yes they do. And some do not, as it is not on their list of priorities. And then some encourage happiness for some children, but unfortunately not for others - and that seems to be not really by anyone's design.

I think the thrust of my post and the previous was in some part as reply to the OP who was stating that grammars, and single-sex grammars in particular, were her priority. We were posing the question of whether this was the best priority to make.

[TLC11]

We had the choice between BHS and DCHS. My DD's class mates went to BHS. I was torn between the two, but ultimately it was my DD who was going to spend the next 7 years of her life there, not me. So I let DD choose. She opted for DCHS and is happy at school. She finds it pushy and competitive but has a lovely large group of nice friends. She also has some nice friends from the boys school and they all socialise at the weekend - usually in Costa! She gets the Beaconsfield bus and the commute dosent bother her. Infact, she particularly enjoys the bus journey now that they share the same coach as the boys school!