Grammar Schools near Marlow
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Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
Sorry to hear this is a problem in your area. We live in a very non-multicultural area and my DS attended primary school which was predominantly white. He is now at a GS with a wide range of races/colours/origins and accepts everyone as friends. Yes, he notices the skin colours are different but that doesn't change his attitude towards them - they are all people to him (he will frequently describe someone as wearing glasses before he mentions skin colour). What I am trying to say (in my ham-fisted way) is that I don't think kids see a difference unless the people around them help to see one.BlueBerry wrote:Hi 2littleboys,
Thanks for the welcome
I am actually near an outstanding secondary. Lots of people commit school fraud just to gain a place for their children. We bought and paid a huge premium for our house 4 years ago just to ensure that my son can get in there. However, the area that I live in is far from perfect. I know that it was 'too white' 4 years ago but didn't think that there would be any problems. My area is not multicultural at all and I can foresee problems in the future. Luckily my son is only 9 and hasn't picked up on the underlying racism in the area. So ultimately for my son's self confidence & esteem it will be best to move out of here. And I would like to move now so that he can start and finish in the same secondary school and gain some friends.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
I have 2 children there. I think it's an amazing school. SWBGS is extremely high achieving at sports.BlueBerry wrote:Hello all
We may potentially move to South Bucks. We are not local to the area and will be unable to visit the school open days this September. But we will need to move before September (someone in earlier post said by April?)to get in the right catchment area. So we need to buy/rent wisely.
Much has been said about SWB. Is it really that great? What type of school is it? I have a bright sporty boy who can work hard but he's so easily distracted. How can I make a judgement on which type of school is best for him?
And if he fails the 11+ tests then I need to make sure that there is a decent secondary nearby. Fingers crossed that this won't happen but just in case!
Thanks.
Visit it and see what you think - their open Eve is truly awful - too many people in a very small space.
In answer to your other question I wouldn't move at this stage in a child's education for a school. A grammar school is just a school - there is so much more to deciding where to live.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
If you are looking for something multicultural then you probably won't want SWBGS. It pulls from a VERY small catchment area. Marlow is a predominantly white area and SWBGS reflects that. There are a small number of children of Asian heritage and a small number from other white European countries and that is about it. That said I would not say there is any racism - all children are very respectful of each other and all friendship groups seem to be a mix of the schools population.BlueBerry wrote:Hi 2littleboys,
Thanks for the welcome
I am actually near an outstanding secondary. Lots of people commit school fraud just to gain a place for their children. We bought and paid a huge premium for our house 4 years ago just to ensure that my son can get in there. However, the area that I live in is far from perfect. I know that it was 'too white' 4 years ago but didn't think that there would be any problems. My area is not multicultural at all and I can foresee problems in the future. Luckily my son is only 9 and hasn't picked up on the underlying racism in the area. So ultimately for my son's self confidence & esteem it will be best to move out of here. And I would like to move now so that he can start and finish in the same secondary school and gain some friends.
The single sex schools at Handy Cross are more multicultural.
Please visit the schools before deciding to move. Also moving into Marlow area may prove tricky to find primary place. House prices are VERY steep - possibly more so then Surrey! Marlow is a funny little bubble.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
Wow, thanks for all your replies. I think I will contact Bucks CC tomorrow to find out whether they have any data on children's racial backgrounds. But to be honest even if there's only 5-10% ethnic minorities there then that's a heck more than what we've got here! Currently in my son's school of 350 there are only 5 non English kids.
Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, I will visit the 3 grammar schools that I'm interested in & will take my son along with me.
Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your views on this & your time in replying back to me.
Like I mentioned in my earlier posts, I will visit the 3 grammar schools that I'm interested in & will take my son along with me.
Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate your views on this & your time in replying back to me.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
This might be a little late in the day, but have you considered the Slough Consortia schools? They have a very diverse intake as a majority of children who get places are non white (all sorts of backgrounds, a large proportion are Asian Indian/Pakistani due to the a4 corridor cachement.) Burnham has a mixed intake also as Slough is very close and it has 30% mixed Asian ethnicity in the town. (We get a stonking selection of ethnic cooking ingredients here!)
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Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
If racial mix is a priority, have you considered Reading School? You'll probably be in catchment from Marlow and the school is very nicely mixed.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
When I moved to Gloucestershire I had no idea that we had grammars and like 2LB I hate it. I wasn't switched on enough to realise what it meant until my third child was of 11 plus age really, even though I am a teacher (I moved to do an unrelated job outside education, and stayed in that till after I had children). I would advise very strongly NOT moving specially to be in a grammar area, and if you have an excellent school on your doorstep you really want to think long and hard about that.BlueBerry wrote:Hi 2littleboys,
Thanks for the welcome
I am actually near an outstanding secondary. Lots of people commit school fraud just to gain a place for their children. We bought and paid a huge premium for our house 4 years ago just to ensure that my son can get in there. However, the area that I live in is far from perfect. I know that it was 'too white' 4 years ago but didn't think that there would be any problems. My area is not multicultural at all and I can foresee problems in the future. Luckily my son is only 9 and hasn't picked up on the underlying racism in the area. So ultimately for my son's self confidence & esteem it will be best to move out of here. And I would like to move now so that he can start and finish in the same secondary school and gain some friends.
In terms of racial diversity, I think I am right in saying that Buckinghamshire is pretty much the least racially diverse place in England isn't it? It would be a bit strange to choose that for the reasons you state. If that is your main concern, then do a bit more research and maybe go somewhere without grammars, with lower house prices and a beautiful ethnic mix. There are loads of places in England like that, but I don't think South Bucks is one of them.
Good luck.
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Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
That may be true for the whole of Bucks but the part of Bucks (near Marlow) I was brought up in is highly diverse... in fact all local supermarkets offer a range of "diverse" food and a local store has just opened a Halal meat counter to cater for the local population. But I agree that if you have an excellent school on your doorstep then I wouldn't move to Bucks for a grammar school; they may be more diverse but most children nowadays don't even notice colour or race (we are all one race - the human race).Amber wrote:When I moved to Gloucestershire I had no idea that we had grammars and like 2LB I hate it. I wasn't switched on enough to realise what it meant until my third child was of 11 plus age really, even though I am a teacher (I moved to do an unrelated job outside education, and stayed in that till after I had children). I would advise very strongly NOT moving specially to be in a grammar area, and if you have an excellent school on your doorstep you really want to think long and hard about that.BlueBerry wrote:Hi 2littleboys,
Thanks for the welcome
I am actually near an outstanding secondary. Lots of people commit school fraud just to gain a place for their children. We bought and paid a huge premium for our house 4 years ago just to ensure that my son can get in there. However, the area that I live in is far from perfect. I know that it was 'too white' 4 years ago but didn't think that there would be any problems. My area is not multicultural at all and I can foresee problems in the future. Luckily my son is only 9 and hasn't picked up on the underlying racism in the area. So ultimately for my son's self confidence & esteem it will be best to move out of here. And I would like to move now so that he can start and finish in the same secondary school and gain some friends.
In terms of racial diversity, I think I am right in saying that Buckinghamshire is pretty much the least racially diverse place in England isn't it? It would be a bit strange to choose that for the reasons you state. If that is your main concern, then do a bit more research and maybe go somewhere without grammars, with lower house prices and a beautiful ethnic mix. There are loads of places in England like that, but I don't think South Bucks is one of them.
Good luck.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
The last data I saw on Ethnicity was that the proportion of minority ethnic students in Bucks schools is around 30%. That does vary enormously between different parts of the county with individual schools ranging from 0% to 95%.
Re: Grammar Schools near Marlow
I agree with Amber ^ SWBGS is probably the least diverse Bucks Grammar school and is in pretty much the most expensive Bucks town. I like it here - we've been here many years and I love SWBGS but given your reasons for moving I don't know if it ticks your boxes? I'm concerned that you're making huge decisions based on a school you've not visited. You mentioned previously you'd discounted Beconsfield as being too expensive - Marlow is not cheaper and has fewer houses to choose from. SWBGS this year has only offered catchment siblings and SOME of catchment so it really is a VERY small area you're looking to move in to. Have you looked at the Primary Schools? They're all pretty marmite and spaces may be a challenge.
As I've said before I wouldn't move because of a school. You obviously live in a nice area with fields around you. You say you're current area is too white - I genuinely do t think Marlow is probably any less white. You live in a lovely place, have good schools, friends, local jobs etc - I would advise you enjoy where you live - moving is jolly expensive and the Marlow housing market is brutal.
I love it here but ended up here by accident and before house prices went mad (also knew nothing about it being a selective area).
As I've said before I wouldn't move because of a school. You obviously live in a nice area with fields around you. You say you're current area is too white - I genuinely do t think Marlow is probably any less white. You live in a lovely place, have good schools, friends, local jobs etc - I would advise you enjoy where you live - moving is jolly expensive and the Marlow housing market is brutal.
I love it here but ended up here by accident and before house prices went mad (also knew nothing about it being a selective area).