11 Plus Exams Forum

At the risk of starting a turf war, can I ask how Chelmsford County and Westcliffe Girls compare for Science?

ConfusedinEssex wrote:At the risk of starting a turf war, can I ask how Chelmsford County and Westcliffe Girls compare for Science?

No turf wars (DD is at SHSG anyway ). I can't say I've heard anything the science department at either Westcliff (no 'e', by the way) or CCHS. SHSG is okay for science as well but you have obviously already decided that you're not interested in Southend? (Open evening 5.30 - 8.00pm tomorrow in case you change your minds).

If you have already visited schools and are trying to decide which one to put first on your CAF in the autumn if your DD does well enough in the entrance exams, I would go with the one that is easiest to get to. CCHS is much nearer a railway station and more bus routes, assuming that they are relevant to where you live.

Agree with ToadMum, go with whatever is easiest. The science at both will be outstanding so its more a case of going with a) whatever your DD can get into (they have separate exams and depends on whether you are in catchment or not) and then ease of transport.

Good luck!

ConfusedinEssex wrote:At the risk of starting a turf war, can I ask how Chelmsford County and Westcliffe Girls compare for Science?

Go for convenience - the school doesn't have as much influence as you would think when both schools are already strong.

If still undecided, definitely go for Chelmsford Country - it's one of the top schools in the UK

cazz wrote:

ConfusedinEssex wrote:At the risk of starting a turf war, can I ask how Chelmsford County and Westcliffe Girls compare for Science?

Go for convenience - the school doesn't have as much influence as you would think when both schools are already strong.

If still undecided, definitely go for Chelmsford Country - it's one of the top schools in the UK

No offence to CCHS, but if it's 'prestige' that really floats your boat, then yes, please go for Chelmsford. Our DD didn't want to go to WHSG even though it's less than twenty minutes' walk away, but it is a very good school and I would prefer people to want to go there (or to any school) because it is the best fit for their child, not for its perceived 'desirability'.

Okay, rant over, OP, with sincere apologies if I have slighted you. Original advice stands, both excellent schools, go for one which feels 'most right' at open evening /tour, keeping accessibility in mind

The head at Westcliff is a science teacher himself. CCHS will be taking IB only in the future so somewhat different, but then plenty move for 6th form anyway.

As both schools are full of pleasant, hard-working girls they don't struggle to recruit teachers in the same way as other schools. Can't say that I rated all the teachers at CCHS though and I assume the same would be true of WHSG. Some were absolutely excellent and others definitely mediocre: the girls did well because they worked hard and wanted to achieve and some had tutors.

Thanks for all the replies, a bit of an unusual question I know. DD likes her science and with WHSG being a specialist science school it seems a good choice. But she's got a couple of close friends who are already at CCHS so isn't sure. I can see a coin toss coming, that's assuming she manages to pull her finger out and pass the exams in the first place!

WHSG being a specialist science school

Specialisms were phased out years ago ... no school has this status now.

One difference is that at CCHS all girls take all 3 Sciences separately at GCSE, whereas at WHSG some opt for Double Science after Year 10.
Moved is right in saying that there is a move towards encouraging the IB in the Sixth form at CCHS. At the moment they can take A levels in the Sciences, but not in all other subjects. Our experiences also support the other comments that Moved made. A lot of girls do now move schools from CCHS in the sixth form.