Chelmsford County High School

[SlighlyStressedMum]

Last few years no one has got into Chelmer Valley who was not in catchment as far as I am aware. Most of the kids from here go to Sandon or Baddow. There always used to be a fair few going to Boswells but I think it is harder to get in now, possibly since the council changed the transport policy. There is no free transport to any school from Chelmer Village now. Unless you take Shanks' Pony to Boswells and take your life into your hands crossing over by Aldi! A few chose Hylands, no one was allocated it who hadn't picked it.

[ToadMum]

Sandon kids seem a nice enough bunch, though like adolescents in general a little unnerving in large swarms . We once arrived at the park and ride just as what seemed like the entire population of Sandon School was also catching the bus into town, it being lunchtime on the last day of the summer term. I have to say that the member of staff who was there keeping an eye on them was doing an excellent job and they were actually no problem at all - this being back in the days when under 16s travelled for free, he was even holding them back to make sure that the paying public got on first .

[Daogroupie]

OP, So how many students did your tutor centre get into a CEM school this year and last year?

Is the reason that you think they are really good because friends of yours have used them and gained CEM places for their dc or because the centre themselves have convinced you that they are really good?

Do they write all their own CEM papers? Have you seen a dramatic improvement in your dd's results since she started attending the centre? DG

[vrushalidv]

we know our friends who cleared cem pattern exams and other nearby exams through these classes so just that we r more aware about things on this side where we stay...its just that in chelmsford we have friends but none of them have kkids who sat for 11plus ..their kids are small so not much info what kind of help will be available in chelmsford when i posted the query.slowly getting relevant information on help avaliable and about school choices..still need to go through state schools choice as back up plan.

[ToadMum]

we know our friends who cleared cem pattern exams and other nearby exams through these classes so just that we r more aware about things on this side where we stay...its just that in chelmsford we have friends but none of them have kkids who sat for 11plus ..their kids are small so not much info what kind of help will be available in chelmsford when i posted the query.slowly getting relevant information on help avaliable and about school choices..still need to go through state schools choice as back up plan.

Grammar schools are state schools. You will find CCHS and KEGS listed in alphabetical order in the Essex CC Secondary Education in Essex booklet, nestled in between Chelmer Valley High School and Great Baddow High School, and Hylands School and Moulsham High School, respectively .

[vrushalidv]

sorry i meant state schools in chelmsford other than grammar schools like cchs

[Daogroupie]

But you didn't post a query asking about good CEM tutors for CCHS, you posted that you wanted to carry on attending your tutor centre in Harrow because you seemed to think it would be better.

Do make sure that your friends that have been successful have been so in full CEM and not with HBS or SW Herts which is not the same CEM as CCHS. If you want to use tutors rather than research and diy then you need to be using tutors who are experts in the local schools, not those who are preparing students for a different set of schools.

In Herts we have parents who persist in driving down to tutor centres in Slough and Hounslow who know nothing about the format of the local schools and then they are surprised when their students get very low marks in some of the exams.

Do not assume that tutor centres in Harrow will know anything at all about 11 plus exams in Essex.

You are much better off moving now and taking advantage of local expertise and investigating other local opportunities. DG

[MrsB]

But you didn't post a query asking about good CEM tutors for CCHS, you posted that you wanted to carry on attending your tutor centre in Harrow because you seemed to think it would be better.

Actually the OP clarified that their concern with moving house was the difficulty of getting a place with a tutor part way through the year in the new location, because their experience in Harrow is that the good tutors were over subscribed at the start of the year and there would be no vacancies.

Scanning some of the previous replies, it seems there has been some unfortunate negativity in response to the initial request for help (as well as some helpful info about other schools)

[vrushalidv]

thanks Mrs B. you echoed my thoughts.

[Guest55]

Sorry, I think people were trying to point out the problems in not moving soon.

Some of us have been helping on here for years and have seen similar scenarios go wrong.

If you need to move to Chelmsford then do so soon in case the exam does not go well and you have a decent back-up.