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Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:33 pm
by EmeraldE
Hi all
I did not visit The Crypt this year (went last year) but my DS did with a friend and her son. Getting info out of him about how it went is proving 'interesting.' :roll: :P

How have others found it?

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 7:44 pm
by muminTewkes
I didn't go...but dh did with ds.
They were impressed with how "hands on"they allowed the children to be,but for us it was a little too results driven(seemingly more so than Pates?) and apparently it was pretty much all the head went on about-the fact that they had the top GCSE scores and on and on about Ofsted.
Important,of course ,but it really seemed an at all costs approach.The husband didn't think the head said much more than keep on about these.
Ds liked it,but he likes Pate's alot more(he would!)when asked why,his response was the Crypt was more what he expected a Grammar school to be...where as Pate's was more "curvy"...apparently :D ..I think i get where he was coming from there?!
In any case,tbh,its a little too far to consider for us but we wanted him to see it.Just Tommys next week now-oh and the ickle matter of October 9th! :shock: .

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:32 am
by cheltgirl
We went in the morning and as a result learnt far more about the school than the talk and special displays set up for the evening told us about the school.

Yes, the head's talk focussed on results. But it was clear from wandering around the classes that there is more to this place than results.

It was clear big efforts were made to help pupils who struggle. The teachers were approachable and very helpful.

The sixth former showing us around said the standard of teaching had improved dramatically with the appointment of new staff in recent years.

We heard the talk and trooped off home, avoiding the crowds.

It inspired our son, but whether he cracks the test is another matter!

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:52 am
by Tolstoy
I know two parents who went to last years open evening and came away with the same view about the head's speech. It is a shame because we went two years ago and his speech really impressed me because it emphasised the broader area of an education.

I don't pay too much attention to the speeches either cheltgirl. Let's face it the Pates head isn't stupid he knows he doesn't have to sell the school on academic grounds so he focus's on the very thing that parents might be concerned about. Crypt on the other hand suffers from being a second/third choice if you don't score high enough for Tommy's and Pates where the results historically speak for themselves. Results wise it is on the up and I think he just wants to make sure that parents realise it is on a par with other schools academically and should not only be seen as a fall back option.

I will stress that I know plenty of people that do chose it as a first choice. I think one of the most irritating things about this hierarchy nonsense is people feeling they need to point this out because of the assumptions those who are into the heirarchy make :roll: .

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:18 pm
by muminTewkes
Tolstoy-couldn't agree more with all of your post...
DH seemed to think it was a shame as he felt the school had more than the head was portraying in his speech(sorry we couldn't get there is the day-i prefer that tbh)Its all immaterial as the journey made us realise it was slightly too far anyway...
I do HATE the hierarchy thing that seems to go on,surely each child should be matched to each school as far as possible?...everyone we've spoken to when they find out ds is sitting in October assumes he(we?)wants Pate's...even IF that's as may be,its not the ONLY Grammar in Glos!!!!GAH!

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:45 pm
by Tolstoy
I hadn't heard of Pates until I came on this site looking for help when DIYing our son for the 11+, I had found Tommy's by accident when house hunting, would you believe it!. Otherwide like most of the parents around here I might not have known there was a 11+. It was only when we moved here and I asked around I realised there were actually two boys Grammars in Gloucester not one :shock: I naively assumed it was one Grammar per town or two if single sex in the old days and that most towns didn't have them any more anyway.

We don't have the Pates issue here because it is a pretty laid back area with most feeling that Gloucester is too far to go let alone Cheltenham. Many opt for Crypt because historically I think they felt it matched the laid back attitude. Hence one or two parents being rather :shock: by the head's about turn. Personally I would rather a rigorous approach from the school as it stops me having to do the nagging and chasing up. Would rather school be bad cop re school work I have enough bad cop issues to deal with :wink:

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:13 pm
by muminTewkes
Yep-travel is a factor for us as I have other children in local schools.
Pate's is easiest for travel(bus picks up at the end of the road)unsure about STRS but i *think*there would be a bus/car share and its 15 mins down the motorway...Crypt is really too far I think.
Anyway...all immaterial really..kids gotta pass/get offered a place first!lol!
Ahhhh just want it done now.
I feel more confused as time goes on :|

Re: Musings on Crypt?

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:32 pm
by turtleglos
We are just waiting for test and results before making any decisions. The only thing I do know for sure is that ds was nearly crying when he brought home the letter saying which school we were in catchment for. Needless to say it wont be going down as one of our four choices!Just got to hope he passes now :wink: