Alty or Sale?

Eleven Plus (11+) in Trafford

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agsbmad
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:56 am

Alty or Sale?

Post by agsbmad »

:)
Last edited by agsbmad on Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Elphaba
Posts: 225
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:30 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by Elphaba »

Hmm, it's a tough one but here's my take on it:

Sports wise - Alty

Regarding being organised - he will GET organised! They soon get into the swing of things - I have been amazed by how well my ds has just taken on putting everything in his planner, doing homework on the night it is set and doing it as soon as he gets in. He is managing to get all his work done and still fit in the mammoth amounts of sport and socialising he does, both in school and out of school. AGSB do not tolerate boys being disorganised and forgetting things and hand out detentions quite readily for that sort of thing so the boys soon learn to get organised if they are not already :lol:
So I wouldn't worry about that.

My only concern would be if you say your ds is not naturally academic because I would say Alty is more academically pushy than Sale. I'd be looking at how well he passed the exam and how much work he had to do to get that score. Others may disagree but, as I said, this is my perspective and it's the approach I have taken/will be taking with my own children. If he scored well and he didn't flog himself to achieve it then I'd go for Alty. If he just passed and that was quite hard work, I'd think hard about whether he could meet the academic expectations without struggling.

I only have one child at AGSB but I know others and have heard stories of some children really struggling and I wouldn't put my own child through that. I think you need to be really true to what suits your child best.

:)
agsbmad
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:56 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by agsbmad »

:)
Last edited by agsbmad on Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
TIDDLYMUM
Posts: 881
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:19 pm

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by TIDDLYMUM »

I believe both to be excellent schools. My son is at AGSB.I have been delighted with all aspects to date.Effort as well as achievement are rewarded and he is doing very well and most importantly is extremely happy there. In terms of abaility to succeed, this is encouraged at all levels. Some boys are incredibly clever, some not quite so but all all given the same opportunities.

In terms of organisation , I think you'll find that it comes hard to most boys ( though strangely enough my son is incredibly organsed and fastiduous, goodness knows who he gets that from :) ).I also thing that its a trait which will be required at any school. It will only take a few instances of him forgetting things and the threat of detention before his organisational skills will come to the fore. :wink:

Good luck whatever you decide.
agsbmad
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:56 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by agsbmad »

:)
Last edited by agsbmad on Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
agsbmad
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:56 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by agsbmad »

Thank you tiddlymum! He'll be crashed if we'll send him to Sale instead but I want to be sure we are making a right choice.
Pumpkin Pie
Posts: 661
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:27 pm

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by Pumpkin Pie »

I think that if AGSB is where HE wants to go and if all his friends are going there too, then that will be the place he will be happier at and will hence work better at. He got a super score so he his well able, so have confidence in him. Good luck with your decision! :D
agsbmad
Posts: 54
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:56 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by agsbmad »

Thank you Pumpkin! :D
Elphaba
Posts: 225
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:30 am

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by Elphaba »

I've never heard of them kicking out boys at the end of year 7. I do hope that's not true! My perception is that they are very nuturing and will do everything they can to support the boys.

TM is right that they encourage boys at all levels (this is from parents I know of older boys in the school - obv my own experience is limited so far). She is also right that they reward effort as well as attainment. They have a lovely system of giving commendations and ds has had some lovely comments in his books.

It sounds as though he'd be fine at Alty and if he wants to go there, I think I'd go with it.
Cupcake
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:13 pm

Re: Alty or Sale?

Post by Cupcake »

I've never heard of boys being kicked out of AGSB routinely either, they generally work with the boys, and parent's if necessary, to try and get any issues sorted. I generally agree that they reward effort but they sometimes assume a problem with attainment is down to a lack of effort and can miss things that a child needs specific support with. As a parent that's what you need to be aware of and have a dialogue with the school. They are certainly very responsive and helpful when approached and I know this from my own and other people's experiences. It is an excellent school and you couldn't go wrong really. I think the same applies to Sale, the style and atmosphere are different and that would definitely suit some children better. The main question I would ask your ds is about the coed aspect of things, I know some people view single sex schools as a definite positive but no-one really talks about the downsides. My older ds generally loves his school (he's year 9) but I know he misses the fact that there are no girls, and maybe the school experience isn't quite as well-rounded because of that. That's no doubt a debate that can run and run!
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