Music Scholarship Whitgift
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Aww shucks, thanks nissi - you are very kind.
I will be on here on 19 February either celebrating or seeking consolation.
I'm sure both T and W know the outcomes by now but they have to wait for other schools in their group to have exams etc as they have an agreement to send out the offer letters on the same day. It's just horrible for us.
At least you have the option of grammar school. I wish I'd put ds in for Royal Russell now as a backup but he was doing okay at school and they thought he'd be fine for T or W - but he didn't do himself justice on the day. Oh well, no point fretting now.
The Wilsons' letter doesn't sound very helpful - I'm not really au fait with the grammar school stuff I'm afraid so I can't help you there - sorry!
I will be on here on 19 February either celebrating or seeking consolation.
I'm sure both T and W know the outcomes by now but they have to wait for other schools in their group to have exams etc as they have an agreement to send out the offer letters on the same day. It's just horrible for us.
At least you have the option of grammar school. I wish I'd put ds in for Royal Russell now as a backup but he was doing okay at school and they thought he'd be fine for T or W - but he didn't do himself justice on the day. Oh well, no point fretting now.
The Wilsons' letter doesn't sound very helpful - I'm not really au fait with the grammar school stuff I'm afraid so I can't help you there - sorry!
Thanks surreymum! I just hope my nerves hold out until 19 Feb!!
Hi nissi, yes I did go to see Royal Russell (and St Dunstan's and Eltham and Caterham - crazy woman that I am ).
Royal Russell is really lovely. The grounds are fantastic - about 100 acres - and the facilities are top-notch. In addition they are just finishing a brand new drama building - it even has a really pretty chapel. Staff eat in the same dining hall as the children which I liked. I found the staff friendly and welcoming and the children were well-mannered and helpful - I absolutely cannot fault it at all. It is less academic than the other local schools but that is a plus point for lots of children. (You can also do ad hoc boarding which sounded rather tempting ).
I know a child in Y8 at RR who is enjoying it. I also know a mum with a dd in Y10 and she says that the school are great with children who are struggling and that the school is very nurturing. The one note of warning she sounded was that RR doesn't push the really bright ones. But again some might see that as a positive.
The one thing that put me off was that, although it about 10 minutes away from me by car, it is a total pain to get to from my house on public transport. People further away would probably find it easier if they live near the tram!!!
Hope this helps.
Hi nissi, yes I did go to see Royal Russell (and St Dunstan's and Eltham and Caterham - crazy woman that I am ).
Royal Russell is really lovely. The grounds are fantastic - about 100 acres - and the facilities are top-notch. In addition they are just finishing a brand new drama building - it even has a really pretty chapel. Staff eat in the same dining hall as the children which I liked. I found the staff friendly and welcoming and the children were well-mannered and helpful - I absolutely cannot fault it at all. It is less academic than the other local schools but that is a plus point for lots of children. (You can also do ad hoc boarding which sounded rather tempting ).
I know a child in Y8 at RR who is enjoying it. I also know a mum with a dd in Y10 and she says that the school are great with children who are struggling and that the school is very nurturing. The one note of warning she sounded was that RR doesn't push the really bright ones. But again some might see that as a positive.
The one thing that put me off was that, although it about 10 minutes away from me by car, it is a total pain to get to from my house on public transport. People further away would probably find it easier if they live near the tram!!!
Hope this helps.
Thanks LD. Most helpful info.
Don't know of St Dunstan's, but know Eltham (I discounted on the basis of distance) and Caterham (aware of but never went to see) Will have a look at them this year .
Could you share what you thought of Eltham and Caterham and for that matter St Dunstan's pretty please LD?
Don't the days go by slowly
Don't know of St Dunstan's, but know Eltham (I discounted on the basis of distance) and Caterham (aware of but never went to see) Will have a look at them this year .
Could you share what you thought of Eltham and Caterham and for that matter St Dunstan's pretty please LD?
Don't the days go by slowly
No direct personal experience of the education, but Caterham certainly is beautiful with great facilities as we have done quite a bit of sport there. Fees are cheaper than Whitgift. Friends of ours have been really impressed with it educationally too and I know some boys there who are very happy. Get the feeling not quite as academic as Whitgift, but that may not be correct.
More than happy to share my ill-informed prejudices with you, nissi
Eltham - ummm, distance is a huge disadvantage. Thought it had a similar feel to Whitgift (wood panelling, historic house blah, blah with some great new additions) but found the staff a bit uppity, in all honesty. Although some might find the idea of chandeliers in classrooms a plus point, it does not make a school good. It is quite a bit cheaper than Whitgift, though. I didn't know anyone with a ds in the senior school although I knew a couple in the juniors so couldn't get any insider info which didn't help.
Caterham - very nice, ds loved it. Fab grounds and a beautiful, peaceful setting. But, heavens, all the children must have thighs of steel as the buildings behind the main bit are set on a hill so there is a lot of going up and down loads of steps!! In addition, it is about a million miles from the station. Although the school do a free pick up from the station in the morning the same facility is not offered in the afternoon. The school do run buses from all over but not from near me. Staff were lovely and there is a charming, slightly mad Latin teacher who writes his own text books (and who made quite an impression on ds!!! Quite a young (fairly new) head who seemed a bit of a new broom so definitely a school to watch. Cost-wise, it is in the middle between Trinity and Whitgift. Know a few children there - all very happy. It is quite a sporty establishment and academically regarded as a bit lower in the pecking order than Whitgift.
St Dunstan's is in Catford on the South Circular in the most hideous setting possible. I was not impressed by anything at all that I saw - found the staff pompous and the children loud and untidy. Ugh! I'm sure lots of people love it but it most certainly wasn't for us. However, most schools are worth a visit - if only to develop some prejudices of your own!!
Eltham - ummm, distance is a huge disadvantage. Thought it had a similar feel to Whitgift (wood panelling, historic house blah, blah with some great new additions) but found the staff a bit uppity, in all honesty. Although some might find the idea of chandeliers in classrooms a plus point, it does not make a school good. It is quite a bit cheaper than Whitgift, though. I didn't know anyone with a ds in the senior school although I knew a couple in the juniors so couldn't get any insider info which didn't help.
Caterham - very nice, ds loved it. Fab grounds and a beautiful, peaceful setting. But, heavens, all the children must have thighs of steel as the buildings behind the main bit are set on a hill so there is a lot of going up and down loads of steps!! In addition, it is about a million miles from the station. Although the school do a free pick up from the station in the morning the same facility is not offered in the afternoon. The school do run buses from all over but not from near me. Staff were lovely and there is a charming, slightly mad Latin teacher who writes his own text books (and who made quite an impression on ds!!! Quite a young (fairly new) head who seemed a bit of a new broom so definitely a school to watch. Cost-wise, it is in the middle between Trinity and Whitgift. Know a few children there - all very happy. It is quite a sporty establishment and academically regarded as a bit lower in the pecking order than Whitgift.
St Dunstan's is in Catford on the South Circular in the most hideous setting possible. I was not impressed by anything at all that I saw - found the staff pompous and the children loud and untidy. Ugh! I'm sure lots of people love it but it most certainly wasn't for us. However, most schools are worth a visit - if only to develop some prejudices of your own!!