Woodford County - Views and Future Plans

[bridgeford]

I am evaluating between CCHS (OOC) & Woodford. My only information about WCHS is limited to the open day that I attended. I don't know anyone from WCHS who can give first-hand information.

I have made a post in "Essex" forum, which I am not sure would get attention from members in Redbridge section.

1. How would you rate WCHS?
Academically (quality of teaching, GCSE/A-level results and university places)?
All-round development (range of activities etc.)?
I read somewhere that there has been mass exodus of teachers from WCHS. How has that affected the overall quality?

2. I think I heard the Woodford HT mentioning in her open day address that the school would be moving to be modern, purpose-built building soon. Can anybody confirm this (since I may have been day dreaming during the address)?
I found the existing manor building very stuffy, which could possibly explain less than impressive labs & infrastructure. New, purpose-built building (if I heard the HT correctly) would definitely enhance Woodford's image and education quality. Can someone confirm when is the new building going to be operational?

Thanks for any input.

[nsh34]

1, exam result are posted on web site,usually do better than the boys school and forest,my daughter is now in yr 8- her homework schedule is pretty full on, as at least 2/3 pieces each night- school works with time management, they have emailed us a homework timetable so parents are fully aware of what dhtrs should be doing. They do push the students hard.
Re activities, school is very encouraging and activitly promotes extra curricular activities during lunch hr & after school- activities include netball, badminton,cross country,choir, jnr band orchestra, chess, dance, fashion, cooking, nail art, martial arts,film,just to name a few.

Re mass exodus, I don't know,there may have been but has no bearing on dhtrs performance, teachers we have experience of have been there a while and seem to really care, I know of only one teacher that has left.

2, regarding new build, yes a massive amount of money will be invested in the school- hence the increased intake, new build will be on existing site, yes the school does need this, it's all about funding in state schools,hence if yr dhtr does attend the school it's really important to join the Pta to help raise funds. Trust me the school may be a bit shabby & the science labs might be old,but ultimately it's the people that make the school.

2 years ago we were in the same position as yrself, we decided to opt for local school inorder to enhance the social aspect of school life.she can fully participate in all of school life including after school clubs/activities, she has good friends which she can socialise with after school and coming form the locality she also has a strong sense of community spirit. Having been through this before and will be going through this again with my son next year,my priorities are completely different- remember it's not all the nuts and bolts ie previous academic results,the facilities etc, but also depends on so many other factors- choose the school that is right for your child,as a happy child in the right enviroment will always flourish.
Hope this helps !! Good luck

[bridgeford]

2, regarding new build, yes a massive amount of money will be invested in the school- hence the increased intake, new build will be on existing site, yes the school does need this, it's all about funding in state schools,hence if yr dhtr does attend the school it's really important to join the Pta to help raise funds. Trust me the school may be a bit shabby & the science labs might be old,but ultimately it's the people that make the school.

Thanks for your input. Any idea, when the new campus is coming up? Is this something to look forward in 1-2 years timeframe?

To be honest, I don't mind an academically rigorous school.

[Red rose]

Hi

I wonder if you could help me with this. Does CCHS and WCHS share their results or do the child has to sit for 2 different exams to apply for these 2 schools?
When we had been to the open evening at CCHS, a staff did mention that they share the results but now, one of our friend has made their daughter write both the exams on the same day morning and afternoon (WCHS in the morning and CCHS in the afternoon). She has come out with good ranks on both these schools and the results has been sent from both the schools separately.
I am totally confused. Please help.

Thanks

[ToadMum]

Hi

I wonder if you could help me with this. Does CCHS and WCHS share their results or do the child has to sit for 2 different exams to apply for these 2 schools?
When we had been to the open evening at CCHS, a staff did mention that they share the results but now, one of our friend has made their daughter write both the exams on the same day morning and afternoon (WCHS in the morning and CCHS in the afternoon). She has come out with good ranks on both these schools and the results has been sent from both the schools separately.
I am totally confused. Please help.

Thanks

I am also totally confused as to how she was allowed to do this- it is the same exam for CCHS and Redbridge (and lots of other schools). As CEM is very clear that if a candidate manages to do what your friend's DD did, the first score only will be counted, it is probable that the raw score used in the standardisation for whichever school she sat for in the afternoon was that from the morning exam. At least one hopes so. The standardised scores would be different, because the two cohorts would not overlap completely (all WCHS catchment candidates are eligible to have their scores considered by CCHS, but this is not reciprocated by Redbridge).

Poor child, though, having to go through all that palates twice, for no reason.

Do the registration instructions for the schools not mention the fact that you will only have the first score counted?

[bridgeford]

Do the registration instructions for the schools not mention the fact that you will only have the first score counted?

Yes, they do. The candidate shouldn't have been taking 2 tests.

[Red rose]

Thanks Toadmum and bridgeford. I should ask my friend whether this was mentioned while they registered. However, I have read somewhere that if a child takes exams at 2 places, they will be automatically disqualified. Despite of that, I am really surprised how the results has been sent to the child from both the different schools with their ranks.
May be I need to clarify this by sending an email to the school itself.

The reason I am very curious is that I don't want to miss by not sitting the exam at 2 places if that's the rule if are to apply for both WCHS and CCHS.