Judd School from Medway?

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testbuster
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:29 am

Judd School from Medway?

Post by testbuster »

:? Has anyone heard of boys going to the Judd from Medway? Obviously I've no idea how DS did in the test (he says bad) but, putting the cart before the horse, I'm thinking about whether it would be worth applying to the Judd if he got a very high score. He's always been highly academic but with the 11+...heck, who knows!

Transport seems the major headache. There isn't any!

Also the open day is before you get the results so if we go to have a look it will just add to DS's stress levels. We'd have to say it was just to see what we'll be missing! On the other hand, if we don't even think about it then would we reget 'only' opting for a Medway grammar (if we're that lucky).

I've heard you need to get at least 411 to get in. Is that right?

BTW, I know this whole post seems kind of ludicrous...and I'm well aware that for all I know he could have failed!
medwaymum
Posts: 827
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:45 pm
Location: Medway & Kent

Post by medwaymum »

I don't personally know anyone travelling that far. Of course, its your choice but I would urge you to seriously consider your own point: transport. I had to think about this when sending DD to her first choice school which wasn't considered 'nearest appropriate school'. We had to make sure that she could also stay for any clubs she wanted and still be able to get home. Then there is the 'friends' issue, socialising weekends and possibly evenings...
Good luck with it all. :)
SSM
Posts: 646
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:09 pm

Post by SSM »

Why would you want to send your DS miles away, when you have a local GS.

Yes Judd gets good results, but that is because the choose the creme de la creme. I think if you look at the CVA values, it is in fact not that great.

My DS goes to a GS 14miles away from home, as it was the closest he could get into. I would definitely choose a local school if I had the choice.
testbuster
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:29 am

Post by testbuster »

You're right, of course, about the friends issue and the amount of travelling.

Like everyone at the moment I'm in a panic over the whole thing.

The only reason I'm thinking about it is because we have had issues in the past at school about work simply being far too easy! I'm worried about DS getting enough challenge.

As you said yourself, SSM, Judd takes the Creme de la Creme. I know I'm biased but that's what I think he is and I want him to be in an environment with lots of others who are the same.

Put it another way...I read last night that a quarter of all Oxbridge entrants come from just 30 schools (FT 1,000 best schools guide), just one is a state school and it's not Judd! But Judd is better than many others so if I've got a smart cookie I want to give him the best chance later.

Oh, and I know pride comes before a fall and the results could show I'm wrong about him. I know, too, that thoughts of university choices etc are far too premature but the choice now does matter.

Having said all that, I know it's 99 per cent likely that if he passes we would still go for the local grammar....or we'll have to move house!
SSM
Posts: 646
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:09 pm

Post by SSM »

testbuster - I have sent you a pm
mystery
Posts: 8927
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 pm

Post by mystery »

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question. But you might find out at the Open Day / Evening. Best person to ask is someone in the school office who has access to all the boys addresses in all the year groups.

Judging by the thread somewhere else in the Kent section which wants the Judd / Skinners admissions policy changing to stop people travelling a long way to these schools, there are boys going an incredibly long way to this school for some reason.

You sound like you need to check out the journey. Have you tried the website traveline.org.uk it is fantastic for piecing together a journey out of any combination you want of walk, bike, train, bus etc. It might not be as bad as you think.

And who knows, if your son does score highly enough, and this school turns out to be the best thing since sliced bread for him, you might decide to move house if the journey is the only bad thing.

Good luck.
tired_dad_2008
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:24 am

Post by tired_dad_2008 »

I noticed at the Skinners new parents evening in July that one of the boys had "Kuala Lumpur" down as his home parish on the address list! I'm assuming that he moved somewhat closer before starting school this September, otherwise he will have a very long journey to school...

Looking down the address lists for Skinners Year 7, the vast majority of boys come from sensibly close places like Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks area. Even for some of these boys the journey to school will start with a bus at about 7.30am, which is enough travelling for an 11 yr old, I would think. Certainly my son has found the bus journey to be the most worrying and unhappy part of the new school experience. Several of the drivers have been quite rude to him. He loves the big school experience otherwise.
guest_99
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:06 pm

Post by guest_99 »

Across the two schools out of area intake is about 60 boys/2 forms. 57 boys attend Judd and live in Bromley. Not insignificant numbers.
pheasantchick
Posts: 2439
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:28 pm

Post by pheasantchick »

I posted a similar question earlier about people going to Judd from Maidstone. There were some useful replies. Hope it helps.
Villagedad
Posts: 526
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:22 pm
Location: Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells

Post by Villagedad »

guest_99 wrote:Across the two schools out of area intake is about 60 boys/2 forms. 57 boys attend Judd and live in Bromley. Not insignificant numbers.
That is 60 places that local West kent boys could have had..., ie prevented some of those children who didn't get a local West Kent GS place being forced to commute to places like "Sittingbourne and Folkstone" !

Also there's the issue of TWGSB having to open another form to accomodate West Kent pupils who didn't get a place at Judd / Skinners but passed the 11plus.

If something sensible was adopted in the admissions criteria for Judd /Skinners favouring local children these problems would go away!

Do we really want our children commuting huge distances to school each day !?

We used to live in Bromley so know how far it is to get to Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells - imagine doing that trip every day as an 11 yr old !
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