TogsVTwigs

Eleven Plus (11+) in Kent

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walmum
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:08 pm

TogsVTwigs

Post by walmum »

Does anyone have any thoughts on the two schools. Twigs has a great atmosphere and inspirational head but when we looked around Togs we were blown away with it's new building. We are in a lucky position of being able to choose and know we have a good chance. Children at Twigs seem very happy - they do at Togs but it has this hot house reputation. Does anyone have any experience of either.
Just1-2go
Posts: 523
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:43 pm
Location: Twells

Post by Just1-2go »

My daughter is at TWGGs and is very happy and doing well, she has friends at TOGs who feel the same about their school, what swayed it for us when we were choosing was her reaction when she visited, she preferred TWGGs - not sure why, just a feeling she had.
worried mum of 3
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:40 pm

Post by worried mum of 3 »

TWGGS for us. Our daughter is extremely happy there, the pastoral care is fabulous and within the first term we felt that her teachers had really got the measure of her.
I likened the whole choosing a school process to buying a house and this one felt like home.....my advice would be go with your gut instinct.
Robbo
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:16 pm

Post by Robbo »

I agree with worried mum of 3 with regard to gut feeling. Two years ago we were in the very fortunate position of choosing between ToGS and Weald. Weald felt right for our daughter as compared to the reputed "hothouse" environment of ToGS. She has now been streamed in a fast track form and is very happy there. (I should also say that she has a friend who is very happy at ToGS)

Both TWGGS and ToGS are excellent schools but why not go and have another look at both during the school day if you are unsure? This will give you a better feel for the working environment.
hamster
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:51 pm

Post by hamster »

I know children at both schools and all are very happy where they are.

Geography is an important factor. There are not many children I know, in fact only 1, who chose TOGs over TWGGS when they had the choice because they felt that the social aspect ie. all their friends living within a 2 mile radius, outweighed any academic benefits of TOGs.

From what I gather, speaking to teachers etc. is that TWGGS is the school to choose if you want a well rounded education and have non academic hobbies eg. dance, music, sport, travel etc. which the school encourages you to pursue and that TOGs is the school for children with no or few outside interests but are deeply into their studies.
walmum
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:08 pm

Post by walmum »

Thank you everyone. We would look round again but it's half term and we're off to South Africa!!! Hence crunch time. No-one ever says a bad word about TWGGS so probably favouring this. In the end it will all depend on the buses and what her best friend down the road does (!!!!! yes I know but she's ten!!!) - they have very similar scores. And I think we will be making the decision in the Cape at my sister in laws at this rate. Would be nice to get a first hand opinion on TOGS - is it really pressurised?
hamster
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:51 pm

Post by hamster »

The girls I know at TOGs do not personally think it is pressurised at all - that is probably because they are all high fliers so can cope with it and the teaching is at the level they need and enjoy. But it doesn't leave much time for other things.

One person I know went there from Sevenoaks which she thought was much more pressurised.
Kent99

Post by Kent99 »

I don't know anyone at TWGGS but find it hard to see how it could be less pressured than at TGS. I have a daughter in year 9 at TGS and a quick look at her "planner" reveals that she is being set homework on an average of about 2-3 days a week. I think that her (personal) daily average is below an hour a day and many days she doesn't appear to do any. This enables her to continue with a range of sporting and musical activities after school (4 days a week) despite a one hour journey home. Friends at MGGS and Invicta seem to have considerably more.

TGS have also rearranged their timetable so that lessons end early on Fridays to allow girls either to choose from a wide range of non-curriculum activities on offer (from floristry to scuba diving, changing each term) or to pursue their own out of school activities.

I actually find the LACK of pressure one of the best things about TGS, and OFSTED seem to agree. That said, the girls can be competitive so a girl who struggles to keep up academically may well feel under a different kind of pressure- the pressure to achieve rather than time pressure. This probably won't come from the staff, however, or in the form of teasing by other girls. If it is experienced it is likely to be from the girl herself (or pushy parents I guess).
scattydolores
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:02 am
Location: TW

Post by scattydolores »

I have not heard anything negative about TWGGS and I know many girls who go there. The primary school my children attend send about 20 girls each year. My DD1 is in Y7 at TWGGS and it seems to me just like one big family. I think this is helped by the vast majority of girls living within walking distance of each other so socialising out of school is much easier.
mother night
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:22 pm

TWGGS

Post by mother night »

After having looked round many schools, my daughter was desperate to attend TWGGS and fortunately she has been successful.

She has friends who achieved full marks but are equally desirous of TWGGS as they wanted to stay together as they have developed a strong friendship group and I think it is really healthy for children to stay to together if poss as I think it helps with such an impactful change in their lives, especially after the stress of the Kent test. :D

Well done to everyone who has been successful and good luck to all the families facing appeals.

Mother night
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