Queen marys boys or Bishop vessey can't decide!!

[Eileen16]

Hi all I'm really confused between Qmg & Bv, we live in walsall, qm boys would be more convenient. He has 370 for walsall and 244 for Birmingham, would really appreciate your thoughts on both schools.

[Turtlegirl]

A shorter journey, so more time at home, in bed, and the ability to stay for after school activities, cannot be underrated. I think there would have to be very compelling reasons to choose a longer journey to Bishop Vesey. Both are excellent schools.

[Eileen16]

Thank you Turtelgirl. The original choice has always been qmg but he's done so well he has a choice, i just don't want to get it wrong.

[Petitpois]

Is camp hill boys out of consideration for you? E.g. a train and bus, but a few do it from Walsall?

[Eileen16]

I haven't even thought about Camp Hill, we didn't even consider it. The only 2 schools I've looked at is qm and bv.

[Simmone]

My friends son goes to Walsall QM Boys and has nothing but positive things to say about it! We are in the same position for my DD with QM Girls & Wolverhampton Girls High. Just as others have said, as QM is only 3 miles away we think we will opt for this school due to easy commute, easier for after school activities, and potentially more local friends for her to socialise with. When you start factoring in this school has x % with grade A, and this school has y %, it's irrelevant, as your child has the foundations to excel in any of these grammar schools. They are all good schools at the end of the day.

[Eileen16]

Thanks Simmone, i think we are sticking with QM boys.

[booellesmum]

They are both great schools, but I would always go with the closer school.

[quasimodo]

They are both great schools, but I would always go with the closer school.

That is the best advice(not advise, another thread).

I haven't got into the merits of either school as I know lots about QM Boys and as a result am biased and very little about BV so it would be unfair for me to draw direct comparisons.What I can say from the prep school which forms part of the foundation from the results for September 2016 entry about 13 boys had places at QM Boys and about 9 went, the others mostly went to the independent KES. Most of the boys attended the prep school from Walsall or very closely from its surroundings.The destinations on the prep schools website are still the destinations from September 2015.

[quasimodo]

Is camp hill boys out of consideration for you? E.g. a train and bus, but a few do it from Walsall?

I now of of one boy who does it and it is complete madness.

On the journey back from London last night I was talking to a friend in the car and he was telling me about his now adult children who had attended Camp Hill boys and girls but they lived in Moseley next to Cannon Hill Park not the other side of Birmingham.I am aware of this aura the KE brand has for a lot of parents in Birmingham.Maybe its because I am an outsider I have never understood it or may be its because of the misconceptions parents have about the scores and assume high entry scores means these are the only schools which have the very brightest children.

I don't know why any sensible parent would want their child to travel through what is essentially a giant car park in Birmingham twice a day for several hours.Let them save that little luxury for the world of work.