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KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:26 pm
by no_ball
Dear all,

Can those that have detailed knowledge of this subject give objective guidance as to the merits of each or which is better than the other. Things such as atmosphere, teacher & pupil relationship/oxbridge potential/values/family background etc..

We have a tricky decision to make with our DS and this is one of the key combination over which world war 5 is breaking out over.
Thanks in advance..

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:51 pm
by anxious_mother
Hello,
We know about 4 boys who go to KES and all of them say it is a wonderful school. Parents were little unhappy with the English department because their sons who were in level 3a for english at the end of keystage 2 continue to do the same at the end of year 9. When we visited the school and I asked the teacher about how he would tackle such a problem he said he hardly gets such students. What a statment !

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:16 am
by Dibble
no_ball wrote:Dear all,

[snipped]
We have a tricky decision to make with our DS and this is one of the key combination over which world war 5 is breaking out over.
Thanks in advance..
Without knowing something of your priorities or concerns it's hard to help. I'm sorry if you're feeling a little beleaguered at the minute but you do have a *wonderful choice* in front of you and I guess I'm saying 'Ask a better question'.

Even with that in mind I'm still going to rant on anyway...

You don't say why it's a tricky decision nor why World War 5 is breaking out in your household but, within very broad limits, I'd say 'Trust Your Son'.

If he clearly has a favourite then I think you have to respect your son for the hard work he's done so far and the VERY hard work coming up over the next seven years. He'll be leaving school a man, and this decision could be the start of that process.

If he's still looking to you to make the decision - when you yourself are unsure, then just make it. 'Why' doesn't actually matter, so long as your son is convinced that you know it's the very best choice for him.

Your son is not going to do too badly at either school! The best start he can get is to be totally committed to his new school.

BTW Does this mean you have an offer from KES? Congratulations :-)

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:27 am
by no_ball
Yes I suppose it's the old battle of league tables versus the right school for our DC's. Thanks for the advice, lots more soul searching and visits

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:34 am
by JaneEyre
Congrats to your DS, no-ball!! :D :D

Just a quick reaction to your post:

If you live in Solihull, it seems that distance is roughly equally the same, isn’t it?

Warwick is not at the same level in the league tables as KES... It is less selective academically... You could also check the number of offers from Oxbridge for these two schools as a mean of comparison (if available?). So my immediate reaction would be to say KES. :wink:

However, I have no experience of these two schools. :roll: Like you, I visited them during open days.

Well, if WW5 is about to start in your home, I imagine it is because you DS prefers Warwick while you prefer KES... Am I right? Truly, Warwick school IS a beautiful school.

You have then to think about which route you prefer: A levels or IB (the same old question!! :evil: ).

Good luck with all these weighing of pros and cons... Ah, the hard job of being parents... :oops:

I hope parents who have their children in these two schools will be able to give you proper feedback... :)

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:49 am
by Dibble
JaneEyre wrote:Congrats to your DS, no-ball!! :D :D

You have then to think about which route you prefer: A levels or IB (the same old question!! :evil: ).
I wondered whether to mention this, but five years is plenty of time for KES to revert back to 'A' Levels and for Warwick to change to IB - neither seems large enough to entertain running both? Perhaps Warwick have considered and rejected IB? I wouldn't know.

I'm happy for my son to be heading towards taking the IB, though I'm not really against the A2 part of 'A' levels. What I loath and detest, with an increasing passion, is the AS part of 'A' levels.

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:24 am
by um
I wouldn't necessarily trust completely in your son's instinct. he is, after all, only 10 or 11. My son preferred Bishop Vesey because he liked the dissection experiments on display in the biology dept! It would have meant a journey of over an hour. He whined all last Summer about how he liked BV. He is now very very happy at CH.
I would also suggest you research exactly how long/difficult the journey is to both KES and Warwick from your house. As he will be making that journey for 7 years, it is a key factor in your decision, given that they are both excellent choices.
Also, are you not holding out until 1 March to see if he has made a (free) Grammar as that could factor another choice into the equation?

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:48 am
by JaneEyre
Dibble wrote: I'm not really against the A2 part of 'A' levels. What I loath and detest, with an increasing passion, is the AS part of 'A' levels.
Why? :shock:
um wrote:I wouldn't necessarily trust completely in your son's instinct. he is, after all, only 10 or 11.
I totally agree :wink: ... but it is true that people have different opionion on that matter :| Question of what is fashionable in the education nowadays.
As a child, my parents changed me schools, never asking me my preferences... but they always looked for the best for me... and I am just thankful for everything they did for me! :D I do feel that when a child is ALWAYS listened to and always treated like the decision maker, he can become very spoiled and not able to listened to advice... :oops:

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 1:32 pm
by KES Parent
anxious_mother wrote:Hello,
We know about 4 boys who go to KES and all of them say it is a wonderful school. Parents were little unhappy with the English department because their sons who were in level 3a for english at the end of keystage 2 continue to do the same at the end of year 9. When we visited the school and I asked the teacher about how he would tackle such a problem he said he hardly gets such students. What a statment !
I really have to challenge this statement. I can't imagine how any boy who was Level 3 on leaving primary school would begin to cope with the English lessons at KES (or that they would be accepted into the school - my DS who would rate about average ability at KES was Level 3 at the end of Year 2). Nor can I imagine how they would find out what level they were at the end of Year 9, as KES quite rightly has no truck with such pointless testing. The English department is absolutely superb and staffed by exceptional teachers.

Re: KES Versus Warwick School

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 1:54 pm
by no_ball
Before I continue, I hope it is alright for me to discuss this topic as I know of 1 or 2 people who are questioning why this type of topic is being discussed. Having been on this site for over a year and contributed with advice I thought it worthwhile closing the circle as we near the finishing line. Any advice and guidance is gratefully appreciated as crunch time is lurking.

My OH is favouring Warwick/KEs and I am leaning towards Grammar route. For my sins I am being influenced by the league tables to a large extent as well as taking into account my DS wishes. Distance is not an issue for any school as we looked into this prior to the applications. Our primary factors are the friendly atmosphere of the school and broad background of children and families.

Of course Grammar's are out in a few weeks time;