MathsMonster wrote:
This is my perception of the following:
Ehs - I have no inside experience of this school, but it seemed lovely on open day, I know one or two children who are really happy there. The exam is more SATS style than 11 plus, so not so time pressured. They offer scholarships from what I understand upto 50%. I noticed their percentage of 9 scores at GCSE was 20% which is around the same as Sutton Girls and Vesey, so they must really be stretching the top. Considering they do not seem to be highly selective, results look outstanding. Also latin on curriculum. Edgbaston also do an interview. I was particularly impressed with their amazing art block- three floors of art, ceramic on one floor, the fine art on the next floor, then digital art suite full of Apple Macs on the top floor. It’s a lovely facility.
Solihull school - Again, no inside experience, but again I know a few children who are happy there. Results all look good. It is more selective than some other private schools, they seem to need to be above average to gain a place (I am guessing standardized gl scores of around 110ish? But I am guessing based on children I know who have gained places and not gained places). Personally I didn't love it on open day, as I felt the culture was a little too 'fun' rather than all about focused learning, but that was my guess and perception, and this may suit others children anyway). Their results are very good so they must be doing something right.
Kehs - results are outstanding, from what I gather it is slightly easier to get into than grammar but still very selective (I know quite a few people who passed who did not get grammar, but I have also heard of fairly high achievers not gaining places too so I think the standard is high for potential). It is very hard from what I gather to get a scholarship. I think those who are aiming for 260+ on grammar will possibly get scholarships. Facilities are amazing in all departments. They have classics and latin on curriculum too which I like. I loved the school and the curriculum. Again, no inside experience, but I know of a few children that are happy there. Academically amongst the very top in the country and they get a high percentage into oxbridge, medicine, law etc. Fees are extremely good value for the calibre of School it is, and it’s only 25 pounds admin fee to take the exam. 1 in 4 places assisted, and it is apparently a great mix of backgrounds. They also mix assisted places with scholarships too, I imagine these are extremely hard to get. Apparently even the teachers don’t get to to know who is on an assisted place. Don’t let its academic reputation put you off- they look for potential and not just achievement.
Highclare - we had to take our child out of here in the juniors. In our experience it was of a low standard and the culture not very encouraging or positive (except children with poor behaviour seem to be rewarded). I know numerous people with children in the school who are not happy with the school and many who have removed their children. Academically it is at the bottom of your list, and Arthur terry had a higher percentage last year of 9-7s at GCSE A*-As at A Level and A*-Bs at A level with much larger classes. I would personally try a good state school in the first instance before moving to here as a last resort. From what I gather (from what a number of parents have told me), the seniors suggest to prospective parents every year they are filling up places quickly, but I have never known anyone not get a place. They had an ISI regulatory compliance inspection in 2018, and did not meet some of the 2014 standards for safeguarding, welfare, leadership and management (all other schools mentioned here met all standards). They maybe meeting them now.
Lichfield cathedral - I have no experience or recommendations of it here but 2018 results at the top end were generally higher than Highclare, but significantly lower than EHS. Worth applying for a scholarship if they have a talent or skill, even if you don't feel they are at the very top- they can only say no! and they might say yes.
May be worth considering St Martins in Solihull too - sounds like it is not as academically selective as Solihull, but results look very good for a less selective school. All girls. Again, I don't have any inside experience of this school but looks very nice.
Also, Twycross House School, mixed school, seemed very good and more academic, like Solihull, but traditional.
Hydesville Tower, mixed up to year 11, looked lovely when I visited there for a drama event- the children were so well mannered there and it has a lovely old fashioned but relaxed feel (and they seem to be very on top of the numbers/progress/monitoring from a very young age, even publishing their average gl scores from year 1 to 6, and EYFS data too, which I think is so important and I really like the transparency).
Worth noting that many of these schools take the igcse instead of the gcse, some say because it is easier to get higher grades (I read somewhere recently that there are more top grades given out for igcse than gcse, but then you have to remember its only private schools who take the exam too). So cant always compare private results to state grammar who are not allowed to take the igcse.
Again, all my own perception, I hope it helps.
THANK YOU for this post, very informative! Really appreciate the effort.