11 Plus Exams Forum

I am trying to order the following schools for the last three slots on my CAF. Can anyone advise? We have to put AVA (our catchment) somewhere on the form.

St Michael's Aylesbury
Mandeville
AVA

What did you think when you visited? I appreciate St Michael's doesn't exist in Aylesbury yet but you could take a look at their Wycombe site to get a feel for how they do things.

If it were me, the order would be:

Mandeville
AVA
St Michael's

Edited to add: If AVA is your catchment school, you're on the right side of Aylesbury for Waddesdon. Are you close enough for a chance of a place there?

I haven't seen Mandeville yet. Is it better than AVA?

Waddesdon is at the top of our list but we're not in catchment so I need a safe option lower down. These are the last three schools on our list. AVA is guaranteed but I think if we put Mandeville we'd still get it. But I'm a bit confused as I hear mixed things about AVA and Mandeville.

Blue_Marigold wrote:I haven't seen Mandeville yet. Is it better than AVA?

Waddesdon is at the top of our list but we're not in catchment so I need a safe option lower down. These are the last three schools on our list. AVA is guaranteed but I think if we put Mandeville we'd still get it. But I'm a bit confused as I hear mixed things about AVA and Mandeville.

You should visit both - on a school day - and come to an informed view. Don't rely on other people's opinions because they are personal to their own circumstances. If there isn't a way of distinguishing between AVA and Mandeville, you need to consider travel, because getting to Mandeville from the AVA side of town is a tricky journey. I know I put my own views further up but travel was a part of them because I live on the south side of Aylesbury.

From what I hear Mandeville is improving faster than AVA ... St Michael's [HW] is a good school so the 'new' satellite might be a good option but I don't know much about it.

However, getting across Aylesbury around 8am is a nightmare ...

I've missed the open mornings/evenings at Mandeville...

AVA is a short walk from our house as is the proposed site for St Michael's.

Ring Mandeville and ask to visit during the day. If they say no, that probably helps inform your view on them...

My order is
St. Michael's Aylesbury
Cottesloe
AVA

My first daughter did not pass last year and she is in AVA.

May I ask what your experience of ava is?

Dd will be going next September in all likely hood.

Thanks

AVA has a long history of struggle from it's previous incarnation as Quarrendon on the site in Weedon Road - teachers don't seem to stay long. Have you read the latest Ofsted?