thatisthequestion wrote:
Hello everyone, I posted earlier about DS scoring 315 OOC so not high enough for WHSB/SHSB. We have a plan B likely place at an outstanding school (non grammar) which we like.
This morning DS noticed that Shoeburyness High seems to take 303 scores and is interested. I know nothing about Shoeburyness High, didn't even consider it. It's further to travel than all our other plan B choices (all OOC though) but not as bad as I thought and do-able. I was thinking of putting it down towards end of choices, after the main plan B school as a safety net as plan B school is not guaranteed.
Now I am thinking should I give Shoeburyness more consideration - maybe put it above the plan B? On the one hand its rated good with outstanding features rather than our plan B outstanding school and is further. On the other its a grammar which DS is keen on and we think would suit him well.
Does anyone have any experiences/knowledge of Shoeburyness? Anything at all please?
thanks in advance
Shoeburyness is a popular school, but although it allocates some places on performance in the CSSE exam, it is very definitely an all-ability school, not a grammar school. If your DS were to be travelling from outside the Southend / Westcliff priority admissions area, I would think that he would be in a very small minority - the school is first and foremost the local comprehensive for the Shoeburyness area. In our DD's secondary transfer year (2012), she failed the 11+ and so didn't get a selective place and on distance - we are about five and a half miles away - she was 82nd on the waiting list.
(Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not 'dissing' the school; DD loved it, although DS2 didn't want it on his CAF. As a dead cert on your DS's score, as a fall back, perhaps, but I wouldn't necessarily make him travel that far if he has other acceptable options

).
Have you actually visited any of the Southend CSSE schools?