Pate’s or Denmark Road

[Janicet118]

Hi all and well done to all our DC with their 11 plus journey. I would like to gather information before we choose our daughter’ school choices on CAF. My daughter had done very well with the test and she is Top 150 for both Pate’s and Denmark Road.
However, we don’t really know anyone who have the children in these school. We live in Churchdown so both schools are very near us. Any thoughts or ideas are much appreciated.

[2Socks]

Congratulations to your DD.
Personally I think the best way to get an idea of the schools is to visit. DRHS have an open evening tomorrow, so I'd start there. I've no clue about Pates I'm afraid.
Without knowing what's important to your DD it's a bit hard to comment, but there's lots of information about the schools on here. I suppose the easiest question is does she want a mixed or single sex school?

[np84]

Does she want girls only or mixed? My husband used to teach at Denmark and rates it very highly

[Ginger40]

Both my daughters also looked at curriculum choices and specialisms, subject range offered for GCSE. They also thought about the setting and location of schools and if they could see themselves going to that school until 16+.

[Carrie4]

Janicet118 - since your DD has made it to the top 150 for both Pates and DRHS, you would have received an invite to a "special" meeting, which you can attend.

Pates - special morning on 19th
DRHS - special meeting ahead of Open Evening tonight (18th).

Personally, I fell that's the only way to assess which one works for you. My DD got into top 150 for both too. We've already visited Pates and she loved it. Now, waiting to attend DRHS tonight and see what she thinks. Post that will be us filling in that CAF form!

[Cup of tea]

Both my children had a really happy time at Pates (youngest is in 6th form) There is so much on offer in terms of extra curricular, and everyone is tolerant of one another. The house system is amazing, they get a real sense of house pride from the moment they start, and both mine wanted to be house officals from their first day in year 7! There is academic pressure (mainly peer to peer) and the standard is high, but having 2 very different learners, I can honestly say they’ve both been motivated to improve themselves, and most importantly loved the time they had there!!
Thinking of post 16, there are a huge number that come into the school after GCSEs. The sixth form virtually doubles in size, to around 200+ in each year. Students tend to come from the other grammars (Denmark Road being the biggest group) but also take many from Crypt and Tommies as well as the private schools in the area. (King’s Gloucester, Chelt ladies college from memory)
It’s quite a boisterous and confident school. I was worried about that, but I think the co-ed is a huge advantage as there seems to be very little cattiness or bullying. My kids had close friends both male and female. Some do travel from huge distances: Wales, Oxford etc but Cheltenham is the usual place to go out, and if parents send them that far, they have to pick them up at the end of a night, or let them stay over, which happens a lot in our house too!!

[dodie102]

Janicet118 congratulations on your daughter's result. We were in a similar position to yours last year but for Pates and STR and the fact that we'd already submitted the CAF. For that we put Pates second - to incredulous stares from some people as it really wasn't my son's favourite, despite it being the nearest school. We had a wobble and could have switched but he is now happily ensconced there in Y7. As for DRHS my daughter is in Y10 and it is absolutely the right place for her. It's not perfect but she's thrived and really matured as a person. I think you will get catty comments from whichever school setting you pick. I teach at a co-ed comprehensive and believe me the girls still have major fall outs. Whether my daughter will stay for 6th form I've no idea and we'll look round when the time comes. DRHS are putting quite a lot investment in so that's a plus. Pates is great but to be honest there would be alarm bells ringing if they didn't have outstanding results considering the cohort they have. In your position I'd really follow what my child thinks and where they feel most comfortable. I'm sure she'll do well wherever she settles. Try and get through the doors of the two schools and go with your gut.

[Lysander]

We’re in a similar position but can’t attend either of the open days due to dd having Covid at the moment We saw DRHS last year at a self-guided open evening with no students and few teachers there, and went to a Pate’s open evening in the summer. We’ll put those two as the top two on the CAF, not sure which order, and hope that if we manage to go to an open day in the spring and change our mind that we’ll be able to.

[Choppy]

Also in a similar position. Was expecting DD (and I!) to prefer Pate's but we actually loved Denmark more. We've since heard various positive experiences about the wonderful pastoral care at Denmark, and that is has slightly more of a 'family' feel to it, and perhaps slightly more likely that your child will be known better, if that makes sense? Gosh, it is such as tricky one, isn't it? Congratulations on a great result, and best of luck with it. x

[Janicet118]

Thank you for all your kind words and comments.
We visited the Denmark Road today and my daughter loves it. The problem is my daughter is a shy and quiet person and has a problem with making friends, as a result I am trying to find the right school that she can start fresh and make some friends.