HSFG vs Pates - opinions?

[chococandy16]

Both schools are good and as previously mentioned, it depends on how you and DC feel during visits to both schools.

Some DDs prefer single sex to mixed and vice versa. Logistics is also a major factor when making decisions, whatever you decide, remember that your child will need to live with it for the next 5years at the least.

Regarding the recently published league table, I think there is something wrong with HSFG number. The Publication said there are 116 students at the end of KS 4, looking to the far right, it stated that 122/123 stayed in education.... wondering how the extra 7 students got into the mix. Other schools have some form of consistency between the number of students at the end of KS 4 and those moving on.

https://www.compare-school-performance. ... =secondary" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Anyway, it's a provisional publication, perhaps a work in progress. However giving a confusing status to the school.

All the best

[chococandy16]

Hi guys,

From the original open days we went to, we were impressed with HSFG but blown away by Pates, which we only went to on a whim just to rule it out as we always though HSFG would be the school for us.

After this initial morning at Pates, my daughter fell in love and upped her game in terms of revising for the exam. She worked her backside off and managed to rank 151 for Pates, as well as within the top 150 for HSFG.

However, we are in central Gloucester, so the travel to Pates will be a lot more (time and money!!) than for HSFG. So now I'm questioning whether to let her follow her (recent!) dream of going to Pates, or whether to try and persuade her to go for HSFG where she will know a couple of girls and its closer.

So I guess I'm just looking for a any reviews or opinions on both or either of these schools? I've been looking at results and from what I can see they are fairly evenly matched - unless anyone can share data to show differently?

We are going to 2nd open days at both schools to get a fresh perspective now we know our chances, but I'm torn - I thought Pates was WAY above HSFG in terms of results but now I'm not so sure!!

Any opinions?

What sort of questions should we have on our list for when we look round? Things other than results I mean?

Thanks!!

Please see below Pates versus HSFG based purely on academic performance in the 2017 exams

GCSE
HSFG- 43% A*
Pates- 59.4% A*

HSFG- 77.9% A*-A
Pates - 85.7%

For A levels HSFG said:
Congratulations to all High School Sixth Form students on their results.  A quarter(25%) of all grades achieved at A2 were A*/A and 83% of all qualifications were graded at least C or above.  Students have secured university places on their chosen courses.


Comparing this to Pates;

A levels : 69.3% A/A* (HSFG have 25% A/A*)

A*/B (89.8% for Pates.) 10.2% have C and below.

A*/C (85% for HSFG.) 15 %have D and below.

Pates demonstrated that their children perform significantly better in comparison to HSFG.

Don't get me wrong I like both schools, I just don't appreciate people talking any school down.

Our children will do well wherever they go with our support. The school is just a vehicle to the realization of some of the dreams.

[smileandsparkle]

Hi smileandsparkle!

Just wanted to let you know that we were in a v similar position last year, when DS had the choice of all the schools we shared with. Crypt was just a few mins walk away but DS fell in love with Pate's from the first, and we instinctively felt it was going to fit him perfectly.

There are two buses to choose from where we are - Bennetts and I go bus. The I go is cheaper by a couple hundred per year, but we went with Bennetts for the comfort! DS has to leave the house just after 7, and sometimes complains about the cold, dark and wet, but still doesn't regret his decision a bit.

DS was also the only one from his school to go to Pate's, so didn't know anyone there. I must say, the induction process is a real strong point of the school - there are so many varied ways the children are able to make friends. These include an orchestra morning before term even begins, activity days with team building etc, drama workshops, and a couple of French language workshops. The head of Y7 was constantly in contact with parents by email, helping us to support our children, and informing us of upcoming events or any issues. There's an excellent school app which lets you pay for lunches, trip etc electronically, and gives you loads of info about your child's timetable.

Hope this helps. We recommend Pate's wholeheartedly, but as ever, it is what your child thinks that is really important.

Thanks for your reply Kittymom - really glad to hear from someone who is already making the Gloucester/Cheltenham commute - does the Bennetts pick up near your house? I'll need to find out more about the stopping points if we decide to go with Pates, as the information on the websites is a bit vague! Does your DS always catch the bus or you ever take him/pick him up? How about after school clubs? Do you need to arrange transport on those days, or does he choose not to do any of the clubs in order to catch the bus?

Lovely to hear the induction process is so good, with her being (potentially) the only one going from her school (I think another has qualified but wants HSFG, unsure though) - its good to know she will have plenty of opportunities to make friends.

How do you find the school socially? What I mean by that is, with so many children coming from so far apart - does your DS get to spend much time hanging out with friends outside of school? I imagine with them all rushing for the school bus at the end of the day they don't get the opportunity to go to town/park/each others houses etc? Thats been one of my concerns. At her current primary, we live too far away for her to socialise with the friends who all live on each others doorsteps and its always upset her that they all can go out to the park etc and she can't.

Again, thanks for all your information, I'm hoping once we've been back to both schools we will just instinctively know which is the best fit for her, fingers crossed it all just falls into place because I'm hating this pressure of making the right choice!!

[stroudydad]

Hi guys,

From the original open days we went to, we were impressed with HSFG but blown away by Pates, which we only went to on a whim just to rule it out as we always though HSFG would be the school for us.

After this initial morning at Pates, my daughter fell in love and upped her game in terms of revising for the exam. She worked her backside off and managed to rank 151 for Pates, as well as within the top 150 for HSFG.

However, we are in central Gloucester, so the travel to Pates will be a lot more (time and money!!) than for HSFG. So now I'm questioning whether to let her follow her (recent!) dream of going to Pates, or whether to try and persuade her to go for HSFG where she will know a couple of girls and its closer.

So I guess I'm just looking for a any reviews or opinions on both or either of these schools? I've been looking at results and from what I can see they are fairly evenly matched - unless anyone can share data to show differently?

We are going to 2nd open days at both schools to get a fresh perspective now we know our chances, but I'm torn - I thought Pates was WAY above HSFG in terms of results but now I'm not so sure!!

Any opinions?

What sort of questions should we have on our list for when we look round? Things other than results I mean?

Thanks!!

Please see below Pates versus HSFG based purely on academic performance in the 2017 exams

GCSE
HSFG- 43% A*
Pates- 59.4% A*

HSFG- 77.9% A*-A
Pates - 85.7%

For A levels HSFG said:
Congratulations to all High School Sixth Form students on their results.  A quarter(25%) of all grades achieved at A2 were A*/A and 83% of all qualifications were graded at least C or above.  Students have secured university places on their chosen courses.


Comparing this to Pates;

A levels : 69.3% A/A* (HSFG have 25% A/A*)

A*/B (89.8% for Pates.) 10.2% have C and below.

A*/C (85% for HSFG.) 15 %have D and below.

Pates demonstrated that their children perform significantly better in comparison to HSFG.

Don't get me wrong I like both schools, I just don't appreciate people talking any school down.

Our children will do well wherever they go with our support. The school is just a vehicle to the realization of some of the dreams.

What's that famous saying about statistics??

[Sandwich]

Can I ask a question from a slightly different angle please...

DD got under 150 for HSFG - which was our first choice; however, she also got between 150-200 for Pates. We have been told this means she stands a good chance of getting in. Good news but now a dilemma.

We get that the academic output (those stats don't lie) is stronger and that's a factor but not by any means the only factor for us. A concern, ours and also raised by DD, is that she might 'struggle' academically at Pates given her relative test position. Now I know the test isn't a perfect indicator and that some kids will have been coached for years, but is our concern valid?

For instance it may be just a few questions difference in the test and so nothing to worry about.... Or ....

Would be grateful to hear thoughts from others. Thanks in advance...

[smileandsparkle]

Can I ask a question from a slightly different angle please...

DD got under 150 for HSFG - which was our first choice; however, she also got between 150-200 for Pates. We have been told this means she stands a good chance of getting in. Good news but now a dilemma.

We get that the academic output (those stats don't lie) is stronger and that's a factor but not by any means the only factor for us. A concern, ours and also raised by DD, is that she might 'struggle' academically at Pates given her relative test position. Now I know the test isn't a perfect indicator and that some kids will have been coached for years, but is our concern valid?

For instance it may be just a few questions difference in the test and so nothing to worry about.... Or ....

Would be grateful to hear thoughts from others. Thanks in advance...

Sandwich - and any others who have any other questions regarding Pates, I'm going to meet my friend and her partner tomorrow to grill her on all things Pates - she used to work there a couple of years ago and her partner still works there so I'm going in with an 'off the record' conversation - the things that Pates will never tell you or brush until the carpet - so if anyone has anything they would like me to ask - just message on here or PM me and I'll add it to my list and update you all tomorrow!!!!???

Sandwich - regarding struggle from test position - thats exactly the same concern I had further up this thread and someone has commented saying that they do offer additional Maths support for those struggling with Maths but the poster wasn't sure about extra help in other subjects so I will certainly ask my friends tomorrow. As you say, the difference in rank 1 and rank 200 could be fairly minuscule or it could be vast so I'm certainly interested in the same as you!

[kittymom]

Can I ask a question from a slightly different angle please...

DD got under 150 for HSFG - which was our first choice; however, she also got between 150-200 for Pates. We have been told this means she stands a good chance of getting in. Good news but now a dilemma.

We get that the academic output (those stats don't lie) is stronger and that's a factor but not by any means the only factor for us. A concern, ours and also raised by DD, is that she might 'struggle' academically at Pates given her relative test position. Now I know the test isn't a perfect indicator and that some kids will have been coached for years, but is our concern valid?

For instance it may be just a few questions difference in the test and so nothing to worry about.... Or ....

Would be grateful to hear thoughts from others. Thanks in advance...

I believe there is a great deal of support is offered by the school if children are struggling with certain subjects. Apparently there is a lunch time Maths club for anyone needing reinforcement of skills, and they also use mentors from older year groups to assist the younger students. Pates have quite a clear stance on homework - they believe that homework should not be set for the sake of setting it, but only if it actively supports the work children are doing at school. I found DS had very little HW in Y7 - although I believe he did a lot of it at school, in the computer suite! They acknowledge that's it's v important for the children to have quality time at home, and to concentrate on all the extra-curricular activities they do outside school. Having said that, there's a lot more HW in Y8!

To be ranked for Pates already indicates that your child is very able. Just to put into perspective, a child can be relatively highly ranked at the other grammars but be ranked near 1000th for Pates!

[FluffyCat]

I have a child at Pate's and one at Stroud High. We are an ordinary family, not wealthy, not pushy and certainly didn't over-tutor our children. Stroud High is a great school. It deserves its Outstanding status and does a lot of things very well. Dd is very happy there and I'm convinced she will do brilliantly at GCSE. Pate's is beyond outstanding. It really is. I cannot think of one instance in over five years where I have had cause to complain or moan. They take things to another level and it is really hard to explain how.

If your child likes the school and you can genuinely say you haven't over-tutored them to get there then you cannot do better. It's not all about results. I fully expect my SHS daughter to do better at her GCSEs if I'm totally honest. It is about the right school for the child. Pate's is fantastically, brilliantly amazing. I wish I could go there. But if my child had needed more than familiarization with the test and practice doing timed papers to get in then it is not the school for them.

I would happily send another daughter to Stroud High (or HSFG if that were nearer) but if they passed for Pate's, then yes I can unequivocally say that it has been worth the 45 minute bus journey and the extortionate bus fare.

I will now don my hard hat and retire to a safe distance and be thankful that whilst I have clocked who Stroudydad is at school concerts, I don't think he has identified me!

[kittymom]

Hi smileandsparkle!

Just wanted to let you know that we were in a v similar position last year, when DS had the choice of all the schools we shared with. Crypt was just a few mins walk away but DS fell in love with Pate's from the first, and we instinctively felt it was going to fit him perfectly.

There are two buses to choose from where we are - Bennetts and I go bus. The I go is cheaper by a couple hundred per year, but we went with Bennetts for the comfort! DS has to leave the house just after 7, and sometimes complains about the cold, dark and wet, but still doesn't regret his decision a bit.

DS was also the only one from his school to go to Pate's, so didn't know anyone there. I must say, the induction process is a real strong point of the school - there are so many varied ways the children are able to make friends. These include an orchestra morning before term even begins, activity days with team building etc, drama workshops, and a couple of French language workshops. The head of Y7 was constantly in contact with parents by email, helping us to support our children, and informing us of upcoming events or any issues. There's an excellent school app which lets you pay for lunches, trip etc electronically, and gives you loads of info about your child's timetable.

Hope this helps. We recommend Pate's wholeheartedly, but as ever, it is what your child thinks that is really important.

Thanks for your reply Kittymom - really glad to hear from someone who is already making the Gloucester/Cheltenham commute - does the Bennetts pick up near your house? I'll need to find out more about the stopping points if we decide to go with Pates, as the information on the websites is a bit vague! Does your DS always catch the bus or you ever take him/pick him up? How about after school clubs? Do you need to arrange transport on those days, or does he choose not to do any of the clubs in order to catch the bus?

Lovely to hear the induction process is so good, with her being (potentially) the only one going from her school (I think another has qualified but wants HSFG, unsure though) - its good to know she will have plenty of opportunities to make friends.

How do you find the school socially? What I mean by that is, with so many children coming from so far apart - does your DS get to spend much time hanging out with friends outside of school? I imagine with them all rushing for the school bus at the end of the day they don't get the opportunity to go to town/park/each others houses etc? Thats been one of my concerns. At her current primary, we live too far away for her to socialise with the friends who all live on each others doorsteps and its always upset her that they all can go out to the park etc and she can't.

Again, thanks for all your information, I'm hoping once we've been back to both schools we will just instinctively know which is the best fit for her, fingers crossed it all just falls into place because I'm hating this pressure of making the right choice!!

Have PMd you, but I forgot to say - Pates has a fantastic House system. In the first term (in fact, in the first couple of weeks) the houses put on an incredible House Music competition - run by 6th formers, where each house puts on an extravaganza with choirs and ensembles performing. It is compulsory for Y7. The beauty of it is, by the time the competition is over, the Y7s have met all the students within their house. It really encourages a sense of community VERTICALLY through the year groups. All the lessons are taken within their form (house) group too. The children know each other so well by the end of the first term. There is no streaming for maths or english. No need for it.

[kittymom]

I have a child at Pate's and one at Stroud High. We are an ordinary family, not wealthy, not pushy and certainly didn't over-tutor our children. Stroud High is a great school. It deserves its Outstanding status and does a lot of things very well. Dd is very happy there and I'm convinced she will do brilliantly at GCSE. Pate's is beyond outstanding. It really is. I cannot think of one instance in over five years where I have had cause to complain or moan. They take things to another level and it is really hard to explain how.

If your child likes the school and you can genuinely say you haven't over-tutored them to get there then you cannot do better. It's not all about results. I fully expect my SHS daughter to do better at her GCSEs if I'm totally honest. It is about the right school for the child. Pate's is fantastically, brilliantly amazing. I wish I could go there. But if my child had needed more than familiarization with the test and practice doing timed papers to get in then it is not the school for them.

I would happily send another daughter to Stroud High (or HSFG if that were nearer) but if they passed for Pate's, then yes I can unequivocally say that it has been worth the 45 minute bus journey and the extortionate bus fare.

I will now don my hard hat and retire to a safe distance and be thankful that whilst I have clocked who Stroudydad is at school concerts, I don't think he has identified me!

I agree with you wholeheartedly about Pates. I also wish I'd gone to a school like it....