HSFG Open Day

[Birdbridge]

Did anyone attend the Open Morning/evening at HSFG yesterday?

I was there and heard the second talk by the head at 6:30. I have to say there was a huge difference to the feel of the presentations by the heads in comparing HSFG and Ribston.

It all just felt very impersonal yesterday. There was no discussion of the transition process for the girls, no introductions to the Head Girl or the deputy head - just a short talk by the head on her own and many mentions of how the school has been voted best school in Gloucestershire for 2 years and repeated references to the fact that the school is now “assuming it’s identity” and being renamed Denmark Road High School!

Sorry but I really don’t like the new name. I am not originally from Gloucester, I didn’t grow up here and haven’t lived here that long, but for her to say that if someone mentions “High School for Girls” no one knows what school they are talking about is very hard to believe. The school has such a rich history and now it’s being renamed from a name that sounded prestigious to the name of the road it is located on!!!! Imagine if STR officially changed their name to Tommies!!! Just cause people call the school a certain thing doesn’t necessarily mean you should rename the whole school! I just find it so odd.

I was really impressed by the classes and facilities but the head really put me off. Also the location is a real negative for me. I know there are busses but if I wanted to do the school run it just seems like pickup and drop off would be a huge mission. Where do people park and pick up and drop off their DDs??? The school is surrounded by houses and narrow residential streets with seemingly no parking for parents anywhere!!

What were everyone else’s thoughts?

[Brackenboo]

Hi, we went to both school visits too, although we are in y5 so have only just started. I equally felt that Ribston felt a more personal approach with the ethos around settling in, supporting individuals et. I felt their talk was too long to be honest, but then I had to get home to pick up my son so it meant we didn't get to see as much of the school.

I liked that HSFG was clearly showing what work was created by Y7's and felt we got a better feel for the work produced, but it came across as very traditional, old fashioned and more elitist. We didn't know what the parking was going to be like so parked on Estcourt road, but that was then an approx 8 minute walk. Neither of the schools will be overly simple for my DD to get to, even though we live about 3 miles away we aren't on any of the main bus routes, so that is something for us to think about.

If I had to choose now for my daughter I would probably choose Ribston as I think she needs more nurturing and help settling in, but for a more outgoing confident child possibly HSFG.

[cazien]

We felt the same a few ago during our visit. I felt (the old Head then) was quite impersonal and didn't offer a proper introduction to the school. The school itself was lovely (apart from the dance studio which left us gagging, and the girls touring us did say they were going to get a new one though!).

It isn't a "new" name - it originally was called Denmark, perhaps the "for Girls" makes 6th form boys feel uneasy!

As for location/transport issues, I would not use Denmark Road at all. Park in Estcourt Road and walk through the alley which only takes a few minutes (definitely a lot shorter than trying to battle through the traffic at drop off/pick up times!). Parking is a problem at every school, no parent parking is provided as pupils are expected to catch the bus, cycle or walk. I don't know if Denmark (sorry ) provide parking for 6th formers. Looking at surrounding roads they are always full with parked cars, but students from Glos. Uni (which is just around the corner) park in the area as well.

[stroudydad]

I can guarantee you that if you asked in Gloucester, far more people would be able to recognise The name Denmark Road school than HSFG.

[Legofan]

I think it’s each to their own, there were some bits of the ribston heads talk I didn’t like and that put me off a little.

I also concur that I didn’t know what HSFG was until my daughter started looking. I remember thinking it was weird that there are two girl grammar schools so close to tommies until I realised.

[Watermelon8]

Traditionally, it’s always been Denmark Road!! The previous head made a point of always saying ‘High school for girls’ but it really isn’t known as that. I agree with Miss Giblin that ‘High school for girls sixth form’ doesn’t encourage boys to join. Tommies has changed location once or twice so it’s not really relevant a comparison.
Parking isn’t a problem & is probably easier than a lot of schools as it’s in the middle of lots of roads rather than just on one road. If I collect, I use one of the side streets a few minutes walk away.
My daughter is quiet, musical & conscientious so we picked Denmark. If she’d been into dance & more confident then we’d maybe have picked Ribston as that was what seemed to suit her more confident friends. It really just comes down to which you prefer, they’re both great schools.

[can'tthinkofone]

It's a shame that the talk came across as impersonal.

This is the polar opposite to how I have found the school for my two DDs.

In fact I received an email this morning thanking my daughter for helping out at the open evening in a particular department and in the past received an email from head of year 7 saying my DD had got upset about something and she thought I should know.

The transition is addressed at the new parents evening in July. Girls are invited to school in July also. They do a good job of transitioning the girls - my two didn't know anyone else.

I suppose the head felt that the transition was best spoken about once girls were actually due to attend the school.

The school gets referred to as Denmark Road and HSFG all the time - doesn't really bother me so long as the kids get a good education and are happy.

[Birdbridge]

Is it true that HSFG and Tommies have a sort of "relationship" and have some joint events like discos etc? I like the idea of all girls but I don't want DD to be completely shut out from socialising and making friends with boys either. I like how SHS and Marling have a connection but Stroud is too far for me.

We are considering Crypt as well but this goes the opposite way of being a predominantly boys environment until the school is more mixed.

I just feel like all the teenage issues and distractions with boys are a lot less at an all girls school. I went to a mixed school and I know how teenage girls are - but also DD is my oldest so I don't know how things will be now! Can any parents of DDs at girls schools comment?

[stroudydad]

Is it true that HSFG and Tommies have a sort of "relationship" and have some joint events like discos etc? I like the idea of all girls but I don't want DD to be completely shut out from socialising and making friends with boys either. I like how SHS and Marling have a connection but Stroud is too far for me.

We are considering Crypt as well but this goes the opposite way of being a predominantly boys environment until the school is more mixed.

I just feel like all the teenage issues and distractions with boys are a lot less at an all girls school. I went to a mixed school and I know how teenage girls are - but also DD is my oldest so I don't know how things will be now! Can any parents of DDs at girls schools comment?

Certainly, always happy to comment. Whilst there may not be boys to worry about at a girls school, there are lots of other things, apologies for this if it offends, but girls are far worse than boys for things like bullying, ostracization, image disorders, etc. And actually in my experience(no science to this just my experience) LGBTQIA issues.

Obviously the latter isn’t something that is a bad thing and shouldn’t affect others - but can in certain circumstances.

[Amber]

Not a parent of someone at an all girls' school (though need to be clear that I would never have sent my daughter to one) but as someone who had two boys at STR I can tell you that yes there were a few joint discos in the early years and that my sons and their friends avoided them all. I don't know how well attended they were tbh. There are no official links and I think relationships between the previous head and the head of STR were rather strained. No idea if that has improved now the DR head has changed. By sixth form they all know each other though and many many girls move over to STR for sixth form, with one or two boys going the other way. The clubs and pubs of Cheltenham in particular are populated on Thursday nights by a mix of under age drinkers from all the grammar and non-grammar schools in one happy mass.

ETA I agree with Stroudydad that the presence of boys controls some of the worse excesses of girl behaviour and that all-girl environments are not for everyone - bullying in particular in my own experience (as parent and teacher) is far more incidious when carried out by groups of girls than boys and much harder to detect and deal with (check out the pastoral care forum for many instances of it).