11 Plus Exams Forum

DS was in top 150 in Pate’s, Marling and crypt. We live on South Glos and opted for Marling as 1st choice due to relative proximity (40 minutes drive). Now we’re relocating to Gloucester due to my job. Both Marling and Pate’s will be under 20 minute drive (40 minutes by coach) from our new home. Crypt will be under 10 minutes. I spoke to Gloucestershire schools Admissions office and was told he can be put on waiting list for Pate’s/Crypt if we send them an email with our choice. We are now leaning towards Crypt due to proximity (again!!). DS is bright mathematician and loves playing sports. He will effectively have an extra hour each day if he goes to Crypt. As Pate’s is “top state school in the country” providing “university style” education and getting exceptionally high number A* grades etc, we are wondering whether we are being stupid by thinking of going for Crypt instead of Pate’s ( I’m under no illusion that getting on the waiting list is not the same as getting a place). One part of me tells me they are all great schools and DS will do well where he goes. But again there’s this worry around what is he going to miss out on if he doesn’t go to Pate’s. Can someone help clear the cobwebs please? Are we getting too worried about commute time?

AS10 wrote: One part of me tells me they are all great schools and DS will do well where he goes.

That part of you is your head and common sense, and it is right.

AS10 wrote:Can someone help clear the cobwebs please? Are we getting too worried about commute time?

Personally, if I had a chance at a decent school 10 minutes away for DC I'd go for it like a shot. Your other options are great so there is nothing to be lost but - DC will need time to have a life, driving teenagers around is at best a limiting option (for parents and DC) so I'd go on the wait list for the nearest school time wise (Crypt?), be delighted that I had the chance to do that and try (I know it is hard) to relax, the hard bit is over, and remember that playground gossip and 'best state school' etc etc is all nonsense, is there to unsettle you, nothing more. Don't let it, good luck with your move
.

Pates takes pretty much the top 150 of all that include it (I know they went lower this year, exceptionally). This means they already start with kids who have the potential to get As regardless of which school they are in, so they do get higher results, but your son will be able to reach his potential in any of the three schools you mentioned.

While he may jump to the top of the waiting list at either Pates or Crypt, there still could be someone above him, who not knowing their results before CAF are in a similar position. Which school does he want? Did he prefer Crypt but Marling was closer at the time?

On the flip side, we are doing the trip from Gloucester to Stroud (if you've found a coach that runs, please let me know ) as the school for us is the right one, rather than the ones in Gloucester. We've also had similar thoughts but I'd rather them be happy for the sake of an extra 10 mins journey (similarly all the Stroud kids coming into Glos must think the same!). But that is what works for us.

Happy to listen if you want to talk it all out

Sounds a similar worry to our wobble earlier. Our son was also top 150 but he didn’t like the feel of Pates and was set on STR so we put that 1st and Pates second, despite living in Cheltenham. With the intake Pates has it would be a real scandal if they didn’t get outstanding results and they are quick after poor GCSEs to show students the door. The schools are all good - just trust your gut. I teach at a comprehensive and can assure you if your child wants to learn and is willing to put in the effort they will succeed wherever they go.

mad? wrote:That part of you is your head and common sense, and it is right.

Thanks. I think you are right. Too easy to complicate things!!

dodie102 wrote:Sounds a similar worry to our wobble earlier. Our son was also top 150 but he didn’t like the feel of Pates and was set on STR so we put that 1st and Pates second, despite living in Cheltenham. With the intake Pates has it would be a real scandal if they didn’t get outstanding results and they are quick after poor GCSEs to show students the door. The schools are all good - just trust your gut. I teach at a comprehensive and can assure you if your child wants to learn and is willing to put in the effort they will succeed wherever they go.

Thanks for the inputs. Yes a willing learner will do well anywhere. His primary school was marked as "requires improvement" when he was in year 4. I think it's back to good but it just shows you school rankings, inspection reports and results are just few of many parameters that contribute to a child's achievement!

Polgara_Glos wrote:Which school does he want? Did he prefer Crypt but Marling was closer at the time?

He loved Marling and won't mind going to Crypt. For some reason doesn't like Pate's. All this fretting and we might stay put at Marling

Polgara_Glos wrote: On the flip side, we are doing the trip from Gloucester to Stroud (if you've found a coach that runs, please let me know )

Happy to listen if you want to talk it all out

We found couple of coaches - http://www.igobus.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (stops near Brockworth Toby Carvery), and Ebley coaches with stops around Quedgeley.. Don't know if there are any parent led services running. Please let me know if you find one.

Ah, yes, unfortunately the IGO Bus doesn't actually run....

We are the wrong side of the city for Quedgeley, but we have a public bus 5 mins away.

Polgara_Glos wrote:Ah, yes, unfortunately the IGO Bus doesn't actually run....

We are the wrong side of the city for Quedgeley, but we have a public bus 5 mins away.

Alright! It does say this on the website...I'll probably give them a call to find out if there's enough interest.

This is a prospective school route from Cheltenham to Stroud High and Marling schools. We are excited to offer a service to these schools from the Cheltenham area, once we have achieved the number of passengers to run this service we will confirm the service to those that have booked on.

My wife isn't too keen on sending him on a public bus. I might persuade her by the time school starts!!