Oakwood or MGS?

maidstonemama · Post by **maidstonemama** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:57 am

Oakwood- walking distance, few friends going there, less organised, results not so good?. MGS- will need bus/car, fewer friends going there, nicer atmosphere, results better? Am planning to let DS (total score 407) choose for himself after open days this week- any opinions out there as to which one I should big up? (First post, lurker for ages- please be kind!)

Bexley Mum 2 · Post by **Bexley Mum 2** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:16 am

Maidstonemamma - you may find that once you've visited there's a clear favourite. I knew part-way round the open evening tour of DS1's school that it was the school I wanted him to go to.

It's a big decision to leave to a 10/11 year old! They're not necessarily able to see the bigger picture. Fine if you're completely undecided about which school is best, but often children will choose schools for reasons which aren't necessarily important in the long-term. One of mine insisted throughout year 5 that he wanted to go to a local non-selective school because that's where several of his friends were going (including his best friend). We drove past it a few months ago and I reminded him (now Yr10) how keen he'd been to go there and his response was, "really? Whatever for?"

pheasantchick · Post by **pheasantchick** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:57 am

Welcome to the forum!

If you scroll down the Kent forum, I've posted two questions earlier asking for views about these schools. One was posted last week after the MGS open evening, and the other posted a while back. Hope the replies I received are helpful.

pheasantchick · Post by **pheasantchick** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:33 pm

Forgot to add, be interested to hear your views as well. As my child is in yr 5, I only visited during the evenings. I'd like to know what you think of the school during the day-time visits.

maidstonemama · Post by **maidstonemama** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:17 pm

I have heard lots of good things about MGS, and would appreciate more info on Oakwood, both pros and cons. Any reason my DS should NOT go there, if he has the choice of these 2 schools?

dadofkent · Post by **dadofkent** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:34 pm

My DS hated Oakwood when he went around some 2 years ago, but felt comfortable at MGS. However, it does seem that his Oakwood experience was tainted by being shown around by a disinterested teacher, and also the poor IT provision (at a specialist computing school). He is very happy at MGS.

However, I am aware of other children who felt more at home in Oakwood, despite MGS being their nearer school.

If you consider that there are pros and cons to both schools, and not much between them, the obvious tie-breaker is ease of travel.

pheasantchick · Post by **pheasantchick** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:50 pm

I think both schoosl are good. Oakwood put on a very good open evening with smartly dressed, polite pupils and enthusiastic teachers. However, I felt the school was a bit cramped with not much obvious open space.

MGs was more traditional. The buildings and open areas were lovely, and all the boys I spoke to loved it there.

My general impression was that Oakwood was the more modern school and MGS more traditional. To be honest, I think either school would be good. My son liked aspects of both. I'm looking forward next year (my son is yr 5) when I can see them both again, in the day and evening.

maidstonemama · Post by **maidstonemama** » Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:00 am

Went with Oakwood as first choice, and MGS second. DS preferred the atmosphere at Oakwood (though he also liked MGS), and the walking distance clinched it for me. However, asking around before we finalised, I was surprised at the snob value attached to MGS, and suggestions 'as he has the score' he should go to MGS. Or actually, reading some of the posts, not so surprised...

What are the chances he will get his first choice? I think he would be just as happy at MGS, but waiting till March to know- seems a long time away.

dinah · Post by **dinah** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:04 am

Forgive me for being a bit dumb as I am not from Kent but I know someone who has the same two schools in mind. She seems to think that as her son has ( I imagine this is based on hearsay) a high enough score for Maidstone Grammar she would get offered a place even if she put Oakwood first and as she put Oakwood first she would get an offer from there too. Then she could choose. This can't be right can it??

dadofkent · Post by **dadofkent** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:54 am

dinah wrote:Forgive me for being a bit dumb as I am not from Kent but I know someone who has the same two schools in mind. She seems to think that as her son has ( I imagine this is based on hearsay) a high enough score for Maidstone Grammar she would get offered a place even if she put Oakwood first and as she put Oakwood first she would get an offer from there too. Then she could choose. This can't be right can it??

No, she will be offered Oakwood, unless she is out of distance. For MGS the score criteria (390) allocates the first 50% or so of places, providing you reside in the "catchment parishes", then the remaining places are allocated to any selective pupils on distance.