Best Grammar/non-selective trade off? Please Help!
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:41 am
Firstly, as a new joiner to this site, thanks to all for your wealth of information! Am very encouraged to realise I am not alone in the nightmare of navigating the secondary school lottery!
I have very recently become initiated to this secondary school admission issue when my stepdaughters came to live with us just before this summer. The eldest – would she be DSD1 as per the acronyms used on this site? – has just started Y5 and so the clock has started counting down to CSA applications next October.
The thing is, we didn’t buy our house based on the quality of the local schools; it was never an issue, as we never imagined they would come and live with us. Sadly, they were neglected by their mother and as a result we now find ourselves searching for answers most families plan for for years! I have now spent a good few months digesting and analysing every bit of relevant data, every relevant Ofsted report, a multitude of school websites, admissions data, personal sentiments and forum opinions. The conclusion? We have to move.
Where we are in NW Kent there is a good supply of grammar schools, and if DSD1 passed her 11 plus there is a pretty good chance she could get into one of them. However, smart though she is, she has suffered years of neglect and has not had the academic support and encouragement that would do her “raw ability” justice. I am tutoring her to try and give her the best chance – a chance she should by rights have had without needing tutoring – but I would say the changes are no better than 50/50 she’ll pass, and probably worse (realise we still have almost a year to go, so have factored that in, but the poor child understandably has other issues so I am not prepared to push her too much). In any case, though it is hard to tell at this stage, it is unlikely that DSD2 will be a grammar school contender, so we need to be in a place with a reasonable option for her in 3 years time (and it would be preferable to be in situ for the start of DSD1’s secondary career, rather than cause problems moving/commuting for her later on).
The non selective (and non-Catholic) options where we are are fairly dire, hence the decision to move – even if it means selling up and renting. The gamble that she won’t get into a grammar is just to risky.
I am trying to find a location where the following criteria apply:
a) Potential access to grammar schools if she does pass.
b) A sound alternative or two for if she doesn’t, preferably with no “nasties” that you might end up allocated if you just miss out on the better local options.
c) Ok transport links into London for me.
d) Good access to the whole SE region in car for DH.
e) Preferably a rural-type community, as it’s possible mother-in-law will come with and she won’t go anywhere too built up.
So far my research all points to one place – Paddock Wood and surrounding villages – except for one thing: access to grammar schools.
Paddock Wood is a comprehensive area – and its Comprehensive Mascalls looks very promising – but this means, as far as I can tell from admissions details and posts on this forum, that it’s considered out of area for the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells or Maidstone Grammars (closest potential options I believe). And even if it wasn’t, you might be piped-at-the post by closer contenders, as it is unlikely DSD1 will hit the “super selective” grade.
So my questions are therefore thus:
1. What are the realistic grammar options for a just selective, not super selective, girl living in Paddock Wood? Which ones do you stand the best change of getting into?
2. What are the travel prospects for these options like – I know there’s a bus between Paddock Wood and Maidstone schools, but does anyone know a child who does this journey and if so, what’s it like?
3. I know Invicta Grammer in Maidstone is usually under-subscribed. Does that mean if she passed we could rely on a place there? What are members’ thoughts on the “Accelerated learning” scheme they operate?
4. Any one have any thoughts on Mascalls they would like to share – and/or Paddock Wood as a place to bring up children and commute into London?
5. Any one have any other suggestions of where else in the South East might satisfy our tricky list of requirements? Personally I think Maidstone/Ashford would not be the best commute for me (into London Bridge/Charring Cross in under an hour would be preferable).
I like Tun. Wells but it will be too built up for mother-in-law, and the non-grammar options do not necessarily look the best, at least in part due to very small “catchment” area for the better ones. Cranbrook looks lovely but there is the issue of Cranbrook School being a 13+ entry Grammar school, and the Foundation Angley not receiving the best praise all round. Any thoughts much appreciated.
Apologies for the long post and thank you in advance to any help given.
I have very recently become initiated to this secondary school admission issue when my stepdaughters came to live with us just before this summer. The eldest – would she be DSD1 as per the acronyms used on this site? – has just started Y5 and so the clock has started counting down to CSA applications next October.
The thing is, we didn’t buy our house based on the quality of the local schools; it was never an issue, as we never imagined they would come and live with us. Sadly, they were neglected by their mother and as a result we now find ourselves searching for answers most families plan for for years! I have now spent a good few months digesting and analysing every bit of relevant data, every relevant Ofsted report, a multitude of school websites, admissions data, personal sentiments and forum opinions. The conclusion? We have to move.
Where we are in NW Kent there is a good supply of grammar schools, and if DSD1 passed her 11 plus there is a pretty good chance she could get into one of them. However, smart though she is, she has suffered years of neglect and has not had the academic support and encouragement that would do her “raw ability” justice. I am tutoring her to try and give her the best chance – a chance she should by rights have had without needing tutoring – but I would say the changes are no better than 50/50 she’ll pass, and probably worse (realise we still have almost a year to go, so have factored that in, but the poor child understandably has other issues so I am not prepared to push her too much). In any case, though it is hard to tell at this stage, it is unlikely that DSD2 will be a grammar school contender, so we need to be in a place with a reasonable option for her in 3 years time (and it would be preferable to be in situ for the start of DSD1’s secondary career, rather than cause problems moving/commuting for her later on).
The non selective (and non-Catholic) options where we are are fairly dire, hence the decision to move – even if it means selling up and renting. The gamble that she won’t get into a grammar is just to risky.
I am trying to find a location where the following criteria apply:
a) Potential access to grammar schools if she does pass.
b) A sound alternative or two for if she doesn’t, preferably with no “nasties” that you might end up allocated if you just miss out on the better local options.
c) Ok transport links into London for me.
d) Good access to the whole SE region in car for DH.
e) Preferably a rural-type community, as it’s possible mother-in-law will come with and she won’t go anywhere too built up.
So far my research all points to one place – Paddock Wood and surrounding villages – except for one thing: access to grammar schools.
Paddock Wood is a comprehensive area – and its Comprehensive Mascalls looks very promising – but this means, as far as I can tell from admissions details and posts on this forum, that it’s considered out of area for the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells or Maidstone Grammars (closest potential options I believe). And even if it wasn’t, you might be piped-at-the post by closer contenders, as it is unlikely DSD1 will hit the “super selective” grade.
So my questions are therefore thus:
1. What are the realistic grammar options for a just selective, not super selective, girl living in Paddock Wood? Which ones do you stand the best change of getting into?
2. What are the travel prospects for these options like – I know there’s a bus between Paddock Wood and Maidstone schools, but does anyone know a child who does this journey and if so, what’s it like?
3. I know Invicta Grammer in Maidstone is usually under-subscribed. Does that mean if she passed we could rely on a place there? What are members’ thoughts on the “Accelerated learning” scheme they operate?
4. Any one have any thoughts on Mascalls they would like to share – and/or Paddock Wood as a place to bring up children and commute into London?
5. Any one have any other suggestions of where else in the South East might satisfy our tricky list of requirements? Personally I think Maidstone/Ashford would not be the best commute for me (into London Bridge/Charring Cross in under an hour would be preferable).
I like Tun. Wells but it will be too built up for mother-in-law, and the non-grammar options do not necessarily look the best, at least in part due to very small “catchment” area for the better ones. Cranbrook looks lovely but there is the issue of Cranbrook School being a 13+ entry Grammar school, and the Foundation Angley not receiving the best praise all round. Any thoughts much appreciated.
Apologies for the long post and thank you in advance to any help given.