turnip08 wrote:
A couple of my friends are in a bit of a dilemma, as am I! Would love to hear feedback from parents with children at either (or both?) Judd and Skinners.
I realise that Judd is 'ahead' of Skinners this year in terms of results for KS4 but, last year, I understand, it was the other way around? It all depends on how you look at if, of course, as at A-level the 'AAB' higher at Skinners although total % of A/A* higher at Judd.
Results are not everything though. Of more concern, there seems to be a significantly lower proportion of pupils at sixth form as a percentage of total number of pupils at Judd (1097 / 167 if counting boys only - 15%) compared with Skinners (total: 978/6th form: 250 - 26%) - is this because more boys continue into sixth at Skinners compared with Judd, or is this due to 'new' blood coming in? I've heard from one mum that Judd is absolutely brilliant but that it's very competitive to move into Sixth Form with lots of boys applying for places elsewhere at that point.
Would like to hear views on both schools in this regard plus provision in terms of sports, particularly cricket, football and tennis.
How about pastoral care?
Many thanks

I can only respond from a Judd perspective and from my experience of chatting with parents of boys at Skinners. I am 100% happy with our choice to send our son to Judd. It's totally the school for him - he's happy and settled and it plays to all his strengths. It's a very conservative and traditional school with old fashioned values. If sport is important to your son, Judd is the school for you. BUT it's strictly a rugby school. Football is not on the PE curriculum at all and tennis doesn't seem to feature high up on the list either - we pay for tennis lessons outside of school. Rugby, cricket, athletics... the coaching is first class.
They offer the kind of classic curriculum I enjoyed at grammar school in the 80s. There are no 'trendy' or 'soft' subjects. I don't believe they even offer computing. In terms of pastoral care, I can't comment as we have never had to access any kind of support, however, my understanding is that if pastoral care is important to you, Skinners may be a better school for you.
Feel free to inbox me if you have any further queries.