The Brentwood School

[tami]

DS got full feee paying not offered a scholarship.

[Southendmum]

Bagpuss1 and tami - Congratuations on your DC being offered places!

Bagpuss I really feel for you knowing that you are unable to take up the place!! I wonder if there is anything else the school can offer you and if it would be worth talking to them again? It really is devastating especially if you know your child has set their heart on it.

My DD has also been offered a place on a full fee paying basis and of course I am delighted but am also now pondering having to pay the fees for the next 7+ years and considering the things we will have to give up to do that.

Best of luck to your DD Bagpuss and I hope you manage to find a solution and also to your DS tami.

[pushymother]

Congratulations on your DC's offer's.

Sorry to burst in on your thread, but I was wondering what you likes about Brentwood. I am going to be looking for a plan B when my DC's take the 11+ as my local comp is not an option. I have looked at the results from Brentwood and have trouble paying that much money for what looks to my untrained eye to be very average results at GCSE and A level. I know they are doing well with the IB...

I would really appreciate your thoughts as to why you chose Brentwood over other fee paying schools, distance to travel, extracurricular activities??

Many thanks in advance!

[tami]

thank you was really counting on the scholarship to help towards costs..... DS did well to get this far. However realistically fingers and toes crossed for Essex.
Some different decisions to make after such a stressful period!!

[Jollygood]

Well, I'm inclined to agree. What a stressful period!
Waited 'til the post arrived at 1pm (sooo late). The bulky A4 package certainly does bely what's inside..
DS offered a fee-paying place, but sadly no scholarship. I think I was being a wee bit too hopeful!
Still, well done to DS for getting that far and to all other DCs out there with favourable results.
Very sorry to hear that some won't be able to take up those fee-paying offers.
Here's hoping that March 1st brings some good news for us all

Jolly Good

[Southendmum]

Congratulations Jollygood and well done to your DC.

Pushymother - Good luck with your search for a Plan B when the time comes. DH and I have looked at many Indie schools over the years with two DD's to cater for and it really can be quite an exhausting experience! Along the way we have visited many that others have raved about that really were not for us and vice versa.

There are many reasons why we chose Brentwood. Traditional values, fantastic facilities, always a friendly and helpful approach from staff, great attitude and behaviour of the children and also a great recommendation from friends whose DS has been really happy there and who is also doing well (to name but a few). I guess that everyone looks for different things in a school but we have always believed that you do "get a feel" for a school and it doesn't always have to be about the top exam results (although Brentwood's are good). For me it is more about my child as an "individual" and where I think she will thrive. DH and I believe that Brentwood will offer our DD an "all round" education and that is one of the reasons why we chose it. Of course there are draw backs, as with everything, and the distance will be a bit of a challenge especially with regards to extra curricular activities/socialising etc, but I am lucky enough to be in a position to play "chauffeur" and so I am sure we will cope with it when it arrives. Everyone's circumstances are different and I suppose it's about finding the school that best suits your child and your individual circumstances and we have been very lucky so far to have always done that. Best of luck.

[tami]

Yes agree with Southend mum ' all rounded education' and facilities and traditions was the pull for us..... Oh well...

[Jollygood]

Aye to both Southendmum and Tami's responses. At the end of the day it's all about what's right for our DCs at an individual level. We're waiting to hear from other indies which churn out children with top flight results, but I'm not so sure that those kind of schools are right for our DS. Difficult to know whether such schools would make or break him...I think the temptation could be to push higher without being realistic about where he's 'at'. Certainly don't want to damage confidence.
We have a very good feeling about Brentwood, in that of course they are keen on the child's academic achievements, but they do seem similarly keen on enriching a child's school life in extra-curricular areas too. We know no children who attend, but the few sixth formers and teachers we chatted with, including the headmaster were very straightforward, helpful and friendly. I would have no qualms whatsoever in recommending this school to anyone.

Jollygood

[pushymother]

Thanks you for your opinions. I have not seen the school in person yet, only viewed the website....It does look nice and has a bus service operating from our area which is a big plus!!

Did you view the school privately or during open days?

MAny thanks again

[Southendmum]

With DD1 we viewed privately as we were unable to make open day and it was good to see the school on a normal working day, plus we had Mr Brown head of year 7, as our guide. With DD2 we attended on open day but were not at all disappointed with the pupil that guided us. Best to do both if at all possible.