Townley Grammar School

[lashingsofgingerbeer]

Hi there, can anyone please help. My DD has just passed the Bexley test & we will be going to look at Townley & Chis & Sid next week. Townley's specialisms are very much in line with my DD's interests/strong areas. Can anyone tell me how their DD is getting on there & also, if anyone travels there from Bromley and how realistic is will be to attend after-school-clubs with the distance to travel and the homework expectations that I see on this forum are quite high?

Any information gratefully received as my mind is buzzing with it all and our CAF form has to be in by next Friday, the same week as the school's open days. Thanks

[greenwichmum]

Hello, congratulations to you and your Daughter. My DD started in year 7 at Townley this year, we live in Eltham. The journey takes about 30 minutes in the morning but going home can take over an hour at times, so we try to join with a couple of other parents and pick them up a couple of times a week, i's just harder in the first term or so I think because it is all new to them. I don't know about any girls travelling from Bromley but My DD says there are girls that travel from Lewisham and get a train and a bus which takes well over an hour.

One good thing is that Townley doesn't start as early in the morning as some of the other Grammars C and S they have to be there are 8.10 I think. Townley they can be in their from room at 8.35 but registratin is not until .8.45. She did find the homework a lot at first. She gets two to three subjects a night and it's meant to take 20-30 mins each piece but in reality a lot of only takes 10 or 15 minutes, also none of it is that difficult to do (so far!). Sometimes she stays at homework club in the library and then I can pick her up at 5 and it is all done.

One of the positives of Townley is that I think the school worked hard to help the year 7's settle in, the year 8's acted as guides to show them round to thier lessons for the first week which took the pressure off a lot.

However, you will have to base your decision on the journey time from where you are, and also look at both schools you will get a feel for what is best for your child. Hopefully someone with experience of C and S will also give you some info. Hope this helps.

[Ang's mom]

Please someone with experience of C&S , please do tell us how it is.

Thanks.

[blessedmum]

I know a few people at c&s and they have been full of praises for the school, especially their pastural care. On the academic side as well, all the people I know have been very pleased. You can go to the open evening on Monday at 6:30pm

[greenwichmum]

I don't know if c and S have an open morning as well, we found the open evening last year very busy and very difficult to get a good impression of the school due to the sheer numbers of people looking around. If possible I would recommend you going to a daytime visit if you can.

[Ang's mom]

Thanks blessedmum. I will do that.

greenwichmum..for the open morning, can we call them up and request a time suitable for them and how would you compare C&S to BGS or Townley ?

Thanks.

[providence]

Congratulations! It's a great feeling. Our DS1 started at C&S in September and is loving it. They are strict about uniform, homework, timekeeping etc, but I heard that this is just to whip them into shape and apparently they ease off after Xmas. They do have to be in their classrooms by 8.15 and it's detention if you are late!! If you want to know anything else, ask away.

[blessedmum]

Chis and Sid have an open morning this coming Monday. see link below.

http://www.csgrammar.com/content.asp?ca ... 56&sec=219

The open evening should not be as busy as well as its now only people that got through the grammar test that will be going as opposed to previous years.

[Mrs Jones]

Our DD started at Chis and Sid in September and has not stopped smiling since. Yes they are quite strict as I'm sure they want to set the standard right from the outset but the teachers are also very positive and encouraging. I think I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to pick a school last year but we couldn't be happier with our choice. The best piece of advice I took from this forum last year was that all the Bexley Grammar schools are excellent so try not to stress too much!! Distance was a very important consideration for us also. We weren't very keen for our DD to spend lots of time travelling and waiting at bus stops in the cold and pouring rain so we chose the closest school. Of course you need to pick the right school for your child but we are very happy that DD is home from school and /or the variety of clubs she has joined at a reasonable time so she gets a bit of time to relax before tackling the homework!! Happy choosing

[greenwichmum]

I agree with Mrs Jones, All the grammar schools are very good. MY DD just felt that she is not sporty and also didn't want to do Latin so she preferred Townley as it is more performing arts and also she likes Maths and this is the other specialism. Of course she also decided that she would prefer a girls school. My husband probably would have gone for C and S as it is mixed and a bit nearer home, but she had good reasons for preferring Townley and it is a very good school so there was no reason not to let her state her preference.

Personally I did not think much of the heads speech at C and S, I thought he came across as rather arrogant, but it may just have been me!

I would disagree that the open evenings are less busy as we also had the reuslts before the visit last year and it was manic! This is due to most people waiting until after the results to look. Anyway, do all look and make your own minds up. I also know friends of my DD's at Bexley Grammar and they are also happy. How nice to have such a good choice!