Urgent - grammar school comparison
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Urgent - grammar school comparison
Hi all
I am new to Buckinghamshire. I have a 10-year-old daughter who would like to try grammar school. Would anybody point me to the right direction on:
(1) information on how many students going to Oxford & Cambridge from each grammar schools?
(2) comparison of these grammar schools?
(3) I do not think I have any advantage on siblings, religions or so on. How can I ensure that I have at least two schools as options? I have seen the catchment illustration by the council. seems no catchment areas are overlapping. does this mean I can only apply for one school?
I have yet to find a permanent accomodation within one month. presumably the school will be one of the key factors to locate the accomodation. I will be working in Milton Keynes.
Thank you a lot!
I am new to Buckinghamshire. I have a 10-year-old daughter who would like to try grammar school. Would anybody point me to the right direction on:
(1) information on how many students going to Oxford & Cambridge from each grammar schools?
(2) comparison of these grammar schools?
(3) I do not think I have any advantage on siblings, religions or so on. How can I ensure that I have at least two schools as options? I have seen the catchment illustration by the council. seems no catchment areas are overlapping. does this mean I can only apply for one school?
I have yet to find a permanent accomodation within one month. presumably the school will be one of the key factors to locate the accomodation. I will be working in Milton Keynes.
Thank you a lot!
The best place to start is to go and look round - send for prospectuses and look at the websites - school details most easily found on the September 2007 admissions booklet on:
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/i ... =987793428
I guess if you are working in MK you have a choice of:
Aylesbury High - girls - languages specialism
Sir Henry Floyd - mixed - Performing Arts & Science specialisms
Royal Latin - mixed - Science specialism
The Aylesbury catchments overlap and you can apply out of catchment - HOWEVER you would be wise to look at allocation profiles on:
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/i ... 1902924256
To check you will be near enough -
What are your daughter's strengths? There will be Open Evenings but not until September - you need to look around now and then make sure you are near the school you want!
Happy to comment further if you have other questions
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/i ... =987793428
I guess if you are working in MK you have a choice of:
Aylesbury High - girls - languages specialism
Sir Henry Floyd - mixed - Performing Arts & Science specialisms
Royal Latin - mixed - Science specialism
The Aylesbury catchments overlap and you can apply out of catchment - HOWEVER you would be wise to look at allocation profiles on:
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/i ... 1902924256
To check you will be near enough -
What are your daughter's strengths? There will be Open Evenings but not until September - you need to look around now and then make sure you are near the school you want!
Happy to comment further if you have other questions
-
Jed
A few factors you need to consider:
1. Milton Keynes itself is not in the catchment for any grammar and it is becoming more difficult to get places from there due to distance rules (score used to matter, now only distance assuming 121+ achieved in 11 plus).
2. You should try to live in the Bucks catchment of your favoured grammar - as close to the school as easy commuting to your work will allow. Remember too about friends - it's always easier if they're closer.
3. VERY IMPORTANT - look at the Upper schools/comps as well. What will your daughter's choices be if she doesn't pass? There's no guarantee even for bright kids (look at this forum if you need convincing!). There are some excellent Uppers and some pretty appalling ones. You should have a good plan B.
4. Some catchments do overlap (e.g. Aylesbury Grammar/High & Floyd) and you can also apply out of catchment. If you prefer an out-of-catchment grammar and are not too far away, you could put this first choice. It won't affect your chances of getting the catchment grammar if your first choice is over-subscribed. Check the allocation profiles for the previous years to see what you can realistically expect so you don't waste your choices.
5. Ofsted reports and government stats will tell you about schools results for comparison. Not sure how much Oxbridge entrants will tell you. It's always going to be a handful from any one school and will vary a lot from year to year. Also any students who could apply choose not to as they prefer other unis/courses.
Hope this helps you to get started and good luck.
Jed
1. Milton Keynes itself is not in the catchment for any grammar and it is becoming more difficult to get places from there due to distance rules (score used to matter, now only distance assuming 121+ achieved in 11 plus).
2. You should try to live in the Bucks catchment of your favoured grammar - as close to the school as easy commuting to your work will allow. Remember too about friends - it's always easier if they're closer.
3. VERY IMPORTANT - look at the Upper schools/comps as well. What will your daughter's choices be if she doesn't pass? There's no guarantee even for bright kids (look at this forum if you need convincing!). There are some excellent Uppers and some pretty appalling ones. You should have a good plan B.
4. Some catchments do overlap (e.g. Aylesbury Grammar/High & Floyd) and you can also apply out of catchment. If you prefer an out-of-catchment grammar and are not too far away, you could put this first choice. It won't affect your chances of getting the catchment grammar if your first choice is over-subscribed. Check the allocation profiles for the previous years to see what you can realistically expect so you don't waste your choices.
5. Ofsted reports and government stats will tell you about schools results for comparison. Not sure how much Oxbridge entrants will tell you. It's always going to be a handful from any one school and will vary a lot from year to year. Also any students who could apply choose not to as they prefer other unis/courses.
Hope this helps you to get started and good luck.
Jed
grammar schools
Hi,
thank you very much for all the information. I feel not struggling alone. I do still have a lot questions:
From school league table by BBC seems Aylesbury High is better in A level than RLS but for GCSE is reverse. Wondering what are these really telling about the schools?
I do not know a lot about the area - actually just very little. From travel to work point of view, how is the traffic generally in Buckinghamshire to Milton Keynes (I will be working near the train station), specifically from AH to MK?
My daughter is a typical girl - shy in public but active with friends; and she is a good student in school generally good at every subjects. She claims that she likes every subjects except language and the reason is that it makes her hand ache. but I know that her writing is good. She is a bit lay back too and needs a bit push - but not harsh one. As she is shy I think a friendly school is more suitable to her. I have listed too much here but just think maybe somebody over there can analyse the school to her?
Really appreciate very much for your guide!
thank you very much for all the information. I feel not struggling alone. I do still have a lot questions:
From school league table by BBC seems Aylesbury High is better in A level than RLS but for GCSE is reverse. Wondering what are these really telling about the schools?
I do not know a lot about the area - actually just very little. From travel to work point of view, how is the traffic generally in Buckinghamshire to Milton Keynes (I will be working near the train station), specifically from AH to MK?
My daughter is a typical girl - shy in public but active with friends; and she is a good student in school generally good at every subjects. She claims that she likes every subjects except language and the reason is that it makes her hand ache. but I know that her writing is good. She is a bit lay back too and needs a bit push - but not harsh one. As she is shy I think a friendly school is more suitable to her. I have listed too much here but just think maybe somebody over there can analyse the school to her?
Really appreciate very much for your guide!
As Jed said you will need to look to live near the school you decide on. Look on the links I gave above to see how close you had to live - most of MK not near enough for RLS.
From what you say about your daughter I would consider The Floyd - it is smaller and has good pastoral care - it feels a friendly school. Its results are not so high at present but the admissions changes two years ago meant they now have pupils with higher 11+ scores. I do know all three schools quite well but go round yourself. AHS is single sex which you might prefer or not!!
AHS www.ahsonline.co.uk
RLS www.royallatin.bucks.sch.uk
SHF www.sirhenryfloyd.bucks.sch.uk [new site not yet fully operational]
What are your duaghter's strengths academically? All do two languages in Y7 - you get choice of German or Spanish at SHF.
You could live somewhere near Winslow - good access to west MK but close enough to Aylesbury and Buckingham to be in catchment. Travel - the A418 is a nightmare at present - all roads in Aylesbury are busy in the rush hour!!
As you are registered you can PM me with more in depth questions -
From what you say about your daughter I would consider The Floyd - it is smaller and has good pastoral care - it feels a friendly school. Its results are not so high at present but the admissions changes two years ago meant they now have pupils with higher 11+ scores. I do know all three schools quite well but go round yourself. AHS is single sex which you might prefer or not!!
AHS www.ahsonline.co.uk
RLS www.royallatin.bucks.sch.uk
SHF www.sirhenryfloyd.bucks.sch.uk [new site not yet fully operational]
What are your duaghter's strengths academically? All do two languages in Y7 - you get choice of German or Spanish at SHF.
You could live somewhere near Winslow - good access to west MK but close enough to Aylesbury and Buckingham to be in catchment. Travel - the A418 is a nightmare at present - all roads in Aylesbury are busy in the rush hour!!
As you are registered you can PM me with more in depth questions -
Re: grammar schools
Although it's a comparision RLS v Aylesbury boys , the following topic may give you some insightspatience wrote: From school league table by BBC seems Aylesbury High is better in A level than RLS but for GCSE is reverse. Wondering what are these really telling about the schools?
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... php?t=1843
