Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

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MyUniMoney
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:14 am

Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by MyUniMoney »

I quite like the idea of a Business / entrepreneurial focussed Secondary school if there is a good one for my son. Any experience / suggestion? I live in Kingston.

I know Southborough HS has positioned itself as a Business Focussed now, but would you send your child there? Their report seems to be improving.

"The school is a specialist Business and Enterprise College that achieves some of the best Business studies grades in the country. Recently the school achieved and became the 13th most improved school in the UK for 2008–2009. Students normally have Business and Enterprise lessons on their timetables in Year 8 or 9, just as a preparation, then they have the choice to follow up on Business for GCSEs."

Anyone with a child at Southborough HS?
Last edited by MyUniMoney on Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
2outof3
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Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:21 pm

Re: Business School - Southborough etc...

Post by 2outof3 »

Southborough is definitely a school that is improving but to be absolutely honest, it really still has a long way to go.

The new head is certainly shaking things up, and more boys are choosing it over Hollyfield than would have in the past, but I think it will be a few years yet before results are where you may want them to be. Good for sport if your DS is that way inclined though. I personally wouldn't send my son there yet but I do know others who think differently (isn't that always the case though :D )
MyUniMoney
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:14 am

Re: Business School - Southborough etc...

Post by MyUniMoney »

2outof3 wrote:Southborough is definitely a school that is improving but to be absolutely honest, it really still has a long way to go....I personally wouldn't send my son there yet but I do know others who think differently (isn't that always the case though :D )
Thanks 2outof3, I feel the same way, but its good that it is improving. Im surprised as how few schools are Business & Enterprise focussed.

I am also looking at Ascroft Academy, more of a technology focussed it seems, you have any opinion on that one? Is it catchment only or open selective? I just cant find that information on their website, Im sure its there somewhere. I haven't read the prospectus, its probably there!
Golgo13
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Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2012 11:50 am

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by Golgo13 »

Southborough is our local school and on our CAF. OK, so after the selectives...that's why we are all here.

Local wisdom (and parents of kids now in yr 7 and 8 ) say much improved and provides kids with a differential edge over standard academic school.

"Results" (GCSE results?) say more about historic intake, surely.

We are trying for selectives because we hope that Grammar School peer pressure and osmosis will deliver Oxbridge place and happiness, but wherever our children go, they will need to work hard to achieve what they want.

Your son (and of course my son) would not necessarily conform to data of the cohort of previous Southborough years. All anyone wants is a stable environment where they can get on with it with some encouragement and without too many disruptions.
MyUniMoney
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:14 am

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by MyUniMoney »

Golgo13 wrote:We are trying for selectives because we hope that Grammar School peer pressure and osmosis will deliver Oxbridge place and happiness, but wherever our children go, they will need to work hard to achieve what they want.
Hi Golgo13, yes I'm planning exactly the same - Grammar for the first 4 choices and the last two... maybe Grey Court, maybe Southborough...maybe Holyfield...

Are you putting in 5 selectives and the last one Southborough? I suppose its Tiffin, then the Suttons GS for you, and then Southborough?

Being a Kingstonian, are there any other good GS I should consider besides Tiffin and the Suttons GS ? My son is not for 2013 by the way, so no worry with competition if yours is ! :)
Last edited by MyUniMoney on Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
tiffinboys
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Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by tiffinboys »

Some of the others are listed here.

http://www.hbschool.org.uk/stylesheet.a ... s_releases" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Please support Tiffin School’s Gym Appeal. Visit school’s website to donate.
YourChildrenSuccess
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:36 pm

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by YourChildrenSuccess »

Interesting thread, so besides Tiffins & the Suttons GS, what other schools should Kingston children consider within commutable distance? The link that TB posted is useful, but most of them are too far. Thanks.
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it" - George Bernard Shaw
2outof3
Posts: 331
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:21 pm

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by 2outof3 »

YourChildrenSuccess

It really depends on where you are in Kingston Borough and whether you have boys, girls and whether you are Catholic!

For boys, you will probably get into Southborough, Coombe or Chessington Community College from anywhere in the Borough. Please don't take that as a negative comment - it's just that none of these schools had waiting lists last year. Hollyfield has a smaller catchment and is, therefore, probably the hardest to get into. As I said upthread, however, I know of several year 6 boys who prefer Southborough to Hollyfield and have put it first on their CAF. If you are sufficiently Catholic, then the school to go for is usually Richard Challoner but this is always heavily oversubscribed.

For girls, the Catholic choice is Holy Cross. Alternatives are Coombe Girls (need to be reasonably close as also oversubscribed), Tolworth Girls (mixed reviews on this one, but I liked it :D) Chessington and Hollyfield.

My feeling is that Hollyfield is more popular now because of the success of its Fast track, but it can't be taken for granted that any child will actually get into that stream. There are many, many very able children who don't even sit for the selectives who will be fighting for a fast track place.

Also if you live in certain bits of Surbiton, you may fall into catchment for Hinchley Wood (co-ed) - again sought after and oversubscribed.

North of the Borough I believe it's still possible to get into Grey Court or possibly Teddington, but I understand that is getting more difficult (and I'm a Southerner so not my area!)

Hope that helps :D

ps meant to add that I haven't considered any of the Slough Grammars - we didn't even think about those but I think Tiffinboys' DS may have sat for one or two of these and found the commute ok?
tiffinboys
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Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by tiffinboys »

2outof3 wrote: ps meant to add that I haven't considered any of the Slough Grammars - we didn't even think about those but I think Tiffinboys' DS may have sat for one or two of these and found the commute ok?
We took Slough test and our journey took about 90 minutes. If we were in Slough (& nearby, even Ealing with direct train links) and had the choice of any one of the Slough grammars, we would never consider this journey to Kingston for Tiffin.

We did put Slough as our 6th choice. If one thinks that their DC is very bright and if the choice is between Slough Grammar and our nearby comprehensive, we will accept Slough Grammar anytime. Not if other great school nearby is available.
Please support Tiffin School’s Gym Appeal. Visit school’s website to donate.
YourChildrenSuccess
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:36 pm

Re: Business School - Southborough, Ascroft Academy etc...

Post by YourChildrenSuccess »

2outof3 wrote:YourChildrenSuccess

It really depends on where you are in Kingston Borough and whether you have boys, girls and whether you are Catholic!
:lol:

I heard you probably have to be a Catechist and your kids serving as alter boys / girls to convince the schools that you have not just decided to turn up at a Catholic church's Sunday mass in order to get your child in a Catholic school! :D Or they might even ask the parents to do a confession?! :)

Thanks for the reply though, it really helps. Never thought of Teddington, must check it out. We are in NK.

Thanks again.

YCS
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it" - George Bernard Shaw
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