Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

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Foxredlab20
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:07 pm

Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Foxredlab20 »

We’re really struggling to pick a favourite. We have been to visit 3 grammars and local comp.

They all seem to be quite similar in what they offer. Not sure how much location is an issue. We’re in Cheltenham but on glos side so not too much travel to crypt and str, but hard to know if it will be an issue until we do it.
I know it’s long way off but when they’re in sixth form where do they go out to pub etc if at glos school? In Cheltenham or Glos? Is it awkward having friends who live miles away?

DS slightly put off str when student told us they got 1.5hrs homework a night in year ten. Is that fairly standard across schools though at gcse level?

Also feel the wait for results is soooo long. We may not even need to worry about choice if he doesn’t qualify!
Polgara_Glos
Posts: 461
Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 10:18 am

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Polgara_Glos »

Mine has just started at SHS - so a girls school but - it was a similar distance to all the grammars, 15 mins to the Glos grammars and 20 mins to Stroud. So that didn't matter to us so much (she actually leaves after she would for the Glos grammars and gets home at the same time). We were warned that her friends would all be south Glos or Swindon...Her friends have all so far lived 15 mins from us. So you can't tell. They could go to the closest school and have a friend who trains in every day.

Which does your DS see himself attending every day? Which felt right to him>
Glos18
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:57 pm

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Glos18 »

We are on the glos side of Cheltenham. I have a DS in STR and a DD in Stroud high. Crypt is quite a but further than STR, so def worth considering. Despite being further away, DD leaves later in the morning as there is a good minibus journey to Stroud - she would have to leave 15 mins earlier for Crypt / Ribston. I wouldn't worry about the homework side of things. STR has been fine so far (year 9) and I think 1.5hr is pretty standard for GCSE. It is hard to decide if you are not strongly drawn to one school, but the results may well clarify things (or not!)
cazien
Posts: 533
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 12:20 pm

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by cazien »

Foxredlab20 wrote:We’re really struggling to pick a favourite. We have been to visit 3 grammars and local comp.

They all seem to be quite similar in what they offer. Not sure how much location is an issue. We’re in Cheltenham but on glos side so not too much travel to crypt and str, but hard to know if it will be an issue until we do it.
I know it’s long way off but when they’re in sixth form where do they go out to pub etc if at glos school? In Cheltenham or Glos? Is it awkward having friends who live miles away?

DS slightly put off str when student told us they got 1.5hrs homework a night in year ten. Is that fairly standard across schools though at gcse level?

Also feel the wait for results is soooo long. We may not even need to worry about choice if he doesn’t qualify!
Most schools have pages on their websites advertising the school bus timetables which will give you an idea of travel times.
DD has just started 6th form at Crypt, and they are mostly go to the Quays for socialising.
As they are Grammar schools, students come from all around the County (and surrounding Counties!). They very quickly :!: grow up when they join 6th form and are happy to travel miles (on the bus or mum/dad taxi :lol: ) to be with friends! And don't forget, once they are in 6th form it is not long before they will learn to drive :shock:
2Socks
Posts: 375
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:04 am

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by 2Socks »

As I think is mentioned above, I don't think distance is necessarily the issue, more the length of the overall day. DD is now at DRHS because although the school day is longer it's a much shorter day overall (home to home) than any other school.
When I spoke with the comprehensives they mentioned at least an hour of homework most nights up to about an hour and a half for year 7. I didn't hear a clear answer from the grammars, but didn't think about asking when we went for open days in year 5! DD hasn't received much homework yet, but that could be because we're only 3 weeks in. I've assumed (and said to her) that she should be doing an hour each night... either homework or reviewing what she's been taught; just to get her into the habit. That said, she's finished doing that before some of her friends are even home, so she's not struggling with it... might be a different story if she had a substantial journey.
LibbyRose
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:10 pm

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by LibbyRose »

Hi,
My son goes to Tommies and socialises at the quays and in Cheltenham. Tommies is handy with the number 94 close for Cheltenham and Gloucester. I think the homework is fairly normal.
Friends being far away was a bit of an issue.. Handy in some ways as not having pressure to go out when younger. Kept some local friends from primary too. Good luck deciding.
Foxredlab20
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:07 pm

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Foxredlab20 »

Thanks for your responses.
I have looked at the bus timetable and although crypt is further away the bus times are very similar. Both 7.45-7.50 in morning and home about 3.55-4. So I guess from a day to day point of view it wouldn’t make much difference to him it’s just further to go if I need to pick him up for clubs etc.
Anyone have any experience of Bournside? Do they push the smarter kids to do well as my son can be a bit lazy and do the minimum amount of work possible! If he went there he’d probably walk home which is about 40 mins so probably similar length of day as well.

My son and I do both have a slight preference for crypt though can’t really say why. The negative is the location. Although after seeing Tommies today I would like to have another look at crypt again to see if we still think the same. Unfortunately the October open days are full.
VickiAA
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:01 am

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by VickiAA »

I think that seeing the rankings may help with choices. I love some of the grammars further away from me but I wouldn't want to put my children through that much travel on a daily basis. My DS loved Crypt and Marling and those were our only shares for him,. If Crypt had been closer it might have topped Marling but he is happy at marling i n y8 although struggles with making friends. My daughter wanted to share with Pates for interest but I would never send her there as it is too much travel and would cause issues long term so we are looking g at SHS and Crypt. I also didn't go round the schools until I know if my children had ranked. After that point I will show me kids a school so they can tell me their feelings knowing it is an option.
Brackenboo
Posts: 441
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 11:21 am

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Brackenboo »

Has anyone asked about tours of visits after the results are out?
Choppy
Posts: 130
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:15 am

Re: Anyone else struggling to pick a favourite?

Post by Choppy »

I'm not planning on visiting any until results are out. Sod's law my girl will fall in love with a place she hasn't been ranked for. I hope they offer some tours late October. Am too chicken to pester the schools at the mo, but might feel braver in a fortnight!
Urgh, this waiting is hellish...but we're just over half-way now, yay!
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