Reading Blue Coat vs Reading Grammar

[ambereen]

Posted this on Berkshire forum too, but this may be better place to ask the question:


Anyone chosen Reading Blue Coat over Reading Boys? If so why ? Aside from the question of free vs fee paying, all things being equal, am curious if people think Blue Coat is more sporty, has more extra curricular (and so more rounded), less rough and tumble (since they also interview so can filter beyond a mere test) and less academic than the other? I am honestly trying to decide between them as looks DS may get into both in year 7 (from prep school). I have no pre-conceptions about either as I don't know either very well.

[stumpysmiler]

Hi Ambereen - may ask which route you took in the end? We have the same dilemma. Our DS looks like he will be offered a place at Reading Boys from his score, we like the school, but I loved Blue Coat. He will sit the entrance exam for it in Jan and has had his interview. There are pros and cons for both schools but it would be interesting to hear from anyone who has also had this decision to make in previous years.

[Tinkers]

I know someone who put their DS in for the BC test a few years ago (now in year 9) and didn’t get a place. They didn’t try for Reading school so can’t compare.
I also know someone who looked at BC last year and decided that they really didn’t like it, not for their DS so didn’t apply. (They did try DS for Reading but didn’t qualify.)

Other than that I don’t know anyone with a DS at BC. It isn’t often mentioned on here, unlike The Abbey, which is.

[stumpysmiler]

Trying to resurrect this thread again.

DS has been offered a place at Reading Blue Coat and so along with his expected offer for Reading Boys, I would love to hear from anyone who has chosen one over the other and reasons why.