Cheshire School Choice
Discussion
After a little advice from anyone in the area with experience.
I have 3 girls and looking at choices for where to send them for school. A little divided on my current choices but looking to send them to potentially the Grange, Hartford or Terra Nova near Holmes Chapel.
My own education wasn't particularly great but I am in a position where I can afford to give them a good start in life. I don't know much about private education, don't really know anyone who has been.
Does anyone have any direct experience with either of these Schools? My only concern with the Grange school is it seems to focus on having great academic results and if pupils aren't up to speed seem to have the potential to be managed out which wont exactly be good for the kids confidence.
I have had a visit and was impressed with the Grange, for a primary the facilities were far better than that of my primary and secondary schools.
My other thought, save the money no idea how academic a 3 year old is going to end up being and then once they show some signs of promise send them just before secondary for the last couple of years of primary.
I did say to the Mrs they won't all be the same so just send the bright ones (if any of them are) if they aren't all showing great academic results and then I can help the other out in a different way but that went down like a lead balloon.
I have 3 girls and looking at choices for where to send them for school. A little divided on my current choices but looking to send them to potentially the Grange, Hartford or Terra Nova near Holmes Chapel.
My own education wasn't particularly great but I am in a position where I can afford to give them a good start in life. I don't know much about private education, don't really know anyone who has been.
Does anyone have any direct experience with either of these Schools? My only concern with the Grange school is it seems to focus on having great academic results and if pupils aren't up to speed seem to have the potential to be managed out which wont exactly be good for the kids confidence.
I have had a visit and was impressed with the Grange, for a primary the facilities were far better than that of my primary and secondary schools.
My other thought, save the money no idea how academic a 3 year old is going to end up being and then once they show some signs of promise send them just before secondary for the last couple of years of primary.
I did say to the Mrs they won't all be the same so just send the bright ones (if any of them are) if they aren't all showing great academic results and then I can help the other out in a different way but that went down like a lead balloon.
don't know that area, so no comment on choice of school, but your Mrs is right - private education is about so much more than academic results - it should be about fulfilling the child's potential (in a way State schools seem to no longer manage), better sports or arts or music provision are three simple examples...
akirk said:
don't know that area, so no comment on choice of school, but your Mrs is right - private education is about so much more than academic results - it should be about fulfilling the child's potential (in a way State schools seem to no longer manage), better sports or arts or music provision are three simple examples...
My current thoughts the state schools locally really aren't that great with poor reports, poor/ tired equipment and seem to have dropped even since I was at primary. Even back then it was always talk of budget cuts but surely its much worse now.JimmyConwayNW said:
akirk said:
don't know that area, so no comment on choice of school, but your Mrs is right - private education is about so much more than academic results - it should be about fulfilling the child's potential (in a way State schools seem to no longer manage), better sports or arts or music provision are three simple examples...
My current thoughts the state schools locally really aren't that great with poor reports, poor/ tired equipment and seem to have dropped even since I was at primary. Even back then it was always talk of budget cuts but surely its much worse now.You don't mention ages, but the implication is young children about to start schooling - it is worth noting that a small private school will struggle to have the extra finances they need for good equipment provision - they may still give the nuturing and lower class numbers, but don't expect swanky sports halls / new swimming pools / etc. If you want a well resourced school, look for either a bigger independent school, or one attached to a secondary school where you will benefit from ease of moving up the school, but also use of the senior school facilities - potential downside is that it is harder to get the small family nuturing feel of a small primary prep school
I'm not in that area. For a prep school, look at class sizes and ratio of teaching staff to pupils.
Our two are in prep at the moment:
Class sizes are capped at 10.
Each class has a teacher and permanent teaching assistant.
The school has a number of SenCos, who work with SEN kids each day to ensure their needs are meet.
The school provides extra tuition from year 3 aiming to prepare kids for 11+ and Common Entrance exams - we have a couple of good grammar schools, so some parents opt to go that route, others go Common Entrance.
Assuming that you're planning to continue with independent schools until 18, have a good look at the senior schools that each prep gets their pupils in to. This can form a good basis for decision making.
Our two are in prep at the moment:
Class sizes are capped at 10.
Each class has a teacher and permanent teaching assistant.
The school has a number of SenCos, who work with SEN kids each day to ensure their needs are meet.
The school provides extra tuition from year 3 aiming to prepare kids for 11+ and Common Entrance exams - we have a couple of good grammar schools, so some parents opt to go that route, others go Common Entrance.
Assuming that you're planning to continue with independent schools until 18, have a good look at the senior schools that each prep gets their pupils in to. This can form a good basis for decision making.
Again not in that area, and we are out the other side with the kids at Uni, we chose a local village primary and then private at 11 years old, worked well as they had some (very) local mates, I’d echo what others have said it’s about much more that academic results, We were shown around the school by 6th formers and the confidence that they displayed without cockiness really impressed this comp educated parent.
We regularly get positive comments about how our two conduct themselves, money well spent
We regularly get positive comments about how our two conduct themselves, money well spent
gareth h said:
Again not in that area, and we are out the other side with the kids at Uni, we chose a local village primary and then private at 11 years old, worked well as they had some (very) local mates, I’d echo what others have said it’s about much more that academic results, We were shown around the school by 6th formers and the confidence that they displayed pwithout cockiness really impressed this comp educated parent.
We regularly get positive comments about how our two conduct themselves, money well spent
This is how I’d like to school our daughters. Our eldest has just started at the village primary and will no doubt add to her existing group of local friends, which wouldn’t be the case if she attended the obvious choice of private school which is a long way from us. We regularly get positive comments about how our two conduct themselves, money well spent
The only thing is my wife (and her brother) got into Oxford and on to a highly successful career via state schools and so she’s really not sure that it’s worth paying for education. It will be hard to know what to do for the best.
Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:
This is how I’d like to school our daughters. Our eldest has just started at the village primary and will no doubt add to her existing group of local friends, which wouldn’t be the case if she attended the obvious choice of private school which is a long way from us.
The only thing is my wife (and her brother) got into Oxford and on to a highly successful career via state schools and so she’s really not sure that it’s worth paying for education. It will be hard to know what to do for the best.
It’s about much more than the academic results, look at the sports and arts facilities, sailing etc, etc, along with manners, politeness and values, which I don’t think state schools have a chance to Emphasise in classes of 30 + .The only thing is my wife (and her brother) got into Oxford and on to a highly successful career via state schools and so she’s really not sure that it’s worth paying for education. It will be hard to know what to do for the best.
JimmyConwayNW said:
My only concern with the Grange school is it seems to focus on having great academic results and if pupils aren't up to speed seem to have the potential to be managed out which wont exactly be good for the kids confidence.
I have had a visit and was impressed with the Grange, for a primary the facilities were far better than that of my primary and secondary schools.
We're a bit on the edge of the area (nearer Chester) and grandparents now but the Grange has always had a reputation for managing kids out, although we only know one lad it happened to. I have had a visit and was impressed with the Grange, for a primary the facilities were far better than that of my primary and secondary schools.
At juniors it's a pretty big school even compared to many local state primaries - think there's 75 in each year - I suppose that gives them the scale to have impressive facilities. One of our granddaughters went to a private school sports day earlier this year and came back complaining "the Grange won everything!"
Isn't Terra Nova organised in a traditional prep school manner - ie up to 13yrs old? Where do the kids go on to after that?
The Grange has a good reputation and they're into extra-curricular stuff like rowing - certainly in the senior school anyway. Don't know much about Hartford, either the primaries in the area or the secondary school - but I'd imagine if you're going down the state route your hands will be tied to an extent by catchment unless you go Catholic for example. Terra Nova seems to have a good reputation too though it's a bit of a schlep from Northwich. Of course if you don't mind putting your kids on a bus then you could broaden your horizons and be looking at somewhere like King's Chester.
If you are considering Terra Nova how about Alderley Edge Girls?
My two went to AEG for about 18 months, the Mrs moved them into Machester higher Scool for girls (which they both enjoyed much more).
At the time AEG (was going through a poor period - about 10 years ago) but since I've only heard good things about it.
If they are academic and don't mind early starts (school bus ride), then worth looking at Manchester High School for Girls or Withington Girls.
(both top 20 schools across the whole of the UK).
My two went to AEG for about 18 months, the Mrs moved them into Machester higher Scool for girls (which they both enjoyed much more).
At the time AEG (was going through a poor period - about 10 years ago) but since I've only heard good things about it.
If they are academic and don't mind early starts (school bus ride), then worth looking at Manchester High School for Girls or Withington Girls.
(both top 20 schools across the whole of the UK).
Wilmslowboy said:
If you are considering Terra Nova how about Alderley Edge Girls?
My two went to AEG for about 18 months, the Mrs moved them into Machester higher Scool for girls (which they both enjoyed much more).
At the time AEG (was going through a poor period - about 10 years ago) but since I've only heard good things about it.
If they are academic and don't mind early starts (school bus ride), then worth looking at Manchester High School for Girls or Withington Girls.
(both top 20 schools across the whole of the UK).
Thank you for the post I think the Manchester schools are just a bit far really as we are in Sandbach, which means the 2 selected are about as far as I would want them to be going for now.My two went to AEG for about 18 months, the Mrs moved them into Machester higher Scool for girls (which they both enjoyed much more).
At the time AEG (was going through a poor period - about 10 years ago) but since I've only heard good things about it.
If they are academic and don't mind early starts (school bus ride), then worth looking at Manchester High School for Girls or Withington Girls.
(both top 20 schools across the whole of the UK).
Also looked at Withington those fees are about £5k a year each more and would struggle to afford that I think.
Can't help on which school etc. but as an ex private school educated chap my reflections are two-fold:
1) Kids will be there because their family has money and it seen as the things to do in 'keeping up with the Jones's' not because they want to be there. A such there was little incentive by them to work their best to get good academic results. That can have a ripple effect on others. Example, one colleague stayed on at A level to do Art (his only subject), not because he had a particularly artistic bent but it kept him out of the way until he could enter the family business when he reached 18.
2) Kids from more modest backgrounds recognise the value in having the opportunity to learn in small class sizes, motivated teachers and in the main with several other kids with the same commitment. Facilities were not 'state of the art' when I was there (more historic) but from memory my max class size was 20 and my smallest 2 based on subject selection at O/A level.
My daughter did not go to private school. OK I've got the dough but against the local state options, a grammar school system in the Borough, at primary given they were the feeder schools it made little sense to me. That said she did OK at primary but didn't pass the 11+ so grammar school was out. Whilst I did toy with boarding school options you end up with an 11yr old who has formed friendships, wants to go where her friends are going and enjoy local amenities and live a childs life etc. Needless to say we opted for a state school out of area but was 'linked' to the area and had a bus service to/from.
Did I do the right thing? Who knows but she has grown up a great girl, polite, respectful, has a great deal of common sense and a good grasp on societal issues and is just about to follow on to a Masters in teaching. I've also got my own views about university education but I'll park that. I will say that when she finishes her education she will owe c£75k to Student Finance and I can't ever see that being paid off
There's a balance between children growing up and experiencing what life has to offer against a regime of study and education as a means to an end. Some will rebel, others will submit.
1) Kids will be there because their family has money and it seen as the things to do in 'keeping up with the Jones's' not because they want to be there. A such there was little incentive by them to work their best to get good academic results. That can have a ripple effect on others. Example, one colleague stayed on at A level to do Art (his only subject), not because he had a particularly artistic bent but it kept him out of the way until he could enter the family business when he reached 18.
2) Kids from more modest backgrounds recognise the value in having the opportunity to learn in small class sizes, motivated teachers and in the main with several other kids with the same commitment. Facilities were not 'state of the art' when I was there (more historic) but from memory my max class size was 20 and my smallest 2 based on subject selection at O/A level.
My daughter did not go to private school. OK I've got the dough but against the local state options, a grammar school system in the Borough, at primary given they were the feeder schools it made little sense to me. That said she did OK at primary but didn't pass the 11+ so grammar school was out. Whilst I did toy with boarding school options you end up with an 11yr old who has formed friendships, wants to go where her friends are going and enjoy local amenities and live a childs life etc. Needless to say we opted for a state school out of area but was 'linked' to the area and had a bus service to/from.
Did I do the right thing? Who knows but she has grown up a great girl, polite, respectful, has a great deal of common sense and a good grasp on societal issues and is just about to follow on to a Masters in teaching. I've also got my own views about university education but I'll park that. I will say that when she finishes her education she will owe c£75k to Student Finance and I can't ever see that being paid off
There's a balance between children growing up and experiencing what life has to offer against a regime of study and education as a means to an end. Some will rebel, others will submit.
The Grange is an excellent school, but you're right in your assumption that it's very results focused and that they'll drop your child(ren) if they think that their results would drag the school down.
Cransley, on the other hand, were superb with my son who had a few minor SEN issues. It's also the only school I know that let farmers children have the day off for the Cheshire Show, and where the kids bring their ponies in for sports day NB this was 10-12 years ago - it may have changed since then.
Cransley, on the other hand, were superb with my son who had a few minor SEN issues. It's also the only school I know that let farmers children have the day off for the Cheshire Show, and where the kids bring their ponies in for sports day
NB this was 10-12 years ago - it may have changed since then.JimmyConwayNW said:
Also looked at Withington those fees are about £5k a year each more and would struggle to afford that I think.
I always thought they were all about the same - I just had a quick look at a few mentioned and they all see much of a muchness, aren't they?I was going to mention costs previously but deleted it as you hadn't brought it up.. It's touched on by another poster too.
Going to school events (as grandparents filling in for working parents) was quite eye-opening - most of the parents are just plain wealthy. It's a cliche but you can't move for yummy mummys in RangeRovers at picking up time. It miffs our daughter that the school and the other mums assume none of the mums work (few of them seem to) and arranges things for them during the day.
At senior school you're looking at circa £20K/yr all in - and that's at current cost, and schools are under significant financial pressure. That times three hardly bears thinking about if you haven't got family backing you up.
Fane said:
The Grange is an excellent school, but you're right in your assumption that it's very results focused and that they'll drop your child(ren) if they think that their results would drag the school down.
Cransley, on the other hand, were superb with my son who had a few minor SEN issues. It's also the only school I know that let farmers children have the day off for the Cheshire Show, and where the kids bring their ponies in for sports day NB this was 10-12 years ago - it may have changed since then.
We used to have a day off at our High School for the Cheshire Show. To be fair, they had little choice, because the parents took all the kids out so it was easier for them to close for the day, although of course, the school shut on the Tuesday and parents took their kids to the show and therefore out of school on the Wednesday as well.Cransley, on the other hand, were superb with my son who had a few minor SEN issues. It's also the only school I know that let farmers children have the day off for the Cheshire Show, and where the kids bring their ponies in for sports day
NB this was 10-12 years ago - it may have changed since then.Has the OP looked at/considered Kings School in Macclesfield? Went past Grange School today and they had an open day, it was extremely busy.
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