Any opinions on particular Leicester secondary schools?

[Alf Bentley]

No, this isn't intended to be a moan-in about the Labour council, Tory government, teachers or whatever....

 

We're applying for a secondary school place for our daughter for next year. Unless you know people whose kids have been to a particular school recently and whose opinions you trust, it's hard to get an accurate impression of the places. The schools themselves are all trying to show themselves in the best possible light. Exam results are published and important but not the be-all and end-all. There are OFSTED reports, but I'm never sure how much credence to give them, as there seems to be a major element of schools jumping through hoops to get a good OFSTED rating - and OFSTED itself sometimes assessing schools in pretty narrow or gullible terms.....

 

So, have you recently left a Leicester secondary (or still at one)? 

Or are your kids / grandkids at a particular school or been at one recently?

 

Any comments on the pros and cons of particular schools? 

 

Would be particularly interested in any comments about Sir Jonathan North (likely to be our 1st choice, but you get to choose a 1-2-3), Judgemeadow, Moat, Crown Hills or City of Leicester, as we're based in South Leicester.

 

We want to apply for schools that have a decent academic record, but that are also not too narrowly academic, that encourage a positive attitude to learning, where most pupils are happy, there's a decent social/racial mix etc. I'm already sure that we won't be able to get all those things at many schools.....

 

Thoughts? Experiences? Word of mouth?

(PM me if there's something you don't want to say publicly - e.g. if you're a current pupil/teacher!)

[Webbo]

My kids weren't very impressed with Wreake Valley but then they had nothing to compare it to.

[Out Foxed]

judgemeadow has some nice facilities

 

the all girl school in Stoneygate always gets quality results. that's paid though, right.

[Samilktray]

My kids weren't very impressed with Wreake Valley but then they had nothing to compare it to.

Awful school.

[Bayfox]

wreake havoc has gone backwards since my day. has a terrible rep currently.

hoping it changes again before my kids are old enough to go otherwise I may have to get the cheque book out.

[Alf Bentley]

Not many good words for Wreake Valley, then....wrong side of Leicester for us, anyway.

 

I assume the Stoneygate school you're referring to is Leicester High School for Girls, Out Foxed.....if so, £10.6k per year fees would only be viable if we moved to cardboard city! Couldn't afford to go private, even if we wanted to.

 

Judgemeadow will probably be 2nd or 3rd choice. Visited it a couple of weeks back and seemed successful and well-equipped, if a bit straight-academic (could imagine it being a bit stifling to our exuberant, humorous offspring). Also, the intake is very Anglo-Indian middle-class dominated. We like the idea of a socially/racially mixed school, but not so much one dominated by materialistic suburbanites or one where she'd be in a tiny minority not of Asian immigrant stock. Sir Jonathan North seemed to have a much more socially/racially mixed intake and more of an "enjoy learning" attitude, as well as performing quite well in exams and being the place most of her friends will probably go, so that will probably be No. 1. No boys, though, which could have pluses and minuses!

 

Anyone know much about Moat, Crown Hills or City of Leicester? 

[Buce]

Have you not considered county schools, Alf?

I can highly recommend Gartree, and it's on a bus route not far from you.

[Guest Col city fan]

I went to Hamilton back in the day.

Shithole for sure..great football team my year though.

[jonthefox]

Again with county schools, my kids went to Brockington in Enderby. It's an excellent school that's been completely refurbished , plenty of extra curricular stuff and dedicated staff.

[Vlad the Fox]

My eldest is due to go wreake in a couple of years. Why is it so bad?

What about Round hill? Anyone know anything about this school?

[Samilktray]

My eldest is due to go wreake in a couple of years. Why is it so bad?

What about Round hill? Anyone know anything about this school?

I loved Roundhill. Hated Wreake.

[Webbo]

My eldest is due to go wreake in a couple of years. Why is it so bad?

What about Round hill? Anyone know anything about this school?

My kids went to Roundhill first, much better school. Roundhill  is going up to 16 now, whether that will effect the standards I don't know.

[DB11]

What about asking your kids where they want to go? Surely staying with their friends is more important; my parents wanted me to go to Ashby but I wanted to stay with my friends and went to King Edward in Coalville (horrific reputation, think it's better now though) and I still came out with 11 A's and 2 B's. If you're with your friends you're more likely to naturally learn more and take more in as you'll enjoy being there. That's how I found it, anyway.

[Alf Bentley]

Have you not considered county schools, Alf?

I can highly recommend Gartree, and it's on a bus route not far from you.

 

We did consider Oadby & Wigston schools, including Gartree, Buce, but they're mostly middle schools that start from age 10. So, she'd be joining a year group where all the others had had a year to get to know one another. It would seem a bit unfair to do that to her without a very good reason.

 

What about asking your kids where they want to go? Surely staying with their friends is more important; my parents wanted me to go to Ashby but I wanted to stay with my friends and went to King Edward in Coalville (horrific reputation, think it's better now though) and I still came out with 11 A's and 2 B's. If you're with your friends you're more likely to naturally learn more and take more in as you'll enjoy being there. That's how I found it, anyway.

 

We didn't need to ask where she wants to go, she told us in no uncertain terms: Sir Jonathan North, which is where many of her friends will probably go. That, plus the fact that it seems to be a good school, is why it'll almost certainly be our No. 1 choice.

 

It's not quite that simple, though. Firstly, it's not clear what some of her friends' parents will do. Secondly, while there's a very good chance that we'll be offered Sir Jonathan North if we select it (we're in the catchment area), it's not guaranteed. Under the system, you're supposed to choose a 1-2-3. Given what's at stake and the slight risk that we don't get our 1st choice, it makes sense to use all 3 options. Otherwise, if you miss out on your 1st choice, your child can be sent anywhere in Leicester. 

[Bayfox]

My eldest is due to go wreake in a couple of years. Why is it so bad?

What about Round hill? Anyone know anything about this school?

are you in roundhill or wreake catchment? roundhill has also taken on a lot of the local primary schools under it's academy status so places will be at a premium as pupils at places like queni and goscote will be able to apply.

[Buce]

We did consider Oadby & Wigston schools, including Gartree, Buce, but they're mostly middle schools that start from age 10. So, she'd be joining a year group where all the others had had a year to get to know one another. It would seem a bit unfair to do that to her without a very good reason.

We didn't need to ask where she wants to go, she told us in no uncertain terms: Sir Jonathan North, which is where many of her friends will probably go. That, plus the fact that it seems to be a good school, is why it'll almost certainly be our No. 1 choice.

It's not quite that simple, though. Firstly, it's not clear what some of her friends' parents will do. Secondly, while there's a very good chance that we'll be offered Sir Jonathan North if we select it (we're in the catchment area), it's not guaranteed. Under the system, you're supposed to choose a 1-2-3. Given what's at stake and the slight risk that we don't get our 1st choice, it makes sense to use all 3 options. Otherwise, if you miss out on your 1st choice, your child can be sent anywhere in Leicester.

You have the option of applying for both City and County, though; you might find yourself in the position where your first choice County school is a preferable option to your third choice City school.

[Vlad the Fox]

are you in roundhill or wreake catchment? roundhill has also taken on a lot of the local primary schools under it's academy status so places will be at a premium as pupils at places like queni and goscote will be able to apply.

I'm in the wreake catchment area. I tend to agree with db11 regarding him going where his mates go but the more I hear about wreake the more I'm worried, if his mates choose round hill then all is well. However the Mrs wants him to go round hill, or doesn't want him going wreake.

I think a lot does depend on the child being willing to work but if the teaching is inadequate then surely something must be being done?

[Bayfox]

I'm in the wreake catchment area. I tend to agree with db11 regarding him going where his mates go but the more I hear about wreake the more I'm worried, if his mates choose round hill then all is well. However the Mrs wants him to go round hill, or doesn't want him going wreake.

I think a lot does depend on the child being willing to work but if the teaching is inadequate then surely something must be being done?

I know what you mean but I guess that depends on the child.

I was a bright kid. did well above average at primary school and my parents gave me a few options as to secondary schools.

I went wreake with my mates. lead to me kicking a football about every available minute and doing the bare minimum in studies and homework exams etc.

was I happy yes as I had my mates. but it cost me my education as I took my eye of what matters in the long run.

guess we are all different, my wife went wreake 2 years behind me. she did ok and now has a masters.

[Vlad the Fox]

That sounds like my time at wreake. Never really pushed to try harder with the odd exception, and kicking a ball around or giving the dinner ladies or teachers the run around at breaks and lunch.

[Raj]

I went Mundella...it was so bad they had to close it down!

Judgemeadow,city of Leic and Crown hills have all had alot of new building work.

inho i'd go second choice of Judgemeadow or City of.

not being racist(i can though if i want!!!) but Crown hills and Moat are probably 90% non white!

[Alf Bentley]

You have the option of applying for both City and County, though; you might find yourself in the position where your first choice County school is a preferable option to your third choice City school.

 

That's a good point, Buce, but we've ruled out Oadby & Wigston schools now (mainly because they start from age 10, not 11) and transport practicalities would pretty much rule out anywhere further afield.

 

I went Mundella...it was so bad they had to close it down!

Judgemeadow,city of Leic and Crown hills have all had alot of new building work.

inho i'd go second choice of Judgemeadow or City of.

not being racist(i can though if i want!!!) but Crown hills and Moat are probably 90% non white!

 

 

You single-handedly got a school closed down, Raj? Respect! I presume you mean "I was so bad they had to close it down"....

 

Judgemeadow is also about 95% non-white, though I think most kids there are from nicey-nice middle-class backgrounds - mainly 2nd & 3rd generation Indian immigrant families, I think.

 

Moat actually seems to be doing an exceptional job. It's based in Highfields with about 99% kids of immigrant stock, 90% with English as a second language and a very low standard on arrival....yet Moat achieves the national average at GCSE. They're obviously doing something right. Still not sure that it would be fair to put daughter in the position of being in a tiny minority racially, and good schools can easily go downhill (e.g. if a good head or senior staff leave).

 

Sir Jonathan North seems to be about 50% white, 50% various shades of brown - about the only secondary school that we've looked at that is not Asian or white-dominated. Even though I know that different areas of Leicester are predominantly white, Asian or whatever, the degree of segregation is disappointing. Hopefully we'll get our No.1 choice of Jonny North, anyway, as many of her mates will go there and it seems to be a good school - and we're in the catchment area. Not sure about the "single sex" aspect, having been a bit fvcked up by going to an all-boys secondary.....might make it less likely that I'll be a Grandad within 6 years, I suppose!    

[Grandad.]

Humphrey Perkins was the bomb when I was there, we the best football side in the County then though so that made me enjoy it even more. 

 

They do a new thing now though, you go all the way through at Humphreys now, where as before you were there for Years 7, 8 and 9 and then moved on to Rawlins, De Lisle or Longslade (Scum) . 

[Finnegan]

Humph. Absolute shit hole. Always has been.

Glad I dodged that bullet.

Oh and Alf, Samworth?

[Grandad.]

Humph. Absolute shit hole. Always has been.

Glad I dodged that bullet.

Oh and Alf, Samworth?

 

Don't tell me you went somewhere like Anstey Martin?

[kingcarr21]

Don't tell me you went somewhere like Anstey Martin?

oi whats wrong with anstey martin i turned out ok