by Vista321 » Mon Aug 21, 2023 9:05 am
Ibstock is a school with great facilities which tend to wow any child who visits. It does have some wealthy families due to where it is but not more so many other independent schools. In my view however it is not any better than the other schools you mention. I turned right off it during our search for a school last year. Their initial assessment process was over the top (stressful computer based CEM test with insufficient time to finish followed by a group exercise about planting trees - my child found this uninspiring). When I collected my child, everyone looked shell shocked.
If you read Mumsnet you’ll see more detail about how it is when at the school - I can’t comment on that. I do know someone who is in year 11 there who is struggling a bit academically and the school have threatened to refuse him to stay and do his A levels. It doesn’t have a reputation for supporting students with additional needs either.
In terms of getting in, like everywhere, Ibstock offered to all of the highest performing applicants last year. Most took up offers elsewhere however and they quickly had to go to their waiting list & then had to go beyond their waiting list to fill their places. Emanuel and Alleyns are very competitive - particularly as they are co-educational. At least 10 applicants per place although many people apply to several schools.
In short, your child needs to be higher than average in maths and English and reasoning to get into Emanuel and Alleyns with (roughly) a CAT score of
120/125 +. Emanuel is trying to select in the more able children now in order to increase its results and cement an academic reputation but in my view, you need to look at the ‘value added’ score of each school you view. They don’t all publish that! Look at how will they support your child individually, will your child really thrive in a pushy academic environment?
Choosing and getting in to independent schools around here is a minefield but I wish you the best of luck.
Ibstock is a school with great facilities which tend to wow any child who visits. It does have some wealthy families due to where it is but not more so many other independent schools. In my view however it is not any better than the other schools you mention. I turned right off it during our search for a school last year. Their initial assessment process was over the top (stressful computer based CEM test with insufficient time to finish followed by a group exercise about planting trees - my child found this uninspiring). When I collected my child, everyone looked shell shocked.
If you read Mumsnet you’ll see more detail about how it is when at the school - I can’t comment on that. I do know someone who is in year 11 there who is struggling a bit academically and the school have threatened to refuse him to stay and do his A levels. It doesn’t have a reputation for supporting students with additional needs either.
In terms of getting in, like everywhere, Ibstock offered to all of the highest performing applicants last year. Most took up offers elsewhere however and they quickly had to go to their waiting list & then had to go beyond their waiting list to fill their places. Emanuel and Alleyns are very competitive - particularly as they are co-educational. At least 10 applicants per place although many people apply to several schools.
In short, your child needs to be higher than average in maths and English and reasoning to get into Emanuel and Alleyns with (roughly) a CAT score of
120/125 +. Emanuel is trying to select in the more able children now in order to increase its results and cement an academic reputation but in my view, you need to look at the ‘value added’ score of each school you view. They don’t all publish that! Look at how will they support your child individually, will your child really thrive in a pushy academic environment?
Choosing and getting in to independent schools around here is a minefield but I wish you the best of luck.
