Conference govt02::basingstoke

    I investigated the private school scene 10 years ago when I moved to
    B'stoke and found it wanting. Their are no decent secondary/tertiary
    level private schools within 20 miles that are worth sending your
    children too unless you want them to board and pay a FORTUNE. If you
    want your child to get a good secondary education then Bishops Challoner
    is one of the best in B'stoke followed closely by Harriot Costello 
    according to the published results, and my children's own experience. 
    There is only two tertiary establishments in B'stoke and neither are very 
    good over all but are adequate if your child is self motivating. You may
    have to send your child to either Winchester or Guilford to get a good
    tertiary education or Portsmouth for a very good one. 
    
    There are no LARGE comprehensive schools in B'stoke. They are all of
    medium to small size.
    
    If it's sport your after then B'stoke schools are saddly lacking in most
    respects and you will be better off finding clubs outside of school.
    
    Without understanding why you wish your child to go private it is hard
    to make any recommendations and I am sure you do not wish to elaborate
    on it here.
    
    In conclusion, my experience of state schooling having taken place in
    several different towns/cities, leads me to believe that B'stoke's
    offerings are very good in comparison as long as you pick the right
    school. Sending your child to private school probably will not achieve
    any better result unless you pay very large amounts. The money you save
    can easily be put to providing those extra-curricular activities that
    keeps you child stimultated and active. 
    
    
    Keith

    
    On a similar line...
    
    Has anyone done any recent research on earlier education in and
    around Basingstoke ? My two daughters are now just over two years
    and just about one year old, so the oldest one is about to start
    "Play school". We'd discussed plans to send them to a local state
    run school, but have last minute doubts.
    
    I could use advice on how to find out about academic results for
    schools catering for kids up to secondary school age (Is that 11
    or so, still ?).
    
    Any other help on how to go about working out which school would
    be great. Not a tremendous amount of money spare at the moment.
    
    Cheers.
    Andy.

    Re: private schools - 
    
    Depends how far you want to cast your net.  And to a lesser extent the
    gender of the progeny.
    
    My sisters and my wife were educated at the Abbey School in Reading: 
    excellent record on exam results, certainly used to have a number of
    scholarships and state supported places (mind you that's a couple of
    hundred years ago now!).
    
    My brothers and I were educated at Reading Grammar, which is largely a
    state school but has a number of fee paying, boarding places.  Again,
    good educational track record.  My wife's brothers all went to Leighton
    Park in Reading - but that is frighteningly expensive.  However, LP
    used to have some scholarships.
    
    Obviously, all of the above include a journey to/from Reading each day: 
    depends on what you value.
    
    Re: Andy's question on more junior education:
    
    The Daily Telegraph publishes it's top 100 schools every year - a
    survey based on parental opinion.  Kempshott Junior is always featured: 
    which either means it's a good school, or they have a lot of Torygraph
    readers on the Board of Govenors!
    
    If you're looking for good playgroups, Dummer is excellent and so are
    Noah's Ark / Noah's Tigers (based at Kempshott village hall).
    
    Hope the above is interesting if not useful :-)
    
    Jon

    
    > Kempshott Junior is always featured:
    > which either means it's a good school, or they have a lot of
    > Torygraph readers on the Board of Govenors!
    
    My girlfriend taught there when we lived in B'Stoke so I know most
    of the staff.  It is a good school.  I cannot vouch for which 
    magazines the Board Of Governors read!

    Re .2
    
    Andy, you really are jumping the gun a little. First of all you say
    your eldest is only 2 then start in on academic results of Junior
    schools. I suggest you find a good playschool and then find out how you
    child fairs first. Schools change so rapidly these days the whole
    situation may have changed (Including yours) by the time she goes to
    Infants, let alone Junior. For instance the schools in and around
    Chineham are, at the moment, very good. However they are getting
    problems with room as the population builds. If the Taylor's Farm
    fiasco materialises, in the next two years half the child population of
    Chineham could be bussing to god knows where. 
    
    If there's one thing I have found out in raising my three is that
    planning much more than 2 or three years ahead is doomed to
    disappointment. Either the Chancellor, the Minister For Education, your
    boss or the children themselves, especially them, will spoil your
    plans.
    
    BTW where you live may give us some clues
    
    Keith

    
    Thanks Keith.
    
    I'm only seeking advice, not planning on signing contracts as yet.
    With no previous experience of how long in advance to think about 
    education, its hard to know whether I should be trying to get names
    on lists as yet.
    
    We're living in Buckskin. Tilly starts play group in a couple of 
    weeks, aged 2 years and 6 months.
    
    Andy.

�Tilly

Is that short for Miss Atilly the hun?

    
     Short for Natalie. She's too little to cause trouble. I've started
    training my German Shepherd to discipline her, ready for when she
    starts with the Much-Recounted Terrible Two's. ;-)
    
    A

    Andy,
    
    I don't know how Hampshire County Council work, but Berkshire
    (Education Dept) produce a list of schools which contains info about
    location and number, along with names of schools  in your catchment area.  
    After that its up to you to contact the schools and get a prospectus
    and/or visit your preferred choices.  We found the schools lax at
    sending details. 
    
    Depending on whether or not you wish to put Tilly through private
    or state education will determine when you should start to look.  
    
    Private education starts at age 4 (pre-prep) and it can often be cheaper 
    than sending a child to a day-care centre, on a full-time basis.  A
    group called ISIS can tell you about schools offering private
    education.
    
    State schools take children in the term following their 5th birthday, 
    some take what they term as "rising 5's" (in the term preceding their 5th
    birthday) - I've heard mixed views as to the value of this extra term
    though.
    
    Jackie.