I am moving from the US to Sheffield and was considering sending my 6 yr old daughter to Sheffield High School. Any real opinions (non-sarcastic!) on this school?

If you want to spend the money then I think its a good school.

There are however plenty of schools where your kids can go for free where they can thrive academically.

d

It is simply the best school in Sheffield.

Originally posted by Tony
It is simply the best school in Sheffield.


Agreed, but do you get £6k worth of benefit a year? sending a child at 6 means at least 10 years = £60K ish

We have friends who sent thier daughters and we choose to send ours to state school (albeit a good one)

There is not a lot of difference in their education.

Girls High is more disciplined and you will not have the social mix you get in a state school.

Private schools also will offer more opportunities (sports/ extra curricular activities etc)

i went there and the level of education is superior, shame i forgot it all when i left!

Originally posted by mikey
We have friends who sent thier daughters and we choose to send ours to state school (albeit a good one)


Vociferous support for the state system tends to come most from those who have the good fortune to be in decent catchments. I wonder why? :)

If you can afford it, go private - the state system is a lottery and "choice" is an illusion.

I have friends who have sent daughters to Sheffield High and they have thrived there.

Watch out for their harsh policy on pupil retention, though - they have been known to kick out any girls who let themselves slack in GCSE or A-Level years, because they don't want anybody in who might be bringing their excellent results down.

Originally posted by Tony
It is simply the best school in Sheffield.

Hmm - surely that statement needs qualification? Describing schools as being "better" than each other doesn't really mean much unless you're talking solely about results.

i was doing GCSE standard work from age 12. When i moved to state school, i was so far infront it was boring. if youre gonna put ur children in, keep em in til the bitter end, (bullying permitting) an dencourage 6th form and uni

I went to 3 different secondary schools - a girls state grammar school, a mixed private school and a state school.
I moved around a bit, and for my 3rd school was in an area with a good state school, so I went, and did well enough, but I would still recommend a private school if you can afford it, although I wasn't at Sheffield High.
My state school was dirty (I used to go home at lunchtime to go to the loo!), everything was falling apart, the facilities like the library and sports facilities were not very good to say the least.
I think the problem with state schools is just that they only cater for the middle ground - anyone below or above average capability might not get a very good deal.
A friend of my dad's is a headteacher at a state school, and he is sending his daughter to a private school next year.

they are expensive but doesnt it push you to earn a good living so you can put your kids thru a better school? there no way my child will go to state after age 11, even if i have to do 3 jobs. saying that, ill be abroad by time im 30 and kids would have to go to private

I think that the kind of world that kids at private schools live in is great for obvious academic reasons , but as discussed already,I am unsure you get 6K a year better education than you would in a decent state school, and yes, I agree that there is a huge divide between the best and the rest in the Sheffield Education system.

My son is at King Teds and I think that ,whilst it may not necessarily be the top in academic achievement, they have an excellent pastoral side to the teaching and the head is a good headmaster.
It is a diverse school where the kids are encouraged to live and let live and respect each other, no matter what their background is.
This is more representative of the Real World if you like and, whilst I think that kids will thrive academically at Sheffield High School for Girls, I am not so sure that this really gives them what they actually need to be a rounded and understanding individual who can show respect and tolerance to people who are not so priveledged.

Originally posted by Greenback
Hmm - surely that statement needs qualification? Describing schools as being "better" than each other doesn't really mean much unless you're talking solely about results.

OK then.

To qualify that statement, the school has the best academic results in Sheffield, and all the girls that I know who have been there are especially well rounded, intelligent, considerate and articulate individuals.

Will that do?

Originally posted by Tony
OK then.

To qualify that statement, the school has the best academic results in Sheffield, and all the girls that I know who have been there are especially well rounded, intelligent, considerate and articulate individuals.

Will that do?

At least it's in some way informative.

Originally posted by espadrille
I think that the kind of world that kids at private schools live in is great for obvious academic reasons , but as discussed already,I am unsure you get 6K a year better education than you would in a decent state school, and yes, I agree that there is a huge divide between the best and the rest in the Sheffield Education system.

My son is at King Teds and I think that ,whilst it may not necessarily be the top in academic achievement, they have an excellent pastoral side to the teaching and the head is a good headmaster.
It is a diverse school where the kids are encouraged to live and let live and respect each other, no matter what their background is.
This is more representative of the Real World if you like and, whilst I think that kids will thrive academically at Sheffield High School for Girls, I am not so sure that this really gives them what they actually need to be a rounded and understanding individual who can show respect and tolerance to people who are not so priveledged.

Yes, the pastoral side is just as important as the academic side, but another good thing about a private education is that you can choose the right school for the child, you don't have to send your child to your local school just because you are in that catchment area.

There are plenty of schools that offer academic excellence AND other things like extra curricular activities and pastoral care, to produce well rounded individuals!

Having been to 3 different types of school, I think it is money well spent.

Originally posted by Tony
OK then.

To qualify that statement, the school has the best academic results in Sheffield, and all the girls that I know who have been there are especially well rounded, intelligent, considerate and articulate individuals.

Will that do?

OK

1) As has been stated the school is selective thus has no thick kids to drag its precious marks down. It is particularly unforgiveable to chuck kids out if they dont measure up.

2) Isnt the well rounded and articulate bit a reflection of the kind of people who can afford to sent their kids there? If you take a kid from a sink estate and one from Ranmoor I have a feeling one would intrinsically be more rounded than the other.

Cheers

d

Originally posted by ukdavvy
1) As has been stated the school is selective thus has no thick kids to drag its precious marks down. It is particularly unforgiveable to chuck kids out if they dont measure up.
Maybe so, but you get what you pay for, and I don't think that you could deny that the standard of education is better. They also chuck out lousy teachers you know! When you pay for something it isn't a democracy. The simple truth is that the girls who complete a Sheffield Girls High School education acheive better results than the rest of girls in Sheffield.

Originally posted by ukdavvy
2) Isnt the well rounded and articulate bit a reflection of the kind of people who can afford to sent their kids there? If you take a kid from a sink estate and one from Ranmoor I have a feeling one would intrinsically be more rounded than the other.
You may well be correct in that assertion. That's life though isn't it?


Just to be clear, I went to a very common-or-garden comprehensive, and I have no children at a public school. There is no bias with me, just an appreciation of the quality of the education that SGHS gave to those I know who went there.

my sister went to the girls high for many years. it really didnt do her any good. they push and push them, sometimes like in my sisters case, way too muc. all they care about it their results (the schools results that is).

I would suggest a state school until the age of 11, and then perhaps look at private schools for secondry school.

That is what my parents are doing for my younger sister.

I started off going to a private nursery age 3 where i went from being a very happy child to a seriously distressed child so my mum pulled me out and sent me to the regular nursery. I then went to regular school from then on all the way up to now where i am with sheffield college.

Girls high is an excellent school and all the people i know that have gone there love it. The activities to chose from out of school far supress the ones that u get with state school

for example in year 10 i went to france for 5 days with my school (which i consider a good one in sheffield) and girls high probably went to mongolia or somwhere like that.

Girls High is more disciplined and you will not have the social mix you get in a state school.


I agree you will not get the social mix in girls high but your children will mix with a wider range of ethnic minority children.

.I would suggest a state school until the age of 11, and then perhaps look at private schools for secondry school.

Personally primary school years were the best for me. I think a child should be allowed to enjoy there childhood without being pushed and pulled and moulded into something there not which i think may happen in a private school

A friend of mine that was in my class at school had a sister that went to girls high and he resented the fact that he didnt get the same education opportunities that she did because his parents couldnt afford to send him to birkdale. So i guess that if you have other children consider how they would feel. it adds up to a lot of money...

Overall i say if you have the money to send your children to a private school go ahead and do it cos its all good in my eyes but there are some excellent state schools that will provide an equally good education for your child.

There are 4 private schools in Sheffield which would suit your daughter age-wise.. the next consideration is which would suit her personality and academically. All 3 schools are within close proximity to each other and Broomhill.
Ashdell Preparatory school is for girls only, aged 4-11. It is much smaller than Sheffield High. It has a very secure atmosphere and small classes (which is mainly what you pay for afterall!). It is an excellent school which then feeds onto the High School at aged 11. Many pupils from Ashdell have won scholarships to the High School, Wakefield High, Cheltenham to name but a few.
Westbourne is the only co-educational (boys and girls) private school in Sheffield and has just changed it's intake to accomodate children up to 16 (formally it was just primary). Westbourne has a good reputation for being able to cater for special needs such as dyslexia and has possibly a slightly less 'academic' reputation. It is reputed to be an excellent all-round school.
Sheffield High is for girls only, from reception to A'level, so as such is a much bigger school than Ashdell, though the two departments (primary and secondary) are separate as far as I know. It has an excellent academic record as you will see from their exam results.
Brantwood, I know less about, it is also girls, similar to Ashdell as far as I know though perhaps with a more all-round and less 'academic' approach.
The real way of getting a true picture of what would suit your daughter is to have a look round the school but obviously if you want to register her before you move then that is difficult.
I know girls who have been to all of these schools, I also know girls who have transfered from one to another because it suited them, their character and their academic level better.
I hope this helps!

ive heard mount st marys is good and have good rugby team. is that a boys school?

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
ive heard mount st marys is good and have good rugby team. is that a boys school?
I think it's in Rotherham or Doncaster isn't it? If its the one I'm thinking of, yes it's very good but a long way out if you live in Sheffield!

think its past mosbrough end, not entirely sure
to the person asking about private schools, is there a way ot get on friends reunited and ask school leavers about them? i went to girls high, was bullied but would still recommend it. the level of ed is very high and its also a very beautiful school to be part of.
i know many people from birkdale who have also succeeded very high in life - from archeologists to ER doctors

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
think its past mosbrough end, not entirely sure
to the person asking about private schools, is there a way ot get on friends reunited and ask school leavers about them? i went to girls high, was bullied but would still recommend it. the level of ed is very high and its also a very beautiful school to be part of.
i know many people from birkdale who have also succeeded very high in life - from archeologists to ER doctors
Sorry yes, I know which one you mean now! Think it's just for secondary age though?

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
think its past mosbrough end, not entirely sure
to the person asking about private schools, is there a way ot get on friends reunited and ask school leavers about them? i went to girls high, was bullied but would still recommend it. the level of ed is very high and its also a very beautiful school to be part of.
i know many people from birkdale who have also succeeded very high in life - from archeologists to ER doctors
You didn't go to Ashdell first did you Natalie? I used to teach a girl called Natalie who went onto High School after Ashdell.

Originally posted by drp215
You didn't go to Ashdell first did you Natalie? I used to teach a girl called Natalie who went onto High School after Ashdell.
no, went to scary rough school b4 private

Mount St Mary's is at Spinkhill, near Eckingtona and Renishaw. It has day pupils and boarders and is a Roman Catholic private school run by the Jesuits, possibly the most intellectual of all religious orders. MSM has a very good reputation.
The prep school is nearby in the old Elizabethan manor house of Barlborough Hall.

Maybe select a good state school, and spend £3k/year on extra tuition or something - might help strike a good balance?

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
Maybe select a good state school, and spend £3k/year on extra tuition or something - might help strike a good balance?

"Good" state schools are heavily over-subscribed. Parental choice is a myth, it's the schools that pick the children not the other way round.

Unfortunately schools both primary and secondary select primarily through catchment and then a range of other criteria. Unless the author who started the thread is going to move to an area with a good school they've got little chance of getting enrolled. Even then, especially since her daughter is 6, there is little guarantee of a place.

I don't know much about the schools in Sheffield, having only lived here for 6 years, but I do think that private schools are a waste of money.
I went to a pretty bad secondary school in an area of the country known for being a bit "backward". However I got 10 A or A* GCSEs, 4 A-levels As & Bs, then went on to get a 1st Class hons in Biochemistry with a prize for achievement and am now studying for a PhD. I can also play the saxophone and speak 2 languages.
This is because my parents cared about education and instilled in me a love of learning. Even though I perhaps didn't have brilliant teachers or wonderful facilities, I wanted to learn and work hard and so I did.
It's how you bring up your kids that counts, and I believe sending them to a private school is not the answer. Everyone I know who went to a private school was on hard drugs (because they could afford it) or drinking (ditto) and most were sexually active by the time they were 13. Ok, so it was a pretty bad private school but at least at a state school you get to make friends with all kinds of people from all walks of life and don't judge people on how much money their parents throw at them.

Thankyou for your comments on the private schools. I am in the fortunate position that my company will pay for private schooling if we choose to use one. The primary reason that I was considering private schools over the state schools is that I did not relish the idea of dealing with the selection process depending on the catchment area and place availabilty. As a newcomer to the area it makes more sense to possibly select a private school where we have control over the selection. We will evaluate all our options as we want the experience of early education to be a positive one for our child. Test results are not everything and do not always lead to a positive educational experience. That is why I need your feedback on the school system.

Thankyou for your comments on the private schools. I am in the fortunate position that my company will pay for private schooling if we choose to use one. The primary reason that I was considering private schools over the state schools is that I did not relish the idea of dealing with the selection process depending on the catchment area and place availabilty. As a newcomer to the area it makes more sense to possibly select a private school where we have control over the selection. We will evaluate all our options as we want the experience of early education to be a positive one for our child. Test results are not everything and do not always lead to a positive educational experience. That is why I need your feedback on the school system.

Just wondered what school you decided on.

I am moving from the US to Sheffield and was considering sending my 6 yr old daughter to Sheffield High School. Any real opinions (non-sarcastic!) on this school?

One of my best mates sent his daughter to this school a few years ago and she came out absolutely spot on when it came to getting the qualifications that she needed.

One of my best mates sent his daughter to this school a few years ago and she came out absolutely spot on when it came to getting the qualifications that she needed.

My daughter starts her second year at the school today, the change in her after one year at SHS is quite incredible. I would recommend it to anyone considering sending their daughter to a private school.

:thumbsup:

My daughter starts her second year at the school today, the change in her after one year at SHS is quite incredible. I would recommend it to anyone considering sending their daughter to a private school.

:thumbsup:

Most of what I hear about this school centres on academic grades taking priority over all else

Im interested and ecouraged to hear you say different

What have changes have you noticed?

Deepak

Most of what I hear about this school centres on academic grades taking priority over all else

Im interested and ecouraged to hear you say different

What have changes have you noticed?

Deepak

First and foremost, she absolutely loves the school and teaching staff. Her range of vocabulary for a 5 year old is quite amazing.

Her confidence and the way she articulates her ideas, thoughts and feelings have changed immeasurably.

The levels of encouragement and support given by the teaching staff is something I certainly never experienced whilst at school.

All in all, both my wife and I are extremely happy. On another note, the food served at lunch is excellent too.

Parents have many different priorities and idea's for their children's schooling, however, I would imagine that all parents hope that their chilldren enjoy school and also, and equally as important, they reach their full potential.

:)