What do you think to Sheffield Schools?
Are there are any reccomendable ones?
Which do you think would be better a private school or state school? and if so which??

Originally posted by Kerry_Lou
Are there are any reccomendable ones?


The best recomenderisation I can givererise is that it doesn't matter which one is good or bad as it seems that getting the one you think is good is very hard and then, when you fail, they allocate another in any part of the city they feel like.

Depends which part of sheffield you live in. As a teacher I would like to work in High Storrs or King Edwards etc but in all honesty I think most schools are much of a much these days. Look at the estate the schools on, that'll tell you the general make up of the kids that are in the school. There are just as many naughty kids in nice schools as the "bad" schools.

What you have to ask yourself is what your child is like. If they are hardworking and bright they will do well regardless of the school because they'll always be in top set and their teachers will be able to teach them.

These days ability sets are as much about behaviour as they are intelligence. Show me a teacher who doesn't dread bottom set year 8 and I'll show you someone who is a better teacher than most I know.

My school used to be seen as one of the worst, it's clawing its way up the league tables now but behaviour is still questionable (although I have seen worse) - However the "good" kids still come out with their 9 A - C's at GCSE.

Difficult one - Check out Ofsted reports on their website (not sure what it is - google it) - having lived through Ofsted I can assure you their reports are very thorough and show a reasonable and realistic snapshot of the school.

All else fails - hire a personal tutor! ( seems thats what a lot of parents do these days - I seem to get plenty of business)

Hope that helps!

Joanne

Thanks for that

If you follow the Excellence in Cities guide to Sheffield education they rightly or wrongly 'band' the 27 secondary Schools into 3 groups of 9 based upon %5+A-C rates and % of pupils on Free School Meals.

However just because a school gets a higher 5+A-C pass rate does not neccesarily make it a better school to go to. Many of our schools achieve remarkable levels of progress with children who come from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds, other schools have to compete with nearly 50% turnover of pupils within a school year and numerous primaries only have a handful of pupils who stay constant in the school from the end of one Key Stage to the start of the next.

This is probably one of the most contentious topics you will find, especially among parents. People will sell their souls to get their children into the "right" catchment area.

Of the Sheffield state comprehensives, if you believe the league tables then the "best" are Silverdale, High Storrs, Bradfield, King Edward's, Tapton and King Ecgbert's. Silverdale's results are usually comfortably around the 85% mark while the others are usually in a five-way tussle, all around 65-70%.

(That's leaving aside Notre Dame, which is a faith school and thus another kettle of piranha entirely. :) )

But league tables don't tell the full story. It may be that your child is not academic and would thrive at a school which is renowned for music, or drama, or sport. The "value added" component is another factor - how much does the school add to the results the kids would have got anyway because of their natural ability, parental support, etc? Fir Vale has one of the biggest "value added" percentages in the country, and yet it languishes near the bottom of the Sheffield league tables.

Don't forget that schools' reputations are changeable - look at how far Abbeydale Grange and Myers Grove, both previously "good" schools, have fallen in people's estimation over the last 10-15 years.

The only real way to get a feel for a school is to go and have a look at it, talk to parents and observe the kids. That's as well as reading the prospectus, of course, not instead. And be wary of league tables, which are usually a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I believe part of the problem in Sheffield lies in what happens to children prior to starting school, looking at outcomes from the Foundation Stage Profile, it would appear that many Sheffield children are significantly behind other cities even at the entry to school stage.

Then the schools are playing 'catch up' right up to GCSE.

Yeah I agree with this - we have kids in year 7 (and not the odd one) who can't read or write and they are in classes that despite being set are still effectively mixed ability. Teaching Assistants can't hope to help everyone in this sort of situation and teachers like me who teach over 800 pupils a week (God bless my subject) can't hope to get to know each child well enough to target lessons for their very individual needs...

it's v.tough.

I know two people that came out of High-Storrs with an excellent education.

:)

Originally posted by absynthfairy
Yeah I agree with this - we have kids in year 7 (and not the odd one) who can't read or write and they are in classes that despite being set are still effectively mixed ability. Teaching Assistants can't hope to help everyone in this sort of situation and teachers like me who teach over 800 pupils a week (God bless my subject) can't hope to get to know each child well enough to target lessons for their very individual needs...

it's v.tough.

Mind me asking which school you work at?

Originally posted by amhudson119
I know two people that came out of High-Storrs with an excellent education.

:)

Eh? Isn't High Storrs like the South Sheff equivalent of Myers Grove? Ie full of chav kids who live on grotty Council estates?!

Originally posted by Rich
Eh? Isn't High Storrs like the South Sheff equivalent of Myers Grove? Ie full of chav kids who live on grotty Council estates?!

I knew it wouldn't last :help:

I can vouch for king edwards, for the most part I'd say I'm enjoying my time there.
The first 3 years were hell for me, but as soon as i went to the upper bit it was fantastic from there-on

my sister was at myers until the end of year 11 and I wouldnt say I have a better education than she, so come to what conclusions you will from that

Bradfield School is the best !!!

I went to a private school called Handsworth Christian School which I wouldn't reccomend it even though the pass rate was quite good compared to state schools.

I suggest Silverdale School as one of the best in Sheffield.

It produces excellent grades and was quite a good school when I attended there many years ago.

There was always the rival thing with high storrs, but they tended to get lower grades etc. so my parents didn't send me there.

I had a lot of mates that went to high storrs though and it sounds like they had a lot more trouble than us.

Originally posted by Kerry_Lou
What do you think to Sheffield Schools?
Are there are any reccomendable ones?
Which do you think would be better a private school or state school? and if so which??

Kerry_Lou if you are looking for a school, don't forget that you are not confined to Sheffield schools.

You can apply to go to a school over the border into another LEA and the funding will follow you.

Plenty of people take that option especially from your end of Sheffield, going to either Aston Comp (Rotherham LEA) or Eckington School (Derbyshire LEA). :)

Wouldn't recommend Silverdale myself. Not really interested unless you're Oxbridge material. I got told I was being selfish for not trying hard enough in my A-levels because it would affect the school's place in the league tables - guilt trip or what! This was quite a few years a go now so things might have changed.........

I dont recommend Yewlands!!! LOL!!!

Originally posted by XxGemmaxX
I dont recommend Yewlands!!! LOL!!!

Nor does my sister :hihi:

or my mates :suspect: I don't rate Ecclesfield either :D

Bet you were one of the Yewland Crew that used to visit Remington Centre ;)

More info here for your perusal :-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4719371.stm

Three cheers for labour!! *cough* :suspect:

Originally posted by comet
More info here for your perusal :-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4719371.stm

Three cheers for labour!! *cough* :suspect:

Interesting Comet for this bears out what some of us have said all along................... that the better schools are in the West of the city. It must be true as Labours own Ms Kelly says so !!!!!!!!!

Would be interested to hear what all the Labourites on here have to say on this one, afterall they have been telling us for years how a school can't be judged on it's exam passes. Seems like they've (the Labour Party) changed their minds and are actually acknowledging that the better schools are in the middle class areas. Sad but true.

I went to Eckington and would reccommend it, though I don't have anything else to compare it to, only going there. However, most of the teachers there are good, the kids aren't too bad when you hear stories from other schools. They're getting lots of new buildings at the moment, and computers etc, cos they get lots of funding now it's classed as a Centre For Excellence or something...

Only problems are the sixth form - too small for the no. of children they're now taking on, and gettnig there. School buses aren't provided from Sheffield, as we're out the catchment area. Sheffield council won't pay for kids as they're going to a Derbyshire school, and Derbyshire won't pay as we come from Sheffield. After having to get to Crystal Peaks and then from there to school every morning for years, my mum eventually organised a bus to pick up all the kids from round here, and last I knew, there were 2 double deckers full, so it's not like there's only a few people from Sheff... As far as I know, these buses are still running, the Head at Eck organised for someone at the school to oversee the running.

I'd definitely put that on any lists you have, the results were always good AFAIK, and I enjoyed it there. And it can only improve with the money they're pouring in to it :)

Originally posted by Rich
Eh? Isn't High Storrs like the South Sheff equivalent of Myers Grove? Ie full of chav kids who live on grotty Council estates?!

No....it's full of middle class kids from Ecclesall and Bents green. What are you on?

I can only speek from experience and of course it was a long time ago,nevertheless chaucer comp was a bloody ****e school.

I hope you're not naked in that picture Roy:suspect:

Originally posted by XxGemmaxX
I dont recommend Yewlands!!! LOL!!!

Whats wrong with Yewlands?

Originally posted by noseyrosie
No....it's full of middle class kids from Ecclesall and Bents green. What are you on?


Not sure what he's on but I DON'T want any! He must be mixing it up with another school.

As for the best state school in Sheffield, that would be High Storrs' neighbour - Silverdale.

Two of my sons have gone to Yewlands and my daughter is due to start in September. I dont see anything wrong with it. Most schools have there good and bad points and just because its in a part of Sheffield that is not looked at favroubly does not make it bad. There is a waiting list for it and in 2008 the new 16 million pound Yewlands will be open.

I have confidence in sending my daughter there, at least I know as soon as she is not at school and at least they sort problems out as soon as I inform them.

Yewlands is great.

Originally posted by noseyrosie
No....it's full of middle class kids from Ecclesall and Bents green. What are you on? When my mates used to go there were more kids brought over on the bus from the other sides of town than there were kids from the local area.

Us people that lived in the catchment area mostly went to Silverdale back then, it may have changed now, but that's how it used to be.

My best advice is to make a shortlist, then visit to make an appointment to see the head - don't ring to do this, you'll be able to feel the atmosphere without them having prior warning. Then remember, look through the hype and check out the evidence that it's not just surface success.

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by noseyrosie
No....it's full of middle class kids from Ecclesall and Bents green. What are you on?
Isn't there academic rivalry between High-Storrs and Silverdale? Both of equal levels and both nearby to each other.

Originally posted by amhudson119
Isn't there academic rivalry between High-Storrs and Silverdale? Both of equal levels and both nearby to each other. From what I remember, Silverdale normally got better results than highstorrs, but the pupils had a serious sense of rivalry being so close and there were often fights at the Bents Green shops during lunch hours and after school.

High Storrs and Abbeydale Grange both used to be better schools than Silverdale with overlapping catchment areas.


tides have turned.

Originally posted by Malkin
High Storrs and Abbeydale Grange both used to be better schools than Silverdale with overlapping catchment areas.


tides have turned. If Abbeydale Grange is the one opposite the Millhouses pub on Abbeydale Road then there's not a chance in hell I would send my kids there (when we have them).

Very interesting, so whats so wrong with the school?

It's the smallest secondary school.

Originally posted by Kerry_Lou
Very interesting, so whats so wrong with the school? It's not the school itself I have a problem with, but the image it sends out that I do.

I have been in the area on many occasions during the lunch break for the school and the area is full of kids sneaking down behind the shops on the back streets smoking away and being quite abusive to passers by on a couple of occasions. On the main road there were loads of kids spitting and acting in a way that I wouldn't have done as a child and certainly wouldn't do now.

Also speaking to one of the people in a shop while getting my lunch they told me that they have quite a bit of trouble with the kids from time to time.

I know this can be the case at any school, but here I have seen it quite a lot.

Not all the kids act this way, I have seen some well behaved kids there too, but there's a large group that don't.

It's probably a bit daft, but that's put me well off the school to be honest and I wouldn't send my kids there to be amongst that lot.

Have a look at King Ecgberts which has just been moved into a brand new building. It's very good. Me and my two brothers all went to the old one years ago and we've all survived to tell the tale.

A teacher I remember from my time there had been to look round the new building and commented on the pride that the staff and pupils had in the facilities. She also remarked on how good she felt the new headmaster was. Another point in it's favour is that a lot of the parents are getting involved in things there and are keen for it to succeed.

I have no knowledge of bringing up kids but do believe that the home environment contributes a lot.

Originally posted by lalaland
It's not the school itself I have a problem with, but the image it sends out that I do.

I have been in the area on many occasions during the lunch break for the school and the area is full of kids sneaking down behind the shops on the back streets smoking away and being quite abusive to passers by on a couple of occasions. On the main road there were loads of kids spitting and acting in a way that I wouldn't have done as a child and certainly wouldn't do now.

Also speaking to one of the people in a shop while getting my lunch they told me that they have quite a bit of trouble with the kids from time to time.

I know this can be the case at any school, but here I have seen it quite a lot.

Not all the kids act this way, I have seen some well behaved kids there too, but there's a large group that don't.

It's probably a bit daft, but that's put me well off the school to be honest and I wouldn't send my kids there to be amongst that lot.

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but you will see this kind of behaviour near every school. Maybe you think it happens more there because that's the area you have experience of most?

Originally posted by banesmabes
Don't mean to burst your bubble, but you will see this kind of behaviour near every school. Maybe you think it happens more there because that's the area you have experience of most? I also pass another three schools regularly during the day and don't see this sort of action that often at all.

It may occur at many schools and probably does, but this school for some reason seems to stand out possibley because the kids seem to flood out on to the main road so much.

Regarding kids sneaking out at dinner.

I see that Newfield have taken a novel response to this and caged all their kids in :) There's a 10 foot high fence all around the perimeter of the school grounds with a massive gate on it. Prison or what?

I used to go out of school for dinner, from Newfield, even though we weren't meant to. The gang I was in didn't cause any trouble, although no doubt many people were intimidated by the sheer number of us. Yeah we were noisy and some of the gang smoked but trouble causers we were not.

You'll find bad elements at all schools, regardless of the school's overall exam performance. No matter what the school, if your kids put their heads down, get on with things and stay out of trouble, they'll do well.

For this reason, alllow your child to chose where he/she thinks they'll be happiest and has the right atmosphere for them.

I'll let Foxy comment on Abbeydale Grange, working there and all :)

I would say avoid King Edwards and Notre Dame. They were hell.

Originally posted by antics
I would say avoid King Edwards and Notre Dame. They were hell.

They're 2 of the best schools in Sheffield... based on exam results anyway. :confused:

Yes. On exam results.

If you want your children to be tortured to achieve good exam results, by all means, go for it.

Originally posted by antics
Yes. On exam results.

If you want your children to be tortured to achieve good exam results, by all means, go for it.

I don't have children yet, but when I do I would want to send them to the best school I can in order for them to be statistically more likely to succeed. Of course I wouldn't think that a good school alone would guarantee good results, but it would give them a better chance. I highly doubt any school tortures its pupils into getting good results either!

I went to High Storrs, so I have to fiercely defend it. Funny how you feel such loyality to your old schools but quite used to spend the majority of the time wishing you were somewhere else, lol.

SO I think High Storrs is the best! I went there as did my mum, my sister and I think my mum will probably force my youngest sister into going there too - as she is fiercely loyal too. :P

WM

Originally posted by t020
I highly doubt any school tortures its pupils into getting good results either! I have heard of some schools putting pressure on pupils to perform, to help their own leage scores and suspect this is what amtics meant.

Originally posted by lalaland
I have heard of some schools putting pressure on pupils to perform, to help their own leage scores and suspect this is what amtics meant.

There's nothing wrong with a small amount of pressure. Kids need a good kick up the bum sometimes to motivate them. High achievement should be encouraged.

all my kids have been to king teds, very good school:thumbsup:

Originally posted by t020
There's nothing wrong with a small amount of pressure. Kids need a good kick up the bum sometimes to motivate them. High achievement should be encouraged. But I think that amtics may have been referring to when pupils have too much pressure applied on them and not always for their own good. I have heard of cases like this in the past and it does seem a little unfair.

I am all for helping people to achieve their best, but they should be helped to do so, not bullied to keep some scores up.

Originally posted by Norton
Regarding kids sneaking out at dinner.

I see that Newfield have taken a novel response to this and caged all their kids in :) There's a 10 foot high fence all around the perimeter of the school grounds with a massive gate on it. Prison or what?



To be honest I have glad they have done this. My old school implimented something similar the year I left (10 years ago) where only final year pupils were allowed to leave the premises for lunch.

I know people who live near Newfield school and their neighbour was particulaly scared by one incident recently. She was walking home along her street and there was a group of kids from the school on their lunchbreak causing a mess by throwing chips and rubbish at each other. She asked them not to do it because it was making a mess, so they started following her and making comments to her. They followed her all the way home and watched as she went into her house, shouting that they now knew where she lived. She was terrified.

Originally posted by lalaland
But I think that amtics may have been referring to when pupils have too much pressure applied on them and not always for their own good. I have heard of cases like this in the past and it does seem a little unfair.

I am all for helping people to achieve their best, but they should be helped to do so, not bullied to keep some scores up.

Schools are certainly not immune from pressurising/persuading kids to do things which are not necessarily best for the child, but will look good for the school’s statistics. I went to Wisewood, and once you got to the fifth year all they were bothered about was getting as many pupils entered onto A Level courses as possible. So when it came to the career talk anyone who was predicted 5 Cs or more at GCSE were told to do A Levels. My sister was one of those who would just scrape these passes and who wanted to do a vocational course at college, but the career advisor wouldn’t even talk to her about it – he just told her that as she would achieve good enough grades to do A Levels then that’s what she should do. Anyway, she hated it and ended up wasting a year doing them and being completely demoralised because she kept failing all her assignments. She dropped out and started her vocational course the following year and has never looked back.

This happened so much while I was at college doing A Levels – there were so many people who were struggling to do them because they had been wrongly advised at school. Because the school didn’t actually teach the A Levels they were only interested in getting their percentage of pupils going on to study A Levels as high as possible. They never showed how many of that percentage actually passed their A Levels!!

One should also be very wary of statistics. We all know how easy it is to make them say pretty much anything you want them to say.

Stories abound - there have been some on here before - of pupils being quietly asked to drop particular subjects so that their grades did not drag down the overall averages. And it is no exaggeration to say that the pressure at some of the high-performing schools can really get to some pupils. I speak as a former pupil at a very academically-minded school (Maidstone Grammar, 82-87) - it suited me, but it wouldn't have suited everyone.

If, when choosing a school, all you look at is how well it performs on paper, then you are being remarkably short-sighted. There's absolutely no substitute for getting to know parents and teachers and finding out at first hand what the place is *really* like.

BIG UP HANDSWORTH GRANGE!!!:thumbsup:

May be ages ago but Rich i aint 4gotten. Myers int full of chavs sum people from der av come out wit great education. there is all sorts of people who go 2 myers.

Originally posted by Stu_2005
May be ages ago but Rich i aint 4gotten. Myers int full of chavs sum people from der av come out wit great education. there is all sorts of people who go 2 myers.

Obviously you didn't given your spelling skill, or rather, lack thereof... :D

just regaring high storrs

most of the people who go there are from either across town or broomhall or sharrow. i think when i was there a few years ago ecclesall kids were a minority.

amiee xx

Originally posted by amiee_sheff
just regaring high storrs

most of the people who go there are from either across town or broomhall or sharrow. i think when i was there a few years ago ecclesall kids were a minority.

amiee xx

The majority are fed from Greystones, Hunters Bar, Carterknowle, etc. Ecclesall Junior school is also a significant feeder school. High Storrs however does have a significant amount who come from further afield (which arguably affects their results negatively) and are quite "flexible" with catchment areas, probably because it's such a huge school. Silverdale on the other hand is much more strict and it's primarily fed by Dobcroft and Ecclesall junior schools.

As a vague futureish question, assuming spawn of Joyphil makes it to a primary in Woodseats (Woodseats or Abbey Lane, I suspect), what is the state compri this might destine her for? I admit this is a decade away, but I really have no idea, and little idea of finding out how. Hmm...

Originally posted by joyphil
As a vague futureish question, assuming spawn of Joyphil makes it to a primary in Woodseats (Woodseats or Abbey Lane, I suspect), what is the state compri this might destine her for? I admit this is a decade away, but I really have no idea, and little idea of finding out how. Hmm...

Stick your address in here:

http://eduplugins.sheffield.gov.uk/Schools/catchments.htm

It will tell you!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Carl_Malibu
[B]I can vouch for king edwards, for the most part I'd say I'm enjoying my time there.
The first 3 years were hell for me, but as soon as i went to the upper bit it was fantastic from there-on

Hey... nah I disagree. I don't think any school really over rides any other. In my opinion all the school are the same and will still put grades over individuals wellbeing.

I went to King Edwards and the last three years for me have been hell. Because I had problems with the smarter kids nothing was done and I ended up loosing out on my education because of this.

Omg! I never expected the thread to last this long. I like the sound of that Handsworth Christian School especially as the pass rate is quite how compared to some schools