Tapton or King Edward

[NovemberRain 10]

I am new to Sheffield and my daughter shall be starting secondary school in September. She has been allocated a place at King Edward but all of her new friends are going on to Tapton. I am appealing against the decision but would like to hear any views on both of these schools

Edited April 1, 2010 by NovemberRain

[chocki 13]

King Edwards! I went there and i've turned out OK lol

[Dizzyblonde 10]

Had one child at each for sixth forms .. long story .. both are good. KEVII is a language college and has two sites, lower and upper - GCSE and above, new head two years ago - Tapton science and best music dept in city. KEVII is planning rebuild on Upper school.

 

You are lucky if you get into either

[espadrille 10]

I have a 14 year old at King teds.

It is a lovely school. It has a rich mix of different people from all over the world. My daughter has friends from many backgrounds and is achieving her targets well. I am proud of what she has done and what the school has done to encourage her to achieve her full potential.

[Ducky1 10]

Tapton, my son has been there not long and his grades have increased, it also has a mix of different cultures and you never see any problems, teachers are great will encourage you child to achieve there potential. NovemberRain are you not in the catchment area for Tapton and is there any special reason you are appealing?

[andrejuan 10]

Had one child at each for sixth forms .. long story .. both are good. KEVII is a language college and has two sites, lower and upper - GCSE and above, new head two years ago - Tapton science and best music dept in city. KEVII is planning rebuild on Upper school.

 

You are lucky if you get into either

 

I agree, choose the one that reflects the childs ability.

In terms of results, I think Tapton just beats KEVII.

[NovemberRain 10]

Thank you all for your replies, all very helpful and I appreciate it... Ducky1, the reason for the appeal is that we moved to Sheffield at christmas, I had trouble finding a primary school as they were all full and so I accepted a place at a school which was further away. The trouble is that all of her new found friends are going on to Tapton but our closest secondary school is King Edward. Because she recently left a school that she has been in since nursery, it will be like another new start having to go to a school where she knows nobody. She settled so well into her new school and has made lots of new friends. I have heard all good about King Edward and know that she is lucky to be offered a place there but she is upset at the thought of being separated from her new friends. As I am new to Sheffield I just wanted some advise as to if I am doing the right thing by appealing but seems that both schools are good and if the appeal forTapton fails then she will at least be going to a good school. Andrejuan, my daughter is particularly keen on music and plays the cello so Tapton would maybe be better for her. espedrille, my daughter is enjoying having friends from different backgrounds, we didn't have the mix of different cultures where we were before and she is finding it all so much more interesting..... glad that you turned out OK chocki !! Thanks also Dizzyblonde, you had a child at each, thanks for your advise.

[4Leaf Clover 10]

Good luck to your daughter NovemberRain, she sounds very good natured, and I'm sure she won't have any trouble making friends again if she has to, after all she has already proved she can do it! It is more down to you, to make it appear to her that you are very happy with King Teds, if that's what has to be. Don't let her pick up any vibes that you think she is getting "2nd best" etc.

I have a daughter moving up to high school in Sept, King Ted's was my 1st choice but we are not catchment, so my girl is going to Myers Grove.

I'm sure that with texting, msn etc, there is no need for her to lose touch with her current friends anyway, the more the merrier!

All the best to you both.

[NovemberRain 10]

Thanks for that message, you are right she made new friends very quickly and I know she would again. I am proud that she is so good natured and I am sure that she would fit in anywhere. What will be will be! Good luck to your daughter too at Myers Grove

[JoeJoe 10]

I dont think its fair really how people can just move into a particular area and automatically get to go to the best schools. My daughter has been going to a school in Lodge Moore for 6 years and her feeder school is Tapton and all her friends are going there. Unfortunately she has been refused a place at Tapton and trust me our catchment school is not a school that anybody wants to go to but have no choice. I think every school in every area should be good. How can people from less affluent areas ever get on in life if they can't even get a good education. They need a good education more than anyone really if you think about.

 

Be pleased that she has got a good school in King Edwards especially seen as you have only just moved into the area. How strong can her friendships be anyway. Imagine my daughter has been with her friends at school for 6 years but will this be taken into consideration. Probably not because we don't have the correct postcode.

[horribleblob 213]

... my daughter is particularly keen on music and plays the cello so Tapton would maybe be better for her...

 

The music department at King Ted's is also pretty amazing actually - one only has to go to their concerts to realise that (the Christmas one is packed to the gills). My daughter has improved so much, musically, at KES and now performs in public outside of school. If your daughter plays the cello, she'll be of interest to the KES string band.

 

The good thing about KES is that the Lower School is right next door to Tapton so your daughter will still be able to walk to/from school with her friends for a few years. My daughter went to KES from out of catchment so all her primary school peers went elsewhere but she soon made new friends and now, as she is poised to enter post 16 education, and was offered a place at Tapton, has chosen to stay at King Ted's.

 

As mentioned by others, Tapton is ahead of KES in results, but I think if you're lucky enough to have a choice, you should plump for a school that reflects your child's temperament, not necessarily ability. Also mentioned was that KES specialises in languages and Tapton in science but I'm happy to report that my daughter is doing very well in both thank you very much.

Edited April 1, 2010 by horribleblob

[NovemberRain 10]

JoeJoe I agree with you, it isn't fair at all and I know that my brother is going through the same as you are down in London. I moved here from a different part of the country and she would have attended a really good school so I didnt move just so that she got a certain school. In fact several houses before we moved here fell through and each time we found a different house it was in a different area! I had a lot of trouble finding a primary school and she is now in one that is not close by. Obviously I would say that your daughter is more entitled to a place in Tapton, I am not a selfish person!! I have mentioned many times that I know I am lucky to have been offered a place at King Edward for my daughter as it has such good reviews. As a parent I was just concerned about her making another new start and as I am new to Sheffield I was interested to hear what other peoples experiences have been. If your daughter has been offered a place in a school that you are not happy with then I know how you must be feeling and I do agree that it is all so unfair. Every child deserves the same chances no matter what their postcode.. Thank you too horribleblob for your message