Just creating this thread to avoid derailing this thread.
All general discussion of schools in Stafford in here, please.
Thanks.
All general discussion of schools in Stafford in here, please.
Thanks.
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Apart from not liking your attitude when you replied earlier because for some reason you seemed to assume my post had been aimed at you personally, hence my high horse comment, I don't believe that I am being rude.
I would say that your post was aimed at those that think Walton is a good school.
I am one one those therefore your post was aimed at me.
To call someone gullible and plain ignorant just because they have an opinion which you dont share IS rude.
Would you say it to my face if you were standing before me?
I think all the comments about a child's education not solely being provided by a school really go without saying. So taking that as a given point, that education goes beyond schooling, most parents want their child to achieve good exam results, (because rightly or wrongly that is what most employers look at)
Adams Grammar and NGHS which have both been cited as good schools are both in Newport.
There are lots of comments about what people consider a good education to be and whether league tables are important but everyone is avoiding the question.
What would be considered the best school IN STAFFORD without going private?
My sister has recently started working for The Sutton Trust (http://www.suttontrust.com/) It's all about promoting social mobility in education; which is quite pertinent in this thread I think...
You are at perfect liberty to choose to take this personally if you wish, however wrong that interpretation is, I will no longer stand in your way.I would say that your post was aimed at those that think Walton is a good school.
I am one one those therefore your post was aimed at me.
No, because as I have explained ad nauseam, that is not what I meant.Would you say it to my face if you were standing before me?
to be fair, you told @Carole to "get off her high horse," so one could argue that is kinda personal..You are at perfect liberty to choose to take this personally if you wish, however wrong that interpretation is, I will no longer stand in your way.
It is true that I do not think Walton is a very good school. That opinion is based upon:
a) being a former pupil there
b) comments I hear from friends who are staff at Walton
c) experiences of some (not all) of my friends who have kids there
d) MOST IMPORTANTLY, dealings that I have had, in a business and coaching capacity concerning Walton Sixth Formers
I simply don't think Walton is all it's cracked up to be. An academically gifted child will do well in any half decent school, for the reasons many other contributors to this thread have pointed out. Therefore an academically gifted child is just as likely to do well in BWH, SGB, Weston Rd etc as it is in Walton.
Having said that, why should we see the fact that 'only' 19% of their students fail to meet basic academic standards as a measure of success. If it is such a great school, then that 19% has been seriously let down.
My comment about gullibility and ignorance (again aimed generally) was that in spite of the fact that Walton is probably no better or worse than any other Stafford school, people are perfectly prepared to pay a substantial premium to live in its catchment area, compared to say BWH, which strikes me as odd. However, as I have a vested interest in people so doing, because it increases the value of my own property substantially, I shall shut up about it
Only because of her attitude to me after she had misunderstood me.to be fair, you told @Carole to "get off her high horse," so one could argue that is kinda personal..
well, indeed - as you and i have both said, there are so many factors that affect a youngster's upbringing and educational success, so i like to think she will do ok wherever she goes.. however, i would like to give her the best chance in life, as would any parent, and would rather send her somewhere that i am familiar with, i suppose..Anyway, I'm sure your little girl will do well at Walton and I have yet to hear anyone with a bad word about Oakridge
The best school, in an ideal world, should be the nearest one.I think the best school in any town is the one that is most suited to your own child's needs
Only because of her attitude to me after she had misunderstood me.
Anyway, I'm sure your little girl will do well at Walton and I have yet to hear anyone with a bad word about Oakridge
The best school, in an ideal world, should be the nearest one.
Mine varied from just climbing over two walls to spending over an hour going eighteen miles in the back of a death-trap van*.
* officially termed a "minibus" - wooden slatted seats where we all slid to the front if the brakes actually worked.
Vitriol?I didnt have "an attitude" in my reply to you.
I just said that I didnt consider myself to be ignorant and then I quoted some facts and figures from the league tables. That's all.
I wasnt at all rude to you in any way.
But you then told me to get off my high horse.
Go back and re read my reply @proactive and you will see that my comments did not really warrant your vitriol.
Vitriol - Bitterly abusive feeling or expression.
Oddly, perhaps, the best school I went to was fifteen miles away - the journeys* there and back every day are something that I still remember with great fondness - one day I will retrace the trip - these were the only times that I ever looked forward to going to school (still not looking forward to actually getting there, though) - the 18 mile trip was in Lincolnshire and I doubt that I could ever be dragged back there...Yes I think it would be difficult travelling 18 miles you wouldn't necessary make friends so well in your own neighbourhood, that's what happened to my OH still resents it now.
Vitriol?
Oh dear...
Well you would now if I was brave enough to go into detail, though it was quite a long time ago. Let's just say there was a reason their stats were so good at the time.Only because of her attitude to me after she had misunderstood me.
Anyway, I'm sure your little girl will do well at Walton and I have yet to hear anyone with a bad word about Oakridge