On 12 Sep 2010 at 10:31pm McCauley wrote:
The Primary school year's only just started and we've got to apply for next year's Secondary place already. We're newbie's in town, so any advice, comments, recommendations and tidbits gratefully received.
On 12 Sep 2010 at 10:35pm Roly Mo wrote:
Definately Chailey, best school around.
On 12 Sep 2010 at 10:37pm McCauley wrote:
For any particular reason? What's it best for?
On 12 Sep 2010 at 10:49pm Down and Out wrote:
If you live in Lewes, I honestly think you'd be daft to go anywhere other than Priory. There will always be the odd complaint, but it's a very good school by any measure. I gather Chailey is a bit smaller but there's nothing much between them. If you choose to send your kids out of town, though - particularly to somewhere inaccessible like Chailey - during the years when they need to become independent and develop different friendship groups, you're really making life hard for them for very little benefit.
On 12 Sep 2010 at 11:54pm Realist wrote:
Indeed, if your child is fat, weird, shy, insecure, or different in anyway then send them to Chailey 'cause they won't survive the bear pit of Priory. However, if they're normal then Priory will prepare them for the real world.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 6:57am footymum wrote:
Totally unfair comment Realist. My child has just started at Chailey and is none of your supposed reasons for going there.
I went to Priory and Chailey open evenings and sent my child to the school that had the opportunties for him. The Head teacher at Chailey impressed me with her vision and forward thinking towards the children and the whole education set up. Your comments regarding the sort of children that YOU think go there infers that Chailey is MORE CARING than Priory and nurtures pupils better well it does.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 8:57am Realist wrote:
Incorrect Footymum, priory is an outstanding school (offsted). Chailey offers nothing more than alot smaller environment for your little one.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 10:07am Down and Out wrote:
I'm not a massive fan of using stats to measure where you should send your kids to school, but what I would say is this: the most significant one is the value added score - ie not the GCSE results themselves, but the difference in achievement from when the kids enter to when they leave. Priory is 1023.8, which is one of the highest in East Sussex; Chailey is 1009.3.
But, as I said above, my main objection to selecting Chailey if you live in Lewes would be that by the age of 13 or 14 you'd hope that your kids become pretty independent and self-reliant. If their whole group of friends is based around a village several miles up the road to which there's little or no public transport, and all the neighbouring kids go to a different school, you're making their life hard at a critical age. Then there's a fair risk that their confidence and then their school work will suffer. There are dozens of Priory kids who live in Seaford, Brighton and Newhaven (which speaks volumes in itself), but at least it's easy for them to jump on a train or a bus anytime.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 12:30pm Stig of the dump wrote:
Had this dilemma 2 years ago now. Myself, partner, older kids and siblings all went to Ringmer. However, we thought Priory a much better school and despite have many smaller reservations, sent her there.
She loves it and is doing well. Well pleased we chose it.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 12:46pm Down and Out wrote:
@ McCauley - the other vital thing I would recommend to anybody: don't just go to the Open Evening. For any school you are interested in, ask to visit during a normal school day. The school will arrange a tour. We visited one school in Brighton which managed to put on a spectacular show for the Evening, but was entirely different when we went back a week or two later.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 2:07pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
To be honest you choose the school for your child and what suits the child. Some kids just don't thrive in larger schools, many others do. The main reason I've heard for people choosing both Chailey and Ringmer over Priory is the size of the school - ie smaller. We were completely blown away when we saw Priory - on a normal school day - the teaching, the facilities, the atmosphere were all what we wanted for our kids and we could see them loving it. Having come from London and the nightmare of so-called 'choice' there, and putting kids through six different exams for six different state schools and not getting a place at any of them (YES - even our closest school!) the absolute luxury of having a decent community school where the majority of kids in the town attend is amazing.
On 13 Sep 2010 at 3:42pm mr happy wrote:
My children have all been and are still at Chailey. Very few children at the school actually live in Chailey as its such a small village! The school is made up of children from anywhere from Lewes to Forest Row. My children have become independent at the usual age and have had no problem making a social life as once they form friendship groups the parents become taxi drivers or your children stay at each others houses anyway. I have had 4 children go there and think it is a fantastic school.
On 14 Sep 2010 at 12:33pm McCauley wrote:
I must clarify that I'm more interested with the pastoral side of school-life (atmosphere, peer pressure, clubs & activities, drugs etc) than just academics or league-table scores.
When we moved here I was happy with the idea of only one secondary that all kids went to (bar paying). It's only since we've been given the option of choosing that I thought I'd ask about the alternatives. Any other pros & cons we should take into consideration?
On 14 Sep 2010 at 2:24pm mr happy wrote:
Lewes Priory is a drama / performing arts status school whereas Chailey is a language status school so if your child is more into drama etc then there will be more oppurtunities at Priory for them. There are good sports facilities at Chailey and they cover the whole lot. Overall its a good school.
On 14 Sep 2010 at 3:59pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
Priory is arts/ languages and science status. Plus it has the track and the leisure centre to complement its sports facilities. You just have to visit them all and decide whats best for your child.
On 14 Sep 2010 at 7:42pm Who knows.... wrote:
Priory has an open evening next Thursday, doors open at 6pm, or as previously suggested give them a call to arrange a tour...
On 15 Sep 2010 at 7:28pm paul wrote:
I think they are all about the same - its just that Ringmer and Chailey you need to get a bus to - but in both cases it is only a short bus ride. I think its fair to say both Ringmer and Chailey are known as better for children with special needs and smaller schools etc. I sent all mine to Priory because its a short walk away and most kids in Lewes go there. I have got to say its a nice school in terms of atmosphere and the students who go there and people who teach there. However it is not strong academically whatever ofsted and the stats say - very little homework so you have to be bright or self-motivated. Mine got a shock when they went to sixth form and had to start working!!!
On 15 Sep 2010 at 8:44pm McCauley wrote:
Firstly, thanks all for your input. Much food for thought. My son is dyslexic (only mildly so, but a difficulty all the same) so may benefit from the extra attention that a smaller school might offer, though if Priory is less 'pushy' academically that might also suit him. Hmmmmm.
Any other info that might help inform us?
On 16 Sep 2010 at 10:09pm Peter B and Ex Boon wrote:
School of Life, love and tolerance is the best I find. My son failed all his exams, and I was delighted, he is no longer a Lemming, here's to living in the real world. Best to you all ,Peter
On 16 Sep 2010 at 11:07pm Chuck wrote:
But isn't it difficult to fail an exam nowadays?
On 16 Sep 2010 at 11:13pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
I think most exams also rely quite heavily on continuous assessment throughout the year now, so if you haven't done the work, you don't get the grade. That's why so many kids are so stressed by educashun today. When I was at school you could ignore the teacher for most of two years, then revise like mad for two weeks before exams and come away with some o'levels, most of which you then forgot in the blur of getting off your trolley at university. From the experience of my grown up nephews and nieces who went through the current system they worked much much harder than most of my fellow grammar school girls. Whether they retain the information is another matter !
On 2 Oct 2015 at 2:51pm JohnSmith wrote:
I admit priory school has a lot of drama and if your child is sensitive when it comes to going to secondary schools then priory may not e your best option and as for the drug management around 80% of KS3 (Years 7,8 and 9) talk about taking drugs but 20% (Mainly boys) actually do. It may give your child a positive approach to drugs. But in fairness this is the same case with chailey and to be honest many other schools around Lewes/Brighton. Also house parties that happen often do include drugs and alcohol. This is coming from a year 9 in priory
On 2 Oct 2015 at 3:19pm Jez we can. wrote:
Satire Your full of cr@p!
Your something of a Magpie stealing other people aliases, is that all you can do? Thought so..
On 2 Oct 2015 at 3:43pm Jez you can't wrote:
go on throwing wild accusations around and abusing all and sundry on different threads. Get a grip for goodness sake.
On 9 Oct 2015 at 2:20pm JohnSmith wrote:
Jez we can
I didn't want to put my real name for MY reasons and its not accusations its truth