Grittleton House School, Wiltshire

[SarahJ190]

Has anybody got any experience or knowledge of this school. Comments gratefully received. Thanks!
Sarah

[happygardening]

It has a reputation for being very nurturing but not very academic I think you'll find that local state school results are at least comparable if not better. A friends DS (Malmesbury School) very much outperformed his good friend who went there and also because of its size the choice of subject on offer was not as large as Malmesbury. A couple of years ago numbers were down so be careful.

[jo164]

Can only really echo what happygardening has said, its non-selective and so if they have a space they take pretty much any child - although not particularly good for any complex special needs (ie don't accept statemented children).
It has a reputation for being very nurturing - but be careful as this can just mean very small. Numbers have never been that robust in recent years and they have no sixth form. More academic local children would probably go to one of the Bath schools in my experience. However it is set in beautiful surroundings and if you are after a small nurturing school it may be worth a visit.

[happygardening]

"More academic local children would probably go to one of the Bath schools"
Or to Malmesbury which has a very ambitious head and is the top school in the county and serves its bright well but maybe not any with SEN and the one at Wotton Bassett again it has a good reputation and better for SEN. Cirencester; Deer Park is also considered pretty good and good with SEN. If you can travel to Bath the girls at the Royal High School seem very happy, a friend used to teach at Kingswood and says it good and another friend has children at King Edwards they're pleased with it though could be more inaccessible in the morning if you the Grittleton side of Bath. But frankly as non of these are mega selective if your in the catchment for any of the above state schools i wouldn't waste my money!
Frankly its definitely one of those schools where private is not better than a good state.

[Chubfuddler]

Boy or girl? For a girl I would say Westonbirt much much better. Results at GCSE tend to be better than the Chippenham secondaries at grittleton but not significantly so. Lack of sixth form a real stumbling block.

[SarahJ190]

Thanks very much for opinions. Child not particularly academic, wouldn't want pressure of some of the academic schools and probably wouldn't pass the exams to get in to those! Mildly Dyslexic but let down by badly state system though - pretty much left behind and given no help. I'm more interested in smaller class sizes, confidence building and nurturing to do best he can than getting straight A's. seems like it might be a good option?

[Chubfuddler]

They are good with dyslexia apparently. If its s gentle nurturing environment you're after then locally it's probably the best place. Only problem is what to do post 16 - I would think going to sixth firm at hardenhuish or Sheldon would be terrifying after the gentleness of grittleton.

[XBenedict]

It is very small, a friend of mine sent her boys there and they got on very well except for the sporty one as there aren't enough in each years for proper team sports which he excelled in. He moved but the other boys stayed put. (I got married there)

[NewFairy]

Wycliffe college near Stonehouse? Friend sent her dyslexic son there and was very pleased with it.
Disclaimer, I know nothing else about the school at all

[happygardening]

Wycliffe is definitely better than Grittleton but it very much depends where you live if you live the Chippenhan side of Malmesbury I doubt you could do it unless you list driving as your your main hobby or own a helicopter.
My DS1 is dyslexic and his needs have been poorly met in both the independent sector and state with this in mind and depending where you live if I was you I would definitely look at either Wooton Bassett Bassett comp I was talking to a mother at a work thing and she talked highly of the learning support dept she might she be deluding herself but worth a look and Deer Park Cirencester a friend actually works in their learning support dept and it seems very switched on and at least three others parents have told me how good it is for dyslexic.

[SarahJ190]

Sadly no helicopter! We between the east of Bristol and Lansdown in Bath, so we have few non-selective options locally. I will look at Wycliffe though out of interest. Thanks!

[SarahJ190]

Sorry, speedy typing! ...We are between...

[SarahJ190]

Happygardening, Wycliffe looks much more progressive and modern, but sadly too far out for us! I think the advantages of Grittleton are small class sizes and nurturing environment. Whilst academic performance is important and I want him to do the best he can, its not everything for me. I do worry that Grittleton is quite small and might not have the facilities and support of larger schools, but also I'm glad its not a boarding school. I guess I'm worried about state school streaming and putting him with kids that aren't interested. He is keen, but just struggles with English a little. He is lumped with all the special needs kids at the moment (primary school total lack of understanding about dyslexia) and its no challenge for him. His maths is good though. It's such a tough one, don't want to make the wrong decision (and pay for that decision as well!) but we are happy to pay to give him the best chance.

[happygardening]

Living where you live Kingswood is surely a better option that Grittleton (which I personally wouldn't touch with a barge pole) and there's not enough boarders to have that big effect Kingwsood?
You are miles out of the area for Wycliffe, what about Monkton Combe thats meant to be good for dyslexia.

[happygardening]

Theres and independent near Frenchay can't think what its called that might be good for you. Don't now anything about it but it might be worth a look.

[XBenedict]

What about Stonar? My DD wants to go there as its got great equestrian but sadly we can't afford it.

[Chubfuddler]

Stonar is a girls' school.

[XBenedict]

Ah that's not much help then!

[XBenedict]

Most of the boys from where I live that attend St Margaret's go to King Edwards.

[SarahJ190]

Kingswood is selective and too academic, he wouldn't pass the 11+. The one near Frenchay might be Colstons that too is 11+. King Edwards in Bath also highly academic. Monkton wrong side of town and a fortune! Don't want to surround him with high achievers, I don't think that would help him and he would just struggle and hate it. Why wouldn't you touch Grittleton, just interested to get views? We don't seem to have too many options! Disappointing for big areas like Bristol and Bath, but all the Independents are 11+ selective.

[Wandastartup]

Prior park is less selective and has a bus in the morning? I think there are few non selectives locally as the state provision is good so people only prepared to pay for excellent results.

[Chubfuddler]

What are you going to do with him at 16 if he goes to grittleton? Is there any point in this lovely nurturing environment until 16 if he's going to be thrown into a massive state comp for sixth form?

[SarahJ190]

Yes, it may be an issue. I guess another independent 6th, based on how he does academically. I don't think the switch to state at that point would be an option. Will look at prior park if not too academic, although being catholic put me off a little.

Thanks for all your views and comments, much appreciated to help me with this tricky decision!

[celestialsquirrels]

Deeply mediocre. Almost any state option nearby better IMO. I don't understand why anyone pays to go there.

[Wandastartup]

Don't beat about the bush celestial! Actually I do agreebut wouldn't have put in quite as bluntly! Is your stat option SBL?

[SarahJ190]

Yes SBL is a local state option. I think he would really struggle in an environment like that! If not eaten alive first! Lol. Again I think academic kids can do well anywhere, but sense mine needs a smaller class size, quiet environment (distracted badly by classroom noise)and a bit more attention and confidence building. His dyslexia has really held him back, he's at least a year behind, but picking up slowly with private help, as his school were useless! I guess my argument is I would pay for the extra help and attention, that I don't trust the state to give him, to put him in the best position to do well but I'm not paying just to get A*'s at the end of it, I have a far more balanced view. I want him to be happy and enjoy school. I don't mind blunt, but I guess mediocre doesn't really explain it, mediocre at what part, results, environment, sports, art, drama, nurturing, teaching. Everyone is different and has different measures and I guess the people that do pay for their kids to go there must feel it is right for their child, although I think if mine was academic I wouldn't send him there either, but for those less gifted I would like to think it's an option at least!