Cheltenham ladies

[THK]

Just attended a talk by Ms Vicky Tuck .
Im left thinking grounded lady but uninspired and not at all as global thinking as she marketed the school, wondering now if this is the school I thought it to be?
Anyone have any feedback good or bad as to whether it really produces the girls of tomorrow?

[mumtoxii]

THK, I have two girls there at the moment in the 5th and 6th form, and one who was there and is now finishing at Uni, and I cannot say enough good things about it. All the girls are very different, but have all done well grade wise, and have played lots of sport, music, DofE etc, and made loads of good friends. It turns out really pleasant and confident girls, who go on to achieve great things. Really, you need to visit it to see what it is like. Vicky Tuck is amazing, knows all the girls really well, and is very approachable.

[EvilTwins]

I have a friend who went there. She says that she would never ever send her daughters there, as it was a vile, competetive place where girls who were not the cleverest, prettiest or thinnest (real problems with that, apparently) had a lot of problems. She always felt she was "not academic", yet she went to a Russell Group uni to do a very competetive subject.

Admitedly, this was a few years ago.

I do live in Cheltenham though, and my friend's opinion does not seem to be unusual.

I certainly wouldn't want my daughters to go there.

[Drayford]

DD went for interview for 6th form there 2 years ago. Have to say that we were all (dd included) put off by the rather yahish and desparately thin 6th form girl that showed us around. Staff seemed disinterested! DD was subsequently offered a music scholarship at Malvern College which seemed to us all to be a much more rounded school and where she has been incredibly happy.

[bellissima]

I have heard - and of course this is common to many 'top' boarding schools, although not all - that a significant part of it's v high A level grades is down to the performance of high-achieving and extremely hard working boarders from overseas. Strip out those results and the picture is a little different. There again, as I say, that would be an interesting exercise to do for a number of schools.

[Mum72]

We went for a look round on recommendation of DDs current Head.

We were not inspired and wiped it from our shortlist for various reasons.

Horses for courses and all that ........

[fimac1]

Would agree with Bellissima - an extremely high number of overseas boarders at this school, know of girls either at this school or went to it and were not happy there - I live in Cheltenham

[violethill]

As an aside: Vicky Tuck is now off abroad; read an article about it the other day in the news. She is quoted as saying that one of the reasons for going is that she has been made to feel 'slightly immoral' for being Headmistress of a hugely expensive school.

Seeing as morality is fundamentally about a code of conduct based on what is good for human society, then perhaps her critics have a point! Cheltenham Ladies may well provide 'good schooling' (though clearly from this thread not everyone agrees) but the fact is, it is schooling that is only available to children whose parents happen to have a lot of money (except for a few who may be on scholarships). I have no problem with someone being Headmistress of a hugely expensive school if that's what they want to do - just don't complain that many people will find it a 'slightly immoral' system!

[Mendip]

The school is indeed pressured but it is also very supportive. I think all top independent schools are pressured. What is special about it is it's egalitarian approach, which I know sounds odd. It is not a snobby school. Vicky Tuck is a gifted educator and will be a hard act to follow. Important consideration is that CLC is not the place for a rebellious child. The girls are kept on a pretty tight leash. Our daughter has absolutely thrived there but you do get a lot of green eye from parents outside the ivy clad walls !!

[jem44]

It is a very good school. Mrs Tuck is highly intelligent and perceptive in conversation, an exceptional educator and as stated by a member above, very egalitarian ( I apreciate this seems a paradox in an expensive school). She is sadly leaving.

As working expats, who need to ensure a stable and sound education for our daughters, we have been delighted by the quality of our daughters' experience. They have not been pushed beyond their capabilities and have experienced supportive and kindly friends.

I think the number of overseas borders is around 20% - an advantage for those of us whose children have spent primary years in international schools and who enjoy and benefit from interaction with children from other cultures. I assume those who make disparaging remarks about "overseas boarders" have little idea about the current and future cultural composition and requirements of the most exciting careers in the most successful companies out there.