Caterham 2013 entry

(12 Posts)
Backfrombeyond Wed 20-Feb-13 07:51:12

My dd1 has been offered an academic scholarship at Caterham. We are relocating - to Caterham if we decide for her to take up the offer - and we would appreciate comments on the school and the area, particularly from those with dc there. I'm particularly interested in how well the girls do there, and how much the parents are involved. Thanks.

Ladymuck Wed 20-Feb-13 12:08:43

Congratulations to your dd. I like the school. Lots going on, and they have high expectations of their pupils, which their pupils rise to. DS1 had one subject teacher who was dull, and we were relieved to find that she was a temp. Obviously the school has tons of staff, so no real need for parents to be involved at all, but equally the PA is lively, with events going on each term, and if you want to be involved it is reasonably easy to do so. Fixtures are on a Saturday and most parents will go along to support, though you don't have to, and classes/yeargroups will have coffee mornings etc. The school also run various lectures etc aimed at parents.

Plenty of families live in the very close neighbourhood, but Caterham isn't necessarily the nicest of the local areas, and there is quite a community of school families in Woldingham, Warlingham and Oxted. Afterschool activities are usually timed to end at 5:30 and there are late buses to ferry children home after these.

DS1 is a boys boy, and is aware that not all children in his class like football, but other than that can't tell me much about any girl/boy differences. There is a very even mix of numbers of boys and girls in Years 1 and 2. I would usually see parents at sports fixtures, so know and get on with the other rugby parents, but wouldn't be able to name most parents of girls. There is another longstanding MNer at the school with a dd in the same yeargroup, and I wouldn't yet be able to put a face to the name I'm afraid.

LIZS Wed 20-Feb-13 12:25:02

LM has pretty much summed it up . Your dd has obviously done well but they do expect that level to be maintained and a certain degree of independence and responsibility from the start - work hard, play hard. We've been very happy so far. I think you would have the opportunity to arrange a working visit (rather than open day) before making the final decision and would recommend you doing so if you haven't already. What other options do you have ?

ps. LM I think I've finally established your ds' first name and instrument !

LIZS Wed 20-Feb-13 12:46:45

I was assuming you were asking about 11+ entry, if 13+ do ask how many girls will join at same time and from where ? 11+ intake is approx. 50:50 but relatively fewer girls join before 6th form and apparently most are boarders from overseas, so have heard it is perhaps not as easy for girls to integrate at 13+.

Backfrombeyond Wed 20-Feb-13 13:45:58

Yes, 11+ entry. We have to make a decision from overseas though. Dd has 3 other offers, the rest being all girls' schools. I think we would move near the school initially and then possibly further out once we have our bearings. Are there likely to be many year 7/form 1 girls living local to the school? Thanks for all the feedback.

Backfrombeyond Wed 20-Feb-13 13:49:52


Ladymuck Wed 20-Feb-13 13:58:52

Having had a quick flip through the address book, there are a number of current Year 6 girls who live in walking distance of the school as well as a few from Limpsfield, Kenley and Warlingham.

Bearing in mind that I don't have dds, and my knowledge is based on having seen girls at the Prep School performances or concerts, I would say that the girls seemed to be a fairly self-confident but happy bunch. Perhaps slightly terrifyingly self-confident at times! Of course I might not have noticed the very shy, quiet wallflowers.... and every yeargroup might be different.

In terms of variety though, Ds1 has a classmate with whom he has very little in common - sporty active talkative vs chess-playing, war hammer painting, reader. They both seem to be happy and thriving.

LIZS Wed 20-Feb-13 14:00:59

It varies but ime only a handful live close enough to walk , most use school/public transport or parent lifts from as far away as Croydon, Lingfield, Sevenoaks and beyond - the bus routes and timings are on the website. Traffic congestion at drop off/pick up times is an issue so you may wish to minimise those trips especially as presumably you have other dc to consider.

Flappingandflying Thu 21-Feb-13 19:46:11

There is a bus that goes from Oxted which is vair naice area and has some reasonable facilities as well.

Backfrombeyond Fri 22-Feb-13 12:44:52

Thank you everyone. Does anyone know how many academic scholarship students there are each year and if the scholarship children are treated differently, e.g. If there is a lot more academic pressure put on the academic scholarship students? Also, does anyone know how long the headmaster intends to stay - as he really seems to be the driving force behind Caterhams "up and coming" status.

LIZS Fri 22-Feb-13 14:16:22

At a guess, maybe 12 but not all those offered them will take them up as may have received similar offers from elsewhere, plus there are some for drama, music, sports, art etc. Further awards are made to 13+ entrants. When taking up the scholarship offer you are required to accept terms and conditions which state that it is evaluated each half term, so subject to performance and effort. How often and in what circumstances they actually get removed I' m not sure but there definitely is a certain pressure and expectation to maintain the academic standard and behaviour. Not sure if it is any different for another child in terms of achieving potential though. Head shows no signs of moving on, he hasn't been there that long and has younger dc of his own. There is also a strong senior management team in place.

Ladymuck Fri 22-Feb-13 16:52:14

The expectations are high across the board, and the classes are mixed initially and gradually setted for some subjects (only maths to start with). For a selective school there is still a widish range of ability I think.

The head has a son in your dd's year group (another LT pupil LIZS). From ds's perspective he is more aware of who the sports and music scholars are, rather than the academic ones.

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