which grammar school?

vincennes_2

My daughter is in P6 and I am wondering which grammar school to choose for her. I am in East Belfast: so the choices are Bloomfield, Our lady and St Patrick's, Strathearn, Grosvenor and Sullivan. I would be grateful for your advice. You might have heard something about the school or have personal experience of one of them. Give me the bad and the good!

Also, if she does not make it to a grammar, what about Priory College in Holywood?

Many thanks

leftieM

I have relatives at OLASP and they're very settled. I have been there myself observing the teaching and it was lovely. The kids are so well behaved and the departments are very organised. I came away thinking that I'd like my children to go there. Check about the plans for the new school. Is it underway yet and will it happen? The facilities seemed pretty good but I didn't see outside the main school. I was at another school which had good teaching but the facilities were awful and I wouldn't like it for my children. You need a nice, warm, well equipped environment.
I've heard only good things about the other schools on your list too.

SuperMum2008

Our daughter is in P7 and we have done the trawl of schools! Amongst others we viewed Sullivan, Strathearn,Bloomfield and Grosvenor. Everyone has had different opinions, which is why all of our friends have selected different schools, but we plumped for Strathearn as first choice. Really liked the principal who was very realistic, and the open day was superbly well organised without being over the top. Some of the others were so "glossy" and slick, it made us wonder what happens the day after the viewing day, when all the gloss is removed! They just didnt seem realistic protrayals of everyday school life, and instead seemed like they were putting on a show. Didn't get that feeling with Strathearn, but as I say, everyone's opinion and experience is different and Im sure the next post will reflect that!

m_l_h

As a former pupil of Strathearn, I have to admit that if I was given the choice again, I wouldn't go there. Don't get me wrong - the teachers and staff in general are excellent, it's the girls that aren't particularly nice. That's a strong generalisation, and I apologise (to a point), however at an all girls' school there does tend to be a large amount of b*tch*ness going on.

That said, I have taught in Bloomfield, and preferred it greatly.

And that said, having been a pupil at a single sex school, and having taught in both single and mixed, I know I would have preferred a mixed school myself. That's a whole other debate though, which I'm sure you don't need my opinions on!

Is your daughter particularly fond of any extra curricular activites? Any subjects?

chem_j

I would recommend Sullivan. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there as have/do my siblings. There is a good atmosphere, a strong academic tradition and the pupils are well behaved. There is also a strong musical tradition, if your daughter is that way inclined.
One thing to think about as well is transport. If you don't go to your nearest school, you will have to pay for your bus pass, which may be a consideration.

vincennes_2

Thank you all for your answers. My daughter is a tomboy so I would favour a mixed school. Sullivan seems really nice but when I phoned the school they told me the bus from Belfast cost £600 a year!!! and it keeps rising every year. What about Grosvenor? Can anybody tell me what it is like?

Artytarty

I went to Bloomfield and wouldnt send my girls there.
I know it sounds petty but I always envied the Strathearn girls lovely school grounds!But that wasnt my only reason of course.
Strathearn proved to be a great choice for us. The Head has a knack of making the school seem like a large family.Of course there are !!!!!y elements, but I think that just happens with girls, even in a mixed sex school.
We were delighted with it because we felt it gave both our girls every opportunity to develop their own strengths. One was very academic and into drama, the other,2 not so hot at the books" as my old Dad would have said. She really developed her music and social skills. We found it to be a good cultural mix also. They have friends from every denomination including Muslim ,protestant and catholic.
Both girls say they would send their own children to
St. Rathearn's as they call it!

m_l_h

I believe if you are over 3 miles from the school you can get a bus pass, at least that was the case (I think!) when I was at school.

I would recommend the school I teach at, although it's a bit further out - but I'm biased, so that probably wouldn't be worth much!

Willyk

The 3 mile rule comes into play only if you have been rejected by all the schools within the 3 mile radius of your house, so you cannot selectively choose a school far away and then be entitled to the pass.

36square

"The 3 mile rule comes into play only if you have been rejected by all the schools within the 3 mile radius of your house, so you cannot selectively choose a school far away and then be entitled to the pass. "

Not sure if that's true in all areas, if it does then quite a few people where I live are spending a lot of money on bus fares. I'm pretty sure they're not.

Willyk

36Square, I may be wrong so best to check, but that was my understanding of how it worked. Rgds, Willyk