School Choice in the Shepton Mallet Area

If your children are starting a new school this september, how has that gone for you?  Shepton Mallet has an ‘infants and juniors’ (3 tier) system, rather than the primary school (2 tier) system found in other places.  Shepton has two infants schools (Shepton Mallet Infants or ‘Waterloo Road’ and Bowlish) but just one junior school (St Pauls) and one senior school, Whitstone.

In the 21st century, we are generally sold the idea that we have choice in all things.  The education of our children is rightly precious to us, so do you feel that, in Shepton Mallet, adequate choice is available to you?  If, for example, your child has nursery friends who are going to Bowlish, what are the chances of you being able to send your child there if you live nearer Waterloo Road (Shepton Mallet Infants)?  

Parent and teacher Theresa, commented that she preferred the Primary system, and so had opted to send her child to St Aldhelms Primary in Doulting, a decision she was clearly pleased with.  Alternatives, if you are looking to place your child in the same school from age 4-11 are Ditcheat, Evercreech and Upton Noble Primary.

 There may be logistical and financial issues with doing this, not to mention difficulties actually getting a place.  SMPeople member Lasare also commented about the range of pupils at West Pennard School - being a village, yet being in close proximity to Glastonbury.  After all, social experience and education is possibly as significant a factor as the other more educational necessities.

While I am told from a couple of parents that the quality of education and the general experience that a child has at Waterloo Road is “great”, the school was recently slammed by Ofsted, saying that it suffered from “inadequate teaching, weakness in leadership and management, poor attendance by pupils, inadequate progress and low attainment in reading, writing and mathematics”.  Are you going to take the oppinion of parents over that of Ofsted (despite the current governments apparent desire for parents to start setting up schools!)?  

What about St Pauls?  It’s strapline is “Safe, successful learning. Happiness and equality in a Christian setting”.  Although it’s intake is comprehensive, if you wish to have your children educated in a different faith setting, does the system actually allow for this locallt?  My understanding is that St Pauls themselves allow for this, but is it good enough for your precious ones?

Beyond primary education, all roads seem to lead to Whitstone, unless you can get your child into Wells Blue School or perhaps Crispin in Street - depending on where on Shepton’s perimeter you live or where you can get them to, day in, day out, whatever the weather, whatever the public transport limitations.

Whitstone has had its ups and downs in the past although in recent times, mainly up, and the viewpoint I hear consistently from parents now is that it has great facilities, it encourages and nurtures its talented and gifted children, and supports and develops non-traditional learners and those with learning difficulties.  But is that enough?  You might actually choose Whitstone even if there was a list of schools available, but are there limitations locally?  Any choice must also give consideration to the provision of transportation as, in our democratic welfare state, surely choosing what you believe to be the very best for your child, should not depend upon you having an above average income?

Finally, there are public schools available.  We are lucky to have a range of ‘public’ (or privately funded) schools in our area that people from far and wide (including outside the UK) choose to send their children to.  Locally we have Bruton School for Girls http://www.brutonschool.co.uk/ , All Hallows in Cranmore, Downside School at Stratton on the Fosse  Millfield and The Cathedral School in Wells. With perfectly adequate educational facilities available on the state though, are these a realistic option for ‘normal’ people on even relatively good wages, these days?

Tell us what you think, both of the schools we have, and of the options that are available to you.  What is the state of the schools of the state?  What about public school?  Is this an option, and just how rich do you have to be in 2010 to get an education for your child that you feel does them justice?

Finally, a really big “GOOD LUCK!” to all those students at Whitstone for their GCSE’s this week!