Woodhouse College or Fortismere?

Hi everyone,

I currently have offers from both Woodhouse and Fortismere (and others which at the moment I have decided against) and I am torn between the two. I'm going to their introductory days/afternoons but I still want to get information about both schools now.

Can anyone tell me their experiences or experiences they've heard about, to do with both schools in terms of teaching, peers and so on? I want to make a very well informed decision and not regret it. Oh, and is anyone else in the same position as me?

THANKS GUYS :yes:

OP

Anyone?

OP

Original post by Tobithomas10

Hiya,
I'm in a similar situation to you, except i don't know whether to stay at my current school camden school for girls or to move to fortismere.
Are you going to the fortismere induction day?

Yes I am. I am going on the 4th. Seem to have lost the offer letter I was supposed to take in though :no:

. Isn't Camden School for Girls quite good anyway? Good luck with your decision! :biggrin:

Original post by Tobithomas10

Regarding Woodhouse vs Fortismere
I have some friends currently at woodhouse and they all say that it's quite cliquey, and very very big. Also they rely greatly on independent study so you wouldn't get as much help as you would get in a sixth form. Overall I think it's quite good?

And Fortismere is very good, well according to the results. They also have more qualifications than just A levels, like the extended project and the cambridge pre-u qualification. I don't know anyone there currently so i'm not sure on the social situation there. Overall I think that Fortismere would be much better academically as opposed to woodhouse, but i'm not sure that's just a comparison of their results.

Yeah that is true. I've always thought it was risky to go to College but I kind of ignored this when applying to Woodhouse. I think I am leaning towards Fortismere now. As you saud it seens to be the overall better option academically. Thanks for the information. :smile:

Reply 3

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Tobithomas10

Thanks

Yeah Camden girls is good but it's very similar to fortismere and I kinda want a change.
I'm leaning towards fortismere as well, apart from the fact I don't know anyone there!
What A levels are you doing?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yeah same. More people I know are going to Woodhouse compared to Fortismere. Well I guess you'll meet people on the transition day. I am doing Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Geography. What are you taking?

Reply 4

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Tobithomas10

Maths
History
Biology
Philosophy

Posted from TSR Mobile

Oh alright! Ok thanks for all the help and best of luck. Hope you make a decision that you will be happy with. :smile:

Reply 5

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Tobithomas10

Maths
History
Biology
Philosophy

Posted from TSR Mobile

How did you end up finding Fortismere?

Reply 6

jonnyb123

9

Just finished my A levels at woodhouse in biology chemistry and physics (and did maths to AS), provided I get 3 As I'll be off to do medicine at manchester uni.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Reply 7

Clip

19

Woodhouse lives off past glories. Fortismere often has police officers stationed outside the gate.

Fortismere is pure Muswell Hill. All the boys are hipsters, all the girls are skinny jeans princesses.

Reply 8

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by jonnyb123

Just finished my A levels at woodhouse in biology chemistry and physics (and did maths to AS), provided I get 3 As I'll be off to do medicine at manchester uni.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Oh great thank you! I appreciate it. :smile:

Do you think that the teaching is good? I've heard that there are a mix of good and bad teachers in the maths department. Also, due to being a sixth form college, do you find that you don't get as much support from teachers? As well as this is the social side as great as they make it out to be and do people mix?

Reply 9

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Clip

Woodhouse lives off past glories. Fortismere often has police officers stationed outside the gate.

Fortismere is pure Muswell Hill. All the boys are hipsters, all the girls are skinny jeans princesses.

Hmm so what are you saying. Neither? :s-smilie:

Reply 10

jonnyb123

9

Original post by Natty_ox

Oh great thank you! I appreciate it. :smile:

Do you think that the teaching is good? I've heard that there are a mix of good and bad teachers in the maths department. Also, due to being a sixth form college, do you find that you don't get as much support from teachers? As well as this is the social side as great as they make it out to be and do people mix?

It's a mixed bag, like any place. I supposedly had the worst teachers for the sciences and at some points I guess they weren't great. It never really bothered me though...You do so much work by yourself that I don't think having a bad teacher is much of a big deal.

As for support, it's brilliant. Much more so because it is a college I'd say. Those teachers who I just said weren't great, when it comes to seeking support they are completely different. You can almost always seek out your teacher (or if not a teacher in the same subject) and get some 1 on 1 explanations and advice, and they always are really helpful and even the ones who perhaps aren't great in lessons are great when it's 1 on 1. That's probably one of the best things about that place. There are also organised tutorial sessions at the end of tuesday and thursday.

As for social side I'm not really sure. I didn't do loads of socialising and basically only socialised with one group. But the social area is always packed at breaks and lunch (and way too loud, one of the reasons why I avoid it), so I think it's safe to assume it's a very good place socially. As for people mixing I can't vouch for that, I was only really friends with people that did similar subjects, although a lot of them weren't in any of my classes. Though actually I guess I did all sciences and most of my friends did maths and further maths, so I suppose that is a bit of a mix?

Reply 11

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by jonnyb123

It's a mixed bag, like any place. I supposedly had the worst teachers for the sciences and at some points I guess they weren't great. It never really bothered me though...You do so much work by yourself that I don't think having a bad teacher is much of a big deal.

As for support, it's brilliant. Much more so because it is a college I'd say. Those teachers who I just said weren't great, when it comes to seeking support they are completely different. You can almost always seek out your teacher (or if not a teacher in the same subject) and get some 1 on 1 explanations and advice, and they always are really helpful and even the ones who perhaps aren't great in lessons are great when it's 1 on 1. That's probably one of the best things about that place. There are also organised tutorial sessions at the end of tuesday and thursday.

As for social side I'm not really sure. I didn't do loads of socialising and basically only socialised with one group. But the social area is always packed at breaks and lunch (and way too loud, one of the reasons why I avoid it), so I think it's safe to assume it's a very good place socially. As for people mixing I can't vouch for that, I was only really friends with people that did similar subjects, although a lot of them weren't in any of my classes. Though actually I guess I did all sciences and most of my friends did maths and further maths, so I suppose that is a bit of a mix?

Thanks for taking the time to write so much! It will really help me in my decision! Woodhouse sounds a little more appealing now than it did before.

Reply 12

Brain25

Hi Natty, I was in the same position as you last year when I was deciding between Woodhouse and Fortismere. I chose Woodhouse in the end and now looking back, I think I made the right decision. There are lots of pros of being at Woodhouse - support from staff is good eg. the careers area, facilities such as the library and learning zone are great to do independent studies and the social side is great too - everyone is friendly and supportive of each other! Hope this helps :smile:

Reply 13

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Brain25

Hi Natty, I was in the same position as you last year when I was deciding between Woodhouse and Fortismere. I chose Woodhouse in the end and now looking back, I think I made the right decision. There are lots of pros of being at Woodhouse - support from staff is good eg. the careers area, facilities such as the library and learning zone are great to do independent studies and the social side is great too - everyone is friendly and supportive of each other! Hope this helps :smile:

Yes this helps me a lot. Thank you so much. Do you know anyone who was in the same position as you and chose Fortismere? If so what was their take on the school and did the regret it?

Reply 14

jonnyb123

9

Original post by Natty_ox

Thanks for taking the time to write so much! It will really help me in my decision! Woodhouse sounds a little more appealing now than it did before.

No problem, any other questions feel free to ask.

Reply 15

Brain25

Original post by Natty_ox

Yes this helps me a lot. Thank you so much. Do you know anyone who was in the same position as you and chose Fortismere? If so what was their take on the school and did the regret it?

No problem! and yes, I know a few people who went to the Woodhouse Introductory Afternoon, but then chose to go to Fortismere instead..they don't regret the decision and feel that Fortismere had more pros. It's up to you as an individual - where you think you'll feel more comfortable :smile:

Reply 16

darkfang77

8

Fortismere is fine, but try to avoid Castamere.

Reply 17

SR255

Fortismere. In a better area, more "exclusive" as in most students there are continuing students as opposed to Woodhouse which took kids from even my crappy school, Easier to get to because there's like one bus that goes Woodhouse as far as I know and as others as said Woodhouse is kinda cliquey. This is why I didn't go there.

Reply 18

Natty_ox

OP

1

Original post by Brain25

No problem! and yes, I know a few people who went to the Woodhouse Introductory Afternoon, but then chose to go to Fortismere instead..they don't regret the decision and feel that Fortismere had more pros. It's up to you as an individual - where you think you'll feel more comfortable

I felt much more comfortable at Woodhouse as everyone was external whilst at Fortismere, there were also internal applicants who already knew each other and stayed amongst themselves which I think made me feel a little less comfortable at the Induction Day. Especially in my form as we had to do the most cringe-worthy speed dating :dry:

. Thank you very much for the help, I’m slowly making a decision now.

Original post by darkfang77

Fortismere is fine, but try to avoid Castamere.

I feel as if I should know what you are talking about but I don't haha.

Original post by SR255

Fortismere. In a better area, more "exclusive" as in most students there are continuing students as opposed to Woodhouse which took kids from even my crappy school, Easier to get to because there's like one bus that goes Woodhouse as far as I know and as others as said Woodhouse is kinda cliquey. This is why I didn't go there.

I got the complete opposite impression. I thought that Fortismere was less exclusive. For instance on the induction day there were a list of names of applicants, external and internal and it was maybe around a 40:60 ratio so that’s quite a few. Also, when I was interviewed I noticed my interviewer had given a offer to all but one of the students she interviewed and practically all the people in my school who had a Fortismere interview got an offer. On the other hand so many people in my school were put on Woodhouse’s waiting list and I even met a couple of people at Fortismere who were also on Woodhouse’s waiting list who said they'd go there if they get the chance. But hey I could be wrong. :smile:

Reply 19

Cherry Berry

Original post by Tobithomas10

Regarding Woodhouse vs Fortismere
I have some friends currently at woodhouse and they all say that it's quite cliquey, and very very big. Also they rely greatly on independent study so you wouldn't get as much help as you would get in a sixth form. Overall I think it's quite good?

And Fortismere is very good, well according to the results. They also have more qualifications than just A levels, like the extended project and the cambridge pre-u qualification. I don't know anyone there currently so i'm not sure on the social situation there. Overall I think that Fortismere would be much better academically as opposed to woodhouse, but i'm not sure that's just a comparison of their results.

Fortismere is definitely a good choice. Excellent grades, and probably a little more friendly than Woodhouse. However, I can't say their pastoral care has been the best to be perfectly honest, especially when it comes to assisting students with the severity of their own personal/familial issues.

So let me out this into perspective:
Grades: Excellent
Good place to interact with other students: Mostly dependant on the intake that year, but usually they're quite friendly.
Good place to interact with teachers in terms of work: Mostly yes
Support/Pastoral Care: Disappointing for such a high quality school.

Go for it!

(edited 10 years ago)

Woodhouse College or Fortismere?

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