General Discussion

Me and my family are moving into the area in the summer. We have 2 children aged 12 and 14. I'm aware there are two schools within the area but unsure how far apart they are. Any opinions out there on the schools?

There is Teignmouth Community College and there is Dawlish Community College.

We chose Dawlish.

Suggest you visit both and get a 'feel' for each school.

Thank you. Is there much distance between them? We will be moving to Dawlish and not sure how far the children will need to travel. is there much difference between them as far as standared goes? Sorry, that's alot of questions in one message!

Teignmouth has a VIth form, Dawlish doesn't.

Not sure what you mean by standards. If you mean exam results then Teignmouth get a higher % with the oh so sought after A - C GCSE's.

Whilst Dawlish gets a lower % if the kids have it in 'em to achieve they will.

Dawlish has very high rating for pastural care. Very small, very friendly school. That is why we liked it. And yes, we do value academic achievement - we are both graduates. Believe you me if there was anything 'wrong' with Dawlish I would be the first to be creating about it.

Like I said - visit both schools and decide for yourself.

Hi, we moved here over a year ago. Like the other parent who posted comments, we visited both schools, and my husband did a few "focus groups" in the local pubs. Overall we chose Dawlish. Devon has a two-tier system (from your question it sounds like you're coming from a 3-tier area) so both your children could go there. We're VERY happy that we chose Dawlish. Been extremely supportive and helpful. It was a great move.

All three of my kids have gone or are going to Dawlish. They could walk to and from with their friends and they have friends living nearby. The schools are very similar but there is a rivalry between Dawlish and Teignmouth which may make your childrens lives outside of school harder if they are separated by distance from their friends.

This is all very usefull. I really appreciate your comments. Thank you.

My two children go to school in Exeter. If I
had to choose between Teignmouth and Dawlish
would choose Teignmoth as it has a 6th form
and has better exam results

Schools aren't, or in my view shouldn't be, just about exam results.

Dawlish Community College is getting better and better. I'd recommend Dawlish over Teignmouth especially if your children are into IT.

To answer your other question about distance, it will depend on where you are moving to in Dawlish. Teignmouth is only a few miles away, but it is a bus or car ride each day, whereas Dawlish CC is walkable from just about anywhere in Dawlish. As mentioned on another post, there is, and always will be a rivalry between Teignmouth and Dawlish CC kids.

Smalltown rivalry for smalltown minds. So much for education.

Eton, Oxford and Cambridge compete. Hardly just small towns, dear.

You seem very proud of the corrupt institutions you mentioned. Are we to assume your snobbery becomes you? Social climbing and class competitiveness is what's dragging this country down. If only competing was harmless....instead it creates divides and elitism, resulting in rejection for some.

And quite what is wrong exactly with social mobility?

You are not what you own!

That sort of happy clap trap is why the next generation is full of apathy. They are not encouraged to compete in case it upsets the losers. Kids nowadays hardly bother to try and improve themselves, learn more and get on in life because we're teaching them to believe life is easy, there's no competition out there.

I teach my boy to do the best he can. And yes, he gets disappointed and sometimes upset if he loses. But he tries a lot harder the next time. And no, I'm not a pushy mother - just realistic.

I hope I've got my point across without ranting too much - sorry!

Life is competive kids are naturaly competitive
playground games proves this.
Why enter a race if you don't want to win