City of London Boys

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Our boy has been offered a 10+ place for City of London.

I'd love to hear from parents of boys at City of London on this thread or PM etc.

Does the school live up to your expectations?
Are the boys in general happy?
Are there any material concerns (not looking for perfection)?

He's also been offered an 11+ place at Colet Court/St Paul's which I have had lots of great parental feedback on already. Words from experienced parents at City would help us make our decision (by next week, Thursday 27th Feb).

Thanks all in advance.

[saganoren]

I know some boys at CLSB and it seems like a great school, certainly in terms of producing happy/pleasant pupils. The student body is far more mixed than at most London private schools, which imho is a good thing but others would disagree and be very strongly swayed by St Paul's cachet, which is undeniably greater. SP gets more stellar results but it is more highly selective, so that doesn't mean as much as it might appear, a boy who has places at both schools should achieve roughly similar outcomes wherever he goes. If you're significantly closer to one than the other I'd choose on a distance basis .

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Very sensible advice. I have good reports from parents at StP too, both here and elsewhere.

It's the sort of difficult decision that is probably about splitting hairs. A choice we are fortunate to have.

[saganoren]

We had a similarly tough decision with girls, recently. In the end went for the marginally - arguably - less prestigious option on the basis of convenience: distance/sibling there already etc. Presumably your ds has an opinion too, so listen to that. Good luck

[Chocrock]

My DS is at CLS, he started there in OG (10+).

He and we have been very happy with the school. There is a real mix of boys from every kind of background, religion, race there is in London and the school is a very stimulating place because of the mix.

The teaching is excellent, my son is stimulated and really enjoys learning. The timetable is fast paced and demanding without feeling pressured. He also enjoys the sport, drama and extra curricular activities. It is also a very musical school, sadly my son is not!

The boys travel to school from all over London and as far as Potters Bar and St Albans to get there. The only drawback is that very few of his friends are local, but it doesn't cause weekend taxi issues he has his Oyster card!

[QueenQueenie]

Hi there. Both my boys are at CLS and both have been there since 11+, now in junior sixth and 4th form. They are very different characters and are both very happy indeed there. As a parent I have been extremely impressed throughout - the school has a very liberal atmosphere, the boys are a truly mixed bunch in terms of background and ethnicity which I for one value highly in terms of not being such a bubble of privilege as many London fee paying schools and as a good preparation for the real world post school. At least one in ten boys is on a full scholarship / bursary paying no fees which is impressive in my opinion.

If you took the colet court place would that mean going through the whole CE thing to progress to St Pauls? That would weigh heavily in my thinking tbh. My boys have really benefited from being at the school since 11, not having to spend years in preparing for CE followed by beginning GCSE courses pretty much as soon as they get to their senior school. Also a bird in the hand and all that.

Good luck with your decision. PM me if you want any more info.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Thanks for these great reports. Very much thinking it will be impossible for us to make a wrong decision either way.

[PriMum]

My Son has been offered a place too for 10+ at the city. I have only heard wonderful things about the school. Children are always well behaved on the public transport. Don't know anyone at stPauls

[joanofarchitrave]

I don't have recent information on Colet Court except that I looked at it on the Good Schools Guide purely out of interest as my dh experienced it as extremely driven in all respects when he was there. Interestingly the review on the Guide described it in similar terms now - something like, if you are looking for an intense academic education this is the place, but it's not for the fainthearted. I would look very closely and think carefully if drawn to Colet Court.

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

"Presumably your ds has an opinion too, so listen to that."

We did and he chose Colet Court. Delighted either way. Both sound great schools. So lucky to be able to choose for himself in year 5 whilst all his year 6 mates are waiting to hear on the 3 Mar to see what they have got.

[oliver1003]

Hi everyone
I am new in this site
anyone have any past papers for the city of London boys school
or any suggestion of what material I should use to prepare my son???

HELP!!

[Nicename]

Check their website for past papers.

[shahs2]

anyone who has adopted child from overseas and managed to get pupil premium and hence basis for preference to secondary school?

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

Shahs2, if you want an answer to that question you need to start a thread of your own in the Secondary Education topic, or possibly the Adoption topic.

Go to www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary?call=NewConversationPage orwww.mumsnet.com/Talk/adoptions?call=NewConversationPage

[Workgmum]

Anyone's DS sat for 10+ this year?