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Sutton Grammar School SM1

8 replies

jmb72 · 25/02/2021 21:07

Hi There,
After some inside info re. Sutton Grammar. Putting my son in for SET test etc (currently Yr 5) able and stands a good chance apparently. Possibly unlike some parents I'm seeking a school which pushes but also massively nurtures and concerned that SGS might be a little too uber competitive. I'ld love to find out what the actual atmosphere is like in the school once you're in. I know it has a great rep for pastoral and certainly less hot housey than the other Grammars but to what extent?
How much homework would a typical Year 7 boy receive per night?
Is there a supportive or competitive atmosphere? Or good balance?
Is it heavy on the STEM subjects to the detriment of others?
Are the boys happy?
Any insights welcome. Thanks so tricky when all the open days are virtual ATM!

OP posts:
sjs24 · 19/03/2021 20:50

Hello @jmb72,
My son is in Year 8 at SGS.
He's a kind, gentle boy, loves music but not sporty. At his primary school he was friends with quite a few girls and I wondered how he'd get on in an all boy cohort...He's extremely happy at Sutton Grammar - we've found it to be a caring school and one which seems interested in an all-round education and not just the academics. This was a priority for us when looking for a school for him and for us it stood out amongst the Sutton grammars for this reason. Many staff seem to have been there a long time, or were even educated at the school themselves and the school has a family feel to it. The staff work hard to get to know the boys and there are many clubs and activities (such as Year 7 board games club) which help the boys to become quickly integrated into school life and get to know other students and staff.
So answering your questions:
Year 7 would get about 1 hour a night roughly (maybe a bit extra with revision for tests etc) but certainly nothing excessive. There wasn't any holiday homework either.
I think the atmosphere is competitive but also supportive; the school has a strong house system and the boys are in 5 forms in each school year. They compete as a form against other forms in everything from poetry to music to sports to chess etc. So this knits them together as a form group and helps them to appreciate each other's skills and talents. Obviously as a selective school there are many bright and able boys and it can be a shock moving from being top of your primary class to being with other equally capable boys, but it's also great for them to be challenged and for lessons to be pitched at their ability, and my son has made that transition much better than I thought he might.
The curriculum seems well balanced...they have a choice of 3 languages to A level, the English department seems enthusiastic and strong, there are various musical orchestras and choirs to get involved with, school magazine etc. They have a great sports ground at Northey Ave which they travel to for an afternoon of games once a week. There's also an onsite open air, heated pool used Easter-October. They seem to offer a range of trips although unfortunately COVID has put pay to a lot of that for the moment.
My son and his friends all seem very happy. So are the parents that I know. The boys have had excellent form tutors and seem to have a lot of respect for their teachers and enjoy their lessons. We've had a couple of small issues which the school have responded to and resolved really quickly. The school has also managed the circumstances around COVID really well with good communication, live lessons and quizzes for Year 7 boys in lockdown last year.
I hope that's of some help...this is my first ever post on Mumsnet! Feel free to DM me if you want to know anything else!

Blueskiessunshine · 24/05/2021 11:11

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this post! We are considering SGS, and for me it is so important to find a strong academic school that is also nurturing. @sjs24 your post is very reassuring!

Blueskiessunshine · 02/09/2021 12:49

@sjs24 please can I ask how many boys are in your son's class? Also, do many boys commute or are most local? Our son would need to get the train from Epsom so just wondering if many others do the same.
Thank you again for your insightful post!

sjs24 · 02/09/2021 19:31

@blueskiessunshine There are 27 boys in the class and 5 classes in the year group. Each class is a different house. Regarding travelling, some boys are local and some travel from much further - so a bit of a mixture. There are boys in his class travelling in on the train from Ashtead who come through Epsom.
On the afternoon that they have sports at Northey Avenue, boys can travel home directly from there or alternatively return to school on the school coach and then make their journey from school as normal.
I do think it's good not to be too far away - there are other times that you/ your son will have to make the journey (parents' evenings, concerts, events, trips, etc) and as well it's good to be able to make the most of after school clubs instead of rushing off to commute a long distance home.

VC75 · 09/12/2021 21:59

Hi All,

Does anyone knows Sutton grammar's second stage cut-off marks for this year (2021)? Also Wallington boys first stage exams cut-off marks? Any information is helpful.

Blueskiessunshine · 12/05/2022 10:57

@sjs24 I hope you don't mind me coming back with another question for you! But in regards to the foreign languages at SGS, is it luck of the draw for which language the children start with in year 7, i.e. depending on which form group they are in? Or do they get to choose out of the three languages? I know they learn two languages but I'm just wondering if they get any choice. Many thanks! Karen

sjs24 · 12/05/2022 18:32

@Blueskiessunshine No problem! Unless things have changed, before the boys start they are given a choice of French or German. What they choose (or end up with) directs what form they're in. We had a strong preference for one, provided reasons why, and subsequently were pleased to get it, but there are no guarantees. 3 forms do French and 2 did German.
In Year 8 they pick up another language and Spanish is thrown into the mix too. So there are boys that end up learning French & Spanish/ German & Spanish/ German & French. The boys then study the two languages for 2 years in Years 8 and 9 and after that they can continue both or just choose one to do at GCSE.
Hope that all makes sense!

Blueskiessunshine · 12/05/2022 19:25

@sjs24 it does make total sense! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer 😊

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