Why is Latymer Prep so popular?

[somanyschools]

I would love to hear your views on why Latymer Prep is such a popular 7+ destination?

As I understand the majority of the prep children head for the Latymer Upper. Latymer Upper seems like a very good school from an academic and sports perspective but its' rankings whether in the last FT review (2011) or from the Sutton Trust (also 2011) are not stellar. Far from it.
Yet, parents seem to prefer Latymer Prep for their children over, say, Wetherby Prep whose leavers go on to secondary schools which generally outrank Latymer Upper in the above-mentioned rankings.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated ...
Many thanks

[Bonsoir]

Not all DC are über academic and can go to the top-performing schools.

[somanyschools]

I am sorry if my post was badly worded. I did not mean to be insensitive.

Bonsoir, I am not sure what you mean exactly: it seems that Latymer prep has a very competitive entry at 7+. Granted it is not in the Colet Court et al. league but it is still very difficult to get into.
My question is about the fact that the Upper school results do not seem to reflect this.

[Kewcumber]

my nephews went to Latimer Prep and upper. Because its a nice school. I presume people send their children because they like the overall ethos of the school rather than just its academic results.

One is not wildly academic - well performing above average but not stallar and the school was very good for him. The other very clever and in a very well rated Uni forecast for a first.

Don't you choose the school which suits your child best rather than the most academic one (regardless of whether they are academic or not). Personally I had great fun tagging along of rowing competitions with one of them and all the boys seemed lovely so perhaps I'm biased.

[Kewcumber]

Just looked up Wetherby prep - why would people in the Barnes/Hammersmith Chiswick area consider sedning their prep aged sons into the west end?

Mostly even at private school aren't people looking for a fairly local school at prep age? NOne of my nephews cshool freinds lived outside teh Hammersmith/Barnes/Chiswick type areas.

[Chocrock]

I have been told by parents at Latymer Upper school that the kids from Latymer prep aren't nearly as bright as the kids that enter from other schools at 11+.
Perhaps the prep school popular because it pretty much guarantees entry to the upper school which is hard to get into at 11+?

[Kewcumber]

I thought Latymer takes mostly 7+ and 13+? Isn't it hard to get into at 11+ because they don;t take many then?

[Huitre]

Latymer Upper is entirely 11+, I think. There isn't a formal 13+ entry point as far as I know.

[Huitre]

www.latymer-upper.org/admissions

There are a small number of boys admitted at 13. Most admitted at 11. It's not really a traditional public school in the way that others in the area are, much more like a grammar or similar.

[Kewcumber]

ah my sisters boys went in at 7 and 13 so I assumed that was normal

[Huitre]

I'd agree with you it's a nice school, though! My brother loved it there.

[NWgirls]

Latymer Upper is at least one good reason. It is currently a high performing school that I believe has been getting gradually better over the last decade or so. You are looking at somewhat old data, and I suggest you look at GCSE rather than A-level results since these reflect a more recent / representative year group. In 2013 LU got 73 percent A* and 21 percent A, so 94 percent A+ at GCSE. With this it ranks as number 11 in the country of a list of 405 independent schools according to Telegraph / ISC - which is "stellar", if you ask me. If you want coed in London, few if any schools can match this. And with more than 1,000 applicants for LU at 11+, you can see the appeal of the prep...

[somanyschools]

Many thanks NWgirls, your comment is really useful. It is true that my data is really old, and that things change quickly.

[NWgirls]

It is my great pleasure that my geeky obsession could be helpful! Thanks for your gracious response to my rather defensive message.

[somanyschools]

Best of luck with your results!

Which schools did you apply to? From your message, it seems Latymer is not one of them?

[Eastpoint]

I think it's probably the best mixed school in West London, it isn't religious like St Benedict's or as glamorous as Harrodian and it's physically very easy to get to (tube station virtually opposite). Add on to that a great theatre, new science labs & a new library and the promise of a new sports hall on site and you have your answer. Most of the pupils come from nearby, it is a more local school than the single sex schools and has an air of coolness. Parents tend to be more tv/media/creative than some of the other local independent schools which are more banking/law/hedgies.

[NWgirls]

somany: Thanks! I will PM you as I don't want to derail a prep thread (further) into secondary territory, and because I can/will respond more openly in private.

[somanyschools]

Thanks Eastpoint, that is a very useful answer, and it syncs perfectly with what I have been hearing.