Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

1 2

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Whitgift v Dulwich

37 replies

Mumofthreelondon · 23/01/2017 21:07

Any views on Whitgift or Dulwich. DS is bright and sporty. Whitgift is far from us but we liked it.

OP posts:

Report

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 23/01/2017 22:53

Which is nearest to you? They're both good schools and I think it would be madness to pass by one en route to the other. Bright and sporty boys will do equally well at either.

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 24/01/2017 08:51

Thanks ! we re in Earl's Court so neither is close ... but Dulwich is nearer. Dulwich seems more talked about (a bigger name?) Or maybe just because we are in london ?
DS is incredibly sporty and it seems like whitgift sports are a few notches above Dulwich while academics are similar? Is that the right perception ?

OP posts:

Report

Needmoresleep · 24/01/2017 08:56

Unless you plan to move, look at journey times. Whitgift is a real trek. How far does the Dulwich bus go? I know it covers a large swathe of West London, which would mean reasonably local friends. From where you are surely LU or Hampton is more sensible, or one of the North London schools, Highgatge?, or perhaps Emanuel if you have access to the railway line going down to Clapham Junction.

TFL journey planner is your friend along with a knowledge of school bus routes.

Report

Needmoresleep · 24/01/2017 08:57

Unless you are talking hockey, or perhaps swimming I don't think Whitgift would be considered more sporty.

Report

LIZS · 24/01/2017 08:58

Wouldn't sw London schools be more accessible or are you looking at boarding?

Report

VivienneWestwood · 24/01/2017 09:42

Our DS is at Dulwich and has a friend from Earls Court in his class. They gave up on taking the bus as it was often delayed causing them to miss the start of the school day, and wound up taking tube to Victoria and then overland to West Dulwich. Do-able but quite a trek.

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 24/01/2017 10:41

Thanks everyone. Yes I'm worried about the commute by train or car to either one actually. We aren't planning to move and we are day school focused but flexi boarding a few nights a week may make sense at Whitgift. There seems to be similar reputation and strong academics at both. I'm still convinced sports much stronger at whitgift but I could be wrong. Im general my impression (right or wrong) is that SW schools sport is not as strong as Dulwich or WG....

OP posts:

Report

Needmoresleep · 24/01/2017 16:04

It really depends what you mean by good school sport. Some schools (Westminster is an example) are very good at participation, ie getting unsporty kids to find their niche sport, but first team standards can be low. Others have great first teams but don't do much for the rest.

By secondary the better sportspeople will be playing for Club and County. This is certainly true of Whitgift hockey. To some extent then it does not matter how good the school sport is, indeed you might prefer to be free to turn up for a County game rather than be required to play for the school. And if your DS is stuck in a car/bus/train for hours each day they wont be able to play club sport.

Driving to Croydon twice each day from Earls Court is a bonkers idea. Try if for a few days and the problems become clear. (Not least South London seems the epicentre for burst water mains.)

KGS has good sport.I dont know much about the boys, but the girls do well.

Report

AnotherNewt · 24/01/2017 21:20

"whitgift sports are a few notches above Dulwich while academics are similar? Is that the right perception ?"

Very controversial opinion!

Which sports is he interested in? Dulwich excel in some - look at their record in the national schools rugby in recent years.

Which school would you prefer to get to for events, parents' evenings and fixtures? Do you think your DS would find that the easier journey too?

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 15:50

Thanks for all the input - yes I'm sure both sports are strong - I was just blown away w whitgift sport but that could just be misperceptions on my part! Dulwich is def easier drivingwise. Right now google maps show 37 min drive to Dulwich v 1 hr to whitgift. DS is into football and running. Not rugby.

OP posts:

Report

bigTillyMint · 25/01/2017 15:59

Sorry, but I cannot believe you could get to Dulwich from Earls Court in 37 mins and especially not in rush hour traffic.

I live 3 miles away and it takes me at least 20mins at school start time. It is manic round Dulwich with 3 private schoils and numerous state schools in the close area.

Is there nowhere nearer where you live?

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 16:11

You're probably right about travel time - We have a spot much closer by (20 min) at a strong academic school. I'm just worried sports aren't strong enough for DS -

OP posts:

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 16:31

If you had both to choose from and they were equidistant which one would you choose Whitgift or Dulwich ?!?

OP posts:

Report

AnotherNewt · 25/01/2017 17:47

You won't want to be driving all through the secondary years.

What are the public transport options really like - when carrying a backpack and a sports grip?

West Brompton overground to Clapham Junction, then train to Croydon? Or early down there and catch one of the Foundation a coaches to Dulwich?

If your DS is serious about football, is he on the junior programme of a club? Where's that?

Report

meditrina · 25/01/2017 17:51

I'd choose Dulwich under Joe Spence every time.

The idea that Dulwich is anything other than excellent at sport is risible to me. But perhaps see if you can talk to the Director of Sports in the margins when your DS is interviewed and see if he can give you more info that will help you decide should you get offers from both.

Is he applying as a sports scholar? Not available at Dulwich until 13+, but if Whitgift offer him one, that might make your choice a bit simpler too.

Report

Needmoresleep · 25/01/2017 17:51

It would depend absolutely on the child. And sport. Whitgift might be more arty, and DC more trad, but fwiw I know several families who have been delighted with the way DC's structure and pastoral care has done wonders for their absent minded 11 year olds.

When did you look at Google maps. Try at 8.00am. Its the number of schools you pass on route that will be part of the problem, each with their own school run.

Report

Leeds2 · 25/01/2017 18:27

Personally, if it was a choice between the two schools, I would choose Dulwich over Whitgift. But both journeys sound horrendous from where you live and, in reality, I would choose the one with the easier, quicker journey.

Report

AnotherNewt · 25/01/2017 19:03

If you're not already on it, you might find this an interesting thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/2810767-ALL-NEW-WHITGIFT-TRINITY-DULWICH-CATERHAM-10-11-2017

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 22:38

Thanks that thread is interesting!! My DS is 13 plus

OP posts:

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 23:00

Thanks for all the helpful views . Train is West Brompton to Croydon and change to a Croydon for us for WG and it's definitely further. Plus I'm kind of overprotective so I wouldn't want DS on train alone till he is older. Dulwich have a schoolbus from kings road which would be handy. We went for sports assessments at both. If whitgift we may need the flexi boarding a few nights to ease the commute. DC sports also sound top. Thanks again everyone! Very helpful

OP posts:

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 08:50

Thanks again for all advice. DS has a scholarship offer to W and we are thinking the great opportunity merits sorting out the commute. Any parents who are doing the commute from Earl's Court to Whitgift please advise me! train, drive, flexiboarding? What do you do??

OP posts:

Report

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 12/02/2017 09:37

Definitely flexiboarding in your ds's case - there no way I'd inflict that commute everyday on a 13 year old boy trying to get to grips with a new school especially with lots of sport and extra curricular stuff on top. Whitgift is a great school but it's quite full on and he doesn't want to start off completely exhausted - well done to him!

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Email address

You've subscribed!

Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 09:50

Yes that's makes sense - flexiboarding looks a very good option as he will have both sport and singing obligations with the scholarship and I would not want him exhausted !!!

OP posts:

Report

Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 09:50

So happy they offer the flexi boarding there which seems truly flexible which is kind of unusual -

OP posts:

Report

AnotherNewt · 12/02/2017 09:59

It's mildly unusual for schools that close to London to offer any form of boarding, but offering flexi like that isn't that unusual when you look at boarding schools generally.

Congrats to your DS, and I hope it goes well for him.

If he's serious about sport, there will probably be 2-3 mornings a week with early start training, so I think you're right about the need to avoid the commute. Are you braced for all the name tapes you'll need to sew on? Or does the school offer a service?