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Secondary education

Emanuel (private) vs Twyford High School (state)

25 replies

Kirari · 14/02/2018 09:13

As the title says really. Which one would you recommend to send a child? Any opinion to share on those schools...?

The journey is more or less the same. But I assume Emanuel is slightly worse as we have to travel from outer to inner (towards city). We travel inner to outer for Twyford so assume it won't be less stressful. However, there will be more DCs who travel far at Emanuel whereas most DCs at Twyford would be local. We live approx 45 mins away. I wonder if it will have an impact on the social side.

Academically, obviously Emanuel has better results due to the advantage of being a selective school, more attention, facilities and so on. But Twyford displays good records too, and it's somewhat more impressive to achieve for a non-selective school with large numbers of pupils in a class. DS is bright and a keen learner. I feel the academic outcome would be more or less the same for a child like him.

Twyford is more economical obviously. DS won a music scholarship at Emanuel so the fees are slightly more affordable but we are not wealthy at all and we would still need to make quite a lot of sacrifices. The increase rate each year is also scary.

DS has received a music scholarship at Twyford as well (hence we know he will be allocated at the school already). So both schools will offer him plenty opportunities musically. However, compulsory duties are much heavier at Emanuel (for obvious reasons). DS loves to be active in school's music that's why we applied for the scholarship, but less duties mean he has more freedom what and how much to participate/contribute which I think is important to consider. He may find another interest along the line and the heavy duties may cause a confliction.

Part of me feel it's silly to turn down such a good (and free!) school like Twyford. It's a lot larger than where he is now so it'll be a shock to begin with but I think it's stimulating and beneficial to have wider and larger selections of friends. They also offer good sports and music for a state school.

However, Emanuel appears to be so happy always (I like the fact that they are not hothouse), and while they cherish not so academic DCs, they also seem to challenge and stretch able DCs. Their sports and music opportunities are excellent. Also, the competition was so fierce this year due to the recent extreme popularity of the school. Will we regret if we let it go?? I don't know...

If it was a choice between Emanuel vs a low achieving state school or Westminster (or any academically high flying prestigious top school) vs Twyford, it would have been slightly easier to make a decision. But somewhat they appear to be quite similar standard-wise with different pros and cons.

Any thoughts, input, advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Kirari · 14/02/2018 09:14

Sorry for the long post! Shock

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Kirari · 14/02/2018 09:15

it won't be stressful = it WILL be less stressful Blush

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nylon14 · 14/02/2018 09:50

We loved Twyford as well. But it was a bit of a journey for us. It has an excellent music program and they get extremely good results for a comprehensive. You can ring the deputy head Ms McGonigal and she will offer take you on a tour. Sadly they end up losing many scholars to private schools. I think Twyford is slightly stricter than Emmanuel but far more diverse. Not like this article would be a deciding factor but ...www.tatler.com/article/best-state-secondary-schools-uk-2018

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AnotherNewt · 14/02/2018 09:55

Can you find time to try the school run journeys at school run time next week?

Does your DS have a preference between the schools? He's the one who is really going to have to live with the choice (and the commute)

Have you been to an offer-holders' open day at Emanuel?

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jeanne16 · 14/02/2018 09:55

I am slightly puzzled as to how you have a place at Twyford given you seem to live quite far away. I believe places are allocated on proximity to the school. Also state secondary places have not yet been allocated.

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AveEldon · 14/02/2018 10:00

Is it 45 mins for both schools?

I thought Emanuel had a fairly local intake

If you have to make big sacrifices to afford Emanuel with the scholarship then make sure you have accounted for all the extras you may need to pay including travel and food

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AnotherNewt · 14/02/2018 10:07

AveEldon it does, but there isn't an admissions cut off - especially not for scholars - and it's about ease of journey as much as actual distance (fair few from north London via overground, so if you have an easy run in to Clapham Junction, you'd be OK)

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AnotherNewt · 14/02/2018 10:09

BTW Emanuel is compulsory rugby for boys. Are you OK with that?

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Kirari · 14/02/2018 11:21

nylon, I am so glad to hear the positive comments on Twyford as I really like to love the school. I requested a visit by email in January but I'm afraid we didn't get any reply. So I assumed it was very bold of me to ask a state school to open their doors outside of their normal open days...

jeanne16, we know DS will get a place at Twyford as he won the scholarship and we put the school as our first choice.

AnotherNewt, yes we booked the open day but it's near the end of this month... And yes, it's roughly 45 mins for both school. DS likes both schools and doesn't have a strong preference at the moment but I have a feeling he may choose Emanuel as we are visiting Emanuel very soon but not Twyford (the last visit was in October).

AveEldon, you are quite right. Emanuel has a fairly local intake. But still covers wider areas compared with an oversubscribed state school and I am a bit concerned DS will be only few who lives out of their network.

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nylon14 · 14/02/2018 11:49

People travel far and wide for Twyford especially music scholars. We know many from Queens Park, Harlesden, Willesden, etc. Some of the clubs for music meet very early in the morning. Do you know how your DC would get there?

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Kutik73 · 14/02/2018 13:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kirari · 15/02/2018 20:42

nylon14, I assume those who travel far and wide are all scholars? Or non-scholars also come from everywhere? I somehow thought it's very much a local community because of the high volume of the popularity. There are only 19 scholars each year, so it'll be only one or two in each class. I am hoping DS won't feel left out by being a minority.

DS will travel by a bus and a tube to Twyford and two buses to Emanuel. Twyford is mentally easier as he has a shelter for the change (Hammersmith), and also he used to go to a club near Twyford every Saturday so he knows the route very well.

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nylon14 · 15/02/2018 22:42

Scholars travel yes, but many that I know that come from NW London had church spots.

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Kirari · 16/02/2018 00:50

That's nice to know! nylon14, you sound to know a lot about Twyford. But I assume you didn't send your DC there due to the journey though you loved the school. Are you happy with your decision? Does your DC go to an independent school? Sorry if I am being too nosy...

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Quickerthanavicar · 16/02/2018 00:59

Do you care that one is a faith school and one isn't?

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Kirari · 16/02/2018 02:52

Quickerthanavicar, both are a faith school. Both have a chapel on site.

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Quickerthanavicar · 16/02/2018 08:17

Sorry had to really search for that on the Emanuel site.

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nylon14 · 17/02/2018 12:21

The only bit I would add is .... Twyford can be a bit rigid as it is a state school so the rules are enforced, brick phones only for example, whereas E is far more liberal/progressive.

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Kirari · 18/02/2018 02:24

Agree nylon14.

Also, I was wondering how much influence the school has got to maintain such good results despite being non-selective and so large. At first I thought it must have been due to the good teaching and being so organised. They appear to be very well organised really! But I hear most pupils at Twyford are from families with high expectation, therefore they are very well supported at home. Perhaps the parental inputs are the reason for their good results??

Emanuel's smaller class size, carrying and supportive approach towards their pupils' passion are very much appearing.

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MsBeaujangles · 18/02/2018 09:20

Twyford Academy Trust has 2 other schools and a forth opening in September.
I think you are right about the success being attributable to the organised systems and quality of teaching. The intake of the other schools is more diverse yet the academic outcomes of the other schools are just as good. Although the other schools have yet to produce GCSE results, internal examinations are moderated across the schools so predicted success is likely to be accurate.

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Kirari · 18/02/2018 16:03

MsBeaujangles, that's great to know!

DH always prefers independent schools. But now he is keen to look at Twyford (he hasn't seen it). I'll call the school next week and ask if we could make a visit. Hope they say yes...

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MsBeaujangles · 18/02/2018 16:57

My friends daughter was awarded a music place and Felix McGonagal (Director if Music) gave her and her parents a tour. I suggest you ask for the same tour as Ms McGonagal will be able to talk through the expectations that come with a music scholarship.
It really is a great school. It offers a great education and enriching experience. It is also more cosmopolitan and edgy than most independents. Whether that is viewed as a good or bad thing depends on the individual child and parents!

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Kirari · 18/02/2018 19:04

I and DS went to the tour also back in October. But DH didn't make it. I emailed Mrs McGonagal in January requesting another tour/visit for DH, but I have got no reply. I assumed it meant 'no'. But I will call her this time. Fingers crossed she would say 'yes'.

We are an international family. We spend a lot of time in my country and DS is a bilingual. If the school is truly cosmopolitan and edgy, I feel it really is the best match to DS. Smile

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Quickerthanavicar · 23/02/2018 15:47

Twyford, William Perkin, Ealing Fields and Ada Lovelace. 4 to pick from from September.

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Kirari · 03/03/2018 00:04

Just wondering how they arrange lunch break at Twyford. They have a lovely dining room, but they have a massive number of pupils.... Do they have a different break time to avoid Piccadilly Circus? Or many DCs eat somewhere else instead of the dining room?

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