CLSB vs selective grammar

Honestly, there is no networking for a Y7....! Also, you're not choosing between an indy and a sink school - you're potentially choosing between an indy and a very selective state school. There are pros and cons of each but they're not all my that different either in lots of ways.

For what its worth, I have a friend with one child at CLSB and another at a London grammar and she said that the one at the grammar is not missing out on anything in compared to his brother. It's the commute and cost that's the main difference. And that CLSB has students from all over London compared to the grammar (where the students are spread out but not to the same extent). The idea of networking only really applies to very specific schools in my experience.

Networking benefits from private schools is totally exaggerated. It may have helped 50 years ago but it is pretty worthless now.

The lack of open days has been disernable challenge this year. Is the Grammar significantly closer than CLSB? Easier commute? We have friends with sons receiving in Grammars and securing with Oxbridge offers so no apparent disadvantage for prospects. Do you mean social activities or longer term social networks in to University or beyond? Or other types of personal development & enrichment.

City is a great school in a very urban environment. Are sport/grounds important to your ds? If so, the Grammar will offer better opportunities maybe if it has onsite fields? Academic results will be the same if it's a super selective. City may have more extra curricular clubs and smaller classes? It has a wider spread socio economically than other comparable schools so 'old boy' network might not be so strong.