Acland Burghley school or William Ellis?

[frogs]

Any thoughts or experiences?

TIA

[frogs]

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[frogs]

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[sunshinecity]

I looked at both of these schools for my nephew earlier this year (long story). I found them quite different in atmosphere and approach but similar in other respects. There are obviously challenging pupils in both schools but there are also boys who do achieve good grades etc. In the end I leant more towards William Ellis as I liked the head who was new and who seemed to have quite ambitious plans for the school.

When I spoke to people who had chosen one over the other, I found that they all prefered the school their DS was in - whichever one it was. However, I guess this is normal as people tend to justify their decisions / choices and prefer not to think they made a mistake.

[frogs]

Thanks, sunshine, glad it's not just me talking to myself here!

We're going to see WE this week, and saw AB last week. It seemed like quite a funky school with a quietly dynamic head. But I did wonder how easy it would be for a moderately bright child to get away with doing the bare minimum.

Would still be grateful for any other experiences, even second hand! In the end we'll make the decision based on what we think, but it's always nice to have a more rounded picture, and I don't know anyone with dc at either school.

Did your nephew go to WE in the end, sunshine?

[tethersend]

Acland Burghley has a fantastic art department, and encourages involvement in debating societies etc... As far as I know, they really do push bright students. WE is run very much more along 'traditional' lines, although the new head may change this.

Both schools are good IMO, I think it will come down to what kind of subjects your DS is more interested in.

Good luck!

[frogs]

Thanks! I know we're lucky to have a choice of good schools, but they're so different from each other and hard to get a feel for what would be best.

I like the fact that WE have a focus on languages, and I think ds might prefer the trad all-boys thing. But so hard to know!

[sunshinecity]

My sister and nephew's move back to the UK is still up in the air so no he isn't at William Ellis.
The other thing, of course, is whether they will have spaces for him mid-year...

I can understand your point about pushing bright students, I think this is the main drawback of comprehensive schools in inner london. They seem so pleased to have well behaved and interested students that they let them get on with their own thing and it's only when the child really gets into difficulties that they pull out the stops.

[notapushy1]

One little statistic:
currently more boys join the highly sought-after Camden School for Girls 6th form from Acland Burley than William Ellis...
William Ellis used to be a grammar school and in its heydey (long-gone) was genuinely a brother school to CSG.
There are cultured, well-educated families @ both schools.
Fiona Millar and Alistair Campbell sent their boys to WE...

[Fluffypoms]

Acland Burghley was actually went too,
I too thinks it comes down to the subjects your dc will choose,