Mixed private day schools in Central/South London

I agree that Emanuel's getting very bad press here. They've made a deliberate and commendable decision not to get sucked into the very competitive South West London school bunfight, and everyone I know with DC there is absolutely thrilled with it. Interest seems to be growing every year in my area, but because they limit applications, have a sibling policy and don't exclude all but the top tiny per cent, they will always have a more mixed group. If people chose to see this as a bad thing it's obviously not the school for them.

I am not surprised and think the same is true of the other schools who went co-ed in the past decade or so (Latymer Upper, Emanuel, Kingston Grammar). However with the real shortage of mixed schools the number of applicants for each school is growing and I assume that means catchments are also growing.

The point perhaps was that London journey times can vary widely. Dulwich is very tricky to get to from parts of South London. Hammersmith is OK as long as you have easy access to the District line, perhaps via the Victoria or Jubilee lines. Wimbledon has good trains and a tram, as well as the tube. Highgate is on the northern line though quite a hike to the station. Research on journey times completely changed our list of preferred schools.

I have a Dc at Emanuel, he left his state primary lacking in confidence and not achieving to his potential. He has blossomed socially and academically, the pastoral care is excellent and I would recommend it particularly for the less confident child.
BTW Not all of us who go private think that the academic results are the be all and end all. Emanuel is constantly dismissed as second rate or a fall back I disagree, it is a good solid school with something for everyone. I know too many people whose DC's have crumbled under the pressure of academic hot houses.
I am paying for a happy confident child who will grow into a nice adult not 10 A* GCSEs

yes - siblings still need to pass the exam - I know several younger siblings who've not been able to join their sister at WHS

Thinking a bit further - as places in mixed schools are difficult, if you are on the Northern line and close to central London, Highgate might be doable.

Both Latymer Upper and Alleyns have large numbers applying and getting a place can be unpredictable.

A fallback which has been used by people I know whose kids have not got acceptable state school places and who have not been well prepared for Indie 11+ exams, is Portland Place. Also used by expats who have not had a chance to prepare. People seem happy.

I dont know what Chelseatina has against Emanuel. A nice school. Does what is says on the tin. Liked by parents who have found themselves buying their way out of state secondary.

Can anyone please help me regarding any info they can give me about sibling policies at putney and Wimbledon high. All documents say that there is no sibling policy is that truly the case ?????

I know I'm a latecomer to this conversation, but nonetheless, what everyone seems to overlook when it comes to choosing schools is the fact that OF COURSE highly selective schools such as JAGS, Alleyns and Dulwich get such fantastic academic results - its because they cream off the very brightest children who are bound to perform well even if they were taught by a performing monkey. School academic results are NOT necessarily a reflection of the teaching, merely a reflection of the intake. If your averagely bright child goes to Emanuel or Alleyns, I simply don;t believe they will necessarily get better results at the latter; in fact they may be intimidated and demoralised by the fact that they are outstripped by their peers academically and simply give up. So judging schools by academic results and league tables is sheer folly; it's only one, very small, measure of how good a school is. i'd love to see how well Alleyns of JAGS teachers would fare with a class of 30+ kids from some of the state schools such as Eliots, which as far as I know is still in special measures.

Oops..excuse the typos. My DS was in a rush to get onto the computer, so my message was typed hastily.

Basildonbond, I work in a local primary school and have also have a son whom I tutored...he got a 100% scholarship to an excellent prep school and then went on to get a 25% scholarship and 75% bursary to one of the top tier boys independent schools I mentioned above. I am in charge of the secondary transfer at my school and advise and mentor children in their quest for their perfect schools - so...my knowledge and experience is extensive.
Not to mention, that I am a soccer-mom and rugby mom and speak with all the other mums and pupils every weekend at matches and gather a consensus on all the matters of this type... I have nothing to flog...just information to share!

Are you a tutor chelseatina? Just get the feeling you're trying to flog something...

Alleyn's is great. Streatham and Clapham is not in the same league as Putney/Wimbledon/Surbiton, despite also being a member of the GDST: it's much less academic.

I would second Alleyn's for a bolshy bright girl who enjoys boys' company (have a yr 11 daughter in that mould). It has a very positive, supportive atmosphere and I think that can work well for children who haven't necessarily fitted their school well before, for whatever reason. Lots of kids use the 37 bus and North Dulwich train too, so often travel together. I think most of these schools would look hard at a child from a state primary with all level 5s from year 5. If you apply to three, maybe one a bit less competitive, it isn't unmanageable at all (the schools do try hard to make the experience a positive one) and you up your chances of some good news.

If your daughter is currently in a state school and not in the high ability group with very firm 5A's in Math and English, then she will definitely need tutoring to pass the entrance exams in places like City of London, Alleyn's and JAG'S. AND..certainly, any test at St. Paul's, Latymer Upper and Godolphin & Latymer will be extremely difficult with many Level 6 questions on their math tests. Emanuel should not even be uttered in the same breath as the above listed schools - it is several tiers below the academic standing of those schools and their entrance pass rate is significantly lower than St. Paul's, Latymer Upper, Alleyn's and JAGS - which are fiercely competitive schools. All of the schools, however, are great - even Emanuel...but, Emanuel does not have the same academic rigour that the others possess. Just thought I would add my two cents in...
Good Luck to your DD!

You need to be sceptical about what they say about level 5s. CLG is hard to get into and the competition is fierce and all the field will be performing at that level. All it means is that is the level where you stand a chance of not being rejected solely on exam. I'm not posting this to pour cold water, just to warn you that it may well be code for "less than that won't succeed".

Alleyns (also hard to get into - over 600 applications this year) might however be a good one for you to investigate. It has a reputation for being one of the schools with a more enlightened approach to SEN, and that could be good for your DS. But they don't have a strong sibling policy.

Fair enough Febreeze - my girls are final two years, so I guess things change the more parties they go to . Though, interestingly, I have friends that live literally round the corner from PH and have said the same thing to me, and that they were terribly disappointed, to the point that they are considering places like Surbiton and Ibstock over and above, which is mad given that it's a two minute hop across Lytton Grove for their DDs.

As I said above, I went to Putney High and I LOVED it. The only thing I loathed was the damn uniform, but this was in the 80s, so I guess it's an acceptable hatred

I have a DD who joined Alleyn's this year. If your DD is quite bolshy but birght this is a great school for her. Its quite difficult to get into but has loads of excellent clubs, is very sound academically, great atmosphere, good sports and arts. School buses go all over south London from tooting &clapham down to Beckenham. And that makes life so much easier as you don't have to worry !

That's interesting Febreeze to hear another view. My DD has just been offered a place at Putney for September. We are waiting on other offers too, but need to weigh up what we have and we were all very taken with Putney so would be interesting to hear what girls there really think. What years are yr DDs in?

I have girls at Putney High and don't recognise the school your dd describes. Teenage tittle-tattle I think. There is no substitute for going to see it yourself.

Forewarned is forearmed and all that. DDs say that PH is the only one that's full of shocking tales after hols and weekends, so worry not about the rest.

I do think that if one can get 'real' info from girls/boys at the schools or with chums there, that information is super valuable in helping to see the bigger picture. I have DC in Years 13, 12 and 10, so have seen it all and done it for years now - as have they.

Obviously, the academic/pastoral sides are something that have to be perfectly balanced, but the nitty gritty 'what the kids think' stuff is often overlooked and I think it is almost as important iyswim.

Having been London based for ever and a day, with children at primary and many many friends' kids at London day schools, I have seen it all. I am actually so laid back with DD3's education as a result that I know pretty much what I'll apply for, what I won't and what I may look at somewhere down the line.

My road of education with DD3 won't start until the primary apps start in earnest in November for me... I may be back and pulling my hair out then, but I hope I won't!

Ok then - Putney High is known as Slutney High.... There's plenty more 18 and 17 year old DD judgement should you require.... (and my 15 yo DS for that matter)