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Original poster

St Marylebone School, Westminster. Is it really as amazing as people say it is?

30 replies

welovesausagedogs · 23/02/2012 20:14

I have heard lots of great things about St Marylebone recently. One of our close family friends started year 7 there this September, they say it's fantastic and say the quality of teaching is better than at their son's private school.

Is it really this good? Just interested about this school, seems like a hidden gem??

OP posts:
pithy · 24/02/2012 15:37

Would concur with positive reviewers of St Marylebone. We chose it over offers from independent schools and have not regretted our decision. Teachers are highly qualified: Oxbridge, other RG amongst their number, and dedicated, responding quickly to parental concerns. School is partially selective for music, dance, drama, and moves are afoot to strengthen its EBAC rating - a maths specialism was recently added. St M. has climbed steadily in the FT performance tables for the past five years. Extra-curricular topics include: Bi-lingual book club, science, debating, Latin. Regent's Park is opposite for sport. A recent addition to the, admittedly cramped site, is a cleverly integrated basement sportshall. It also belongs to the London Schools Athletics Association, and came in the top half dozen, in the LSAA's regional cross country finals, giving the likes of Latymer, Alleyn's et al, a run for their money. Music is outstanding, several choirs and orchestras, with links to nearby RAM.
It truly deserves its outstanding status IMO. Setting caters for the high fliers, who are taught to cherish and respect SEN pupils. Popular with parents from the nearby BBC, central London academics, creative types, but also manages to be socially and ethnically diverse.

Original poster
welovesausagedogs · 24/02/2012 11:25

Yeah i think you must be right about their expectations of private schools being better, i think they were happily surprised when their daughter who didn't get even a place at any of the private schools they tried for got a performing arts scholarship there and is now excelling in all her subjects. They did say though that the morale among the teachers there is very good, with lots of teachers choosing that school in which to work.

OP posts:
MrsSquirrel · 24/02/2012 10:06

My dd's friend goes to St Marylebone and is very happy there. It is a good school, but it's not heaven on earth. IMO other schools around here, e.g. Camden Girls, Parliament Hill, are just as good.

I agree it says more about the parents' expectations about private schools being better.

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 24/02/2012 09:42

I agree, it's hardly a hidden gem it's notorious as one of the best girls' schools in London and every yr 6 girl within about five miles seems to have a crack at it.

kensingtonia · 23/02/2012 22:32

I know a girl who started last year, she seems to like it, but it is just a school with many good points but not always perfect. I think many state schools have very good teaching, perhaps it says more about the parents' expectations and there is often a honeymoon period after starting at a new school. Not exactly a hidden gem, very well known in west London and I have known of people who went to church for five years to have a crack at it.