Godolphin and Latymer vs Latymer Upper

@Summertime2 great to have first hand knowledge about both schools!

Which kind of girl do you think would thrive better in LU vs G&L?

I have a daughter at each. Happy to answer any Qs if you want to messsge me. Both are happy!

Academically, G&L is closer to SPGS than LU is. For me, the case for single sex education for girls is very strong, particularly in London, where they will be mixing and socialising with boys the whole time anyway. And they could always go to Westminster (or Winchester) for the 6th Form.

I know a bit about both schools and there are happy children at both.

Bear in mind, the original OP is seven years old and most of these rumours are bollocks.

I'd say the crucial issue is co-ed versus single sex and that's an entirely subjective choice. I know very happy dc at both schools

It must be SO hard when you can't look round. Good luck

I've seen it on here before- toss a coin and if you're disappointed with the result there's your answer!
Probably a good thing you don't know anyone else going to either school as DCs can be swayed on where their friends are going.
If you do a bit of googling you can find lots of videos, magazines etc on all the schools. Sometimes that gives a good flavour.
Have there been offer holders virtual evenings etc?

Thanks @Addmelater3. My dd says, "I don't really care" when asked about those points so she changes her mind every time we gather a new piece of information about either school.

As I said, it doesn't help that we didn't see the schools and we don't know anyone who is going to these schools next year.

I might toss a coin

@malfrale Congratulations on your lovely offers!
We've been through this decision. Does your DD have a preference?

Given that location and fees are more or less the same, maybe ask your daughter:
with boys versus without boys
approx 180/year verus approx 120/year
blue versus red
wearing a coat versus jumper or black tracksuit
extra playing fields in Wood Lane versus onsite
Chromebook versus Apple iPad
male head versus female head
A levels versus A levels/ IB

You are both right that one should not listen to rumours and indeed I keep telling myself. However, when you have not experienced something but only heard other people's opinions then the images that form in your mind are influenced by them.

My daughter keeps changing her mind. It all feels more daunting to her right now as it is a big unknown and the fact that even I am unsure obviously unsettles her.

Sorry, I know this is definitively not the biggest worry the world has right now but it is adding uncertainty to uncertainty.

Thanks,

"From all these rumors, I can't take it no more" - Song by the Timex Social Club :)

Fees are high in these West London schools - there will be the uber rich, but it cannot be generalised.

~18% of LU students are on bursaries; ~10+% for G&L (+ ~12+% for SPGS).

Both LU and G&L are committed to increasing their bursary offers in the future – goal for LU is 25% by 2024. Both schools have histories of being state-affiliated schools for more than 2 decades (50’s to ‘70s) - before reverting back to being fully independent schools. Thus, the ethos of social inclusivity lives on in these two schools.

Of note, ATTAIN is a (teacher-led) programme started by LU in 2021 to support and assist children, who are behind in their studying because of the pandemic. BRIDGE was launched by G&L in (pre-pandemic) 2020 as an academic enrichment programme for nominated Year 5/6 state kids in the area. MENTOR JR is run by mostly (?) G&L 6th formers as a volunteering effort to offer primary school children free educational support and mentoring. (St Paul’s Partnerships have the Colet Mentoring/EasyA – initiated during the 1st lock down – for free help in Maths and Physics from 6th formers.)

I wouldn't worry about rumours. DS is unbelievably uncompetitive and the girls I know at G&L aren't uber wealthy! (although obviously can pay the fees so all relative..!). We had a meet up thing in the park before they started in September and there was a usual cross section of kids- loud, quiet, etc. Just normal 11 year olds really!
DS came from a state primary and quite fancied staying Co-Ed but he would have been fine at all boys as well. He does say the girls are a bit loud and excitable but he's used to it! No evidence of roughness!
Does your DD have a preference?

Thanks @g02021, you got my point perfectly. Not being able to visit the schools and get that gut feeling that tells you whether your child (and you) fit in there or not makes things much more difficult.

The rumours about G&L are all about lots of money and a nurturing environment. For LU about being competitive and "rough". I don't want my daughter to live in a bubble but, at the same time, I don't want kids to get nasty and super competitive at this age.

I have a DS in Y7 at LU so didn't have the decision you have but have a DD in Y9 at a similar school to G&L.
Very happy so far although obviously hasn't been a normal year!
Not too much homework at all, probably about the same as his sister had in y7 and certainly less than some of his friends have had at other schools. Probably depends a bit on timetables/teachers etc. There will always be parents who think there's too much homework and others not enough!
It's a big school but most of the boys' school DS could have gone to were bigger so that wasn't an issue for us. He has time with his tutor group every day and the tutor is the first port of call for any issues. The teaching groups are different so they can meet more children that way. Both tutor and class groups seem to be 50/50 girls/boys.
Loads of children in DS's year seem to have or had one or more siblings (sometimes 3 or 4!) in the school so their parents must be happy with it!
LU and G&L probably have very similar demographics although when I looked round G&L for DD the parents looking round seemed to ooze wealth! Less so at LU although I know there is money sloshing around but also lots of kids on bursaries.
Know very happy and a couple of not so happy girls at G&L (like all schools).
We didn't apply for DD as I didn't like it for some reason when I looked around, so I'm not really totally impartial! Possibly partly because I'd been expecting to love it and I just didn't! Equally I wasn't particularly fussed about LU (didn't even look round for DD) and then I looked around and it just seemed really right for DS.
I guess it boils down to big Co-Ed v smaller all girls as location, fees etc don't really come into it.
Good luck- you probably can't really go wrong with either, although it's hard that you cant get a gut feel for a place.

Hello,
I am in the same situation of having to choose between LU and GL. What makes things worse is that this year we did not get an opportunity to visit the schools.

Can people comment on their experience please? Opinions seem to vary a lot and it is really difficult to make a decision.

Anyone facing the same decision this year?

Many thanks.

Crikey, it get weirder and weirder. My dc when in yrs 7/8 had very little homework - it seemed a lot in the first half term of year 7 but then the load rapidly went down for both. Hey ho

LU year 7 and 8 certainly seems to have a high homework burden in our direct experience. We know other parents that agree with that and some that don't agree. Some of it is a matter of subjective opinion or expectation, some of it will be differing teaching styles.

For our part, they rely too heavily on homework compared to our other child in a top school that gets much less but does just as well.

The truth is that (almost) every independent school in London has taken pupils who have been asked to leave other schools after drugs incidents. I guess that the Heads recognise that these pupils have made a mistake and deserve a second chance, which I would applaud. However, I am sure they are subject to very close scrutiny until they prove themselves. Having seen the upset and damage that these Year 9 pupils caused their families and themselves, I don't think anyone could say they've had an easy ride into another top school. Barbosska, it sounds as if Latymer was not a good fit for you and your DC. This happens at every school, and there are always some children moving in years 7 & 8. I am surprised you didn't move your child. I worry that your venting on these boards could be putting off families who are considering sending their DC to LU, which I think is an excellent school.

My child has had roles in plays at LU without having attended Stagecoach, Perform or taken any Lamda exams. The only previous experience was primary school plays.

No school is perfect. No school fits everyone.

LU expelled students dealing with drugs. They ended un in St Paul’s and Westminster? LU did the right thing by expelling those students and dealing with problem quickly. If they ended up in these other schools is worrying.

Getting into a top academic school does not guarantee that the kid is going to cope. Some have been overtutored and some are already burnt down when they start the school.

I also don't recognise some of the criticisms of LUS here, especially from Barbossca. I would agree that it is a very big school and certainly my child at times in the earlier years felt 'invisible' but they do grow into themselves and are allowed/encouraged to be individuals. I know they have changed some of the pastoral structures, made form groups smaller, introduced assistant heads of year increased the 6th former pastoral groups that run each week with year 7s etc so that may be better.

It is the furthest a school, could get from being a hothouse - the homework often is light, even in GCSEs years. There is only one set of exams per year - and none in year 7 - some schools have exam week every term and are drilled for GCSE. The 6th form is heavy on work but that is to be expected and unlike many schools they do not just focus on the examined courses but have other compulsory electives, community service and so on. Our experience is that LUS is excellent if an issue is brought to their attention; bullying or unpleasantness is always dealt with seriously and effectively. I haven't heard about the comparisons of grades and unpleasant comments you describe. Students do have high aspirations and do put pressure on themselves as is the case in all the academically selective schools. Staff are perhaps less proactive in spotting problems early on or talents to develop than our other children's schools which have smaller year groups. I think it is true that the less confident child may not be encouraged to take part in drama, music etc. I know they have increased drama opportunities to have more informal events. Except for the elite choirs which are for senior students, the choirs are non-auditioned and have no limit to numbers. The opportunities, if the students take them, are fantastic and it is paradise for the child who wants to get involved in everything.

It goes without saying that the curriculum is innovative and prepares young people to be global citizens and flexible to the changes that will face them in the future. The teachers seem very happy and enthusiastic, which I always think is a really good sign.

Pastoral care is non existent. It's a hot house, endless HW, tests, exams, weekly tests, topic tests, etc tests. (...) the amount of pressure from the school is enormous and unhealthy. (...)

Do not recognise this at all. My child had half the HW and pressure than any other child I know in a London super academic school and I've known children at St Paul's, G&L, Westminster, CLSG, City boys, Habs... I have a large circle of friends and we discuss our children's workload!

There is also fierce competition between the students and comments like "I've got 92% and you've got 91% - you are a stupid idiot", are a regular occurence.
Again, welcome to a super academic school. This also happens in grammar schools. Girls tend to be more bitchy than boys. Nothing assures you than having chosen a different school your child would be free of this.

Gosh, there seems to be an awful lot of LU bashing going on on these threads right now. I've two dc there and am extremely impressed by the school, I don't see them under excessive pressure like I see friends' dc at other schools, they have great friends and have explored extracurricular challenges I'd have never anticipated they'd embrace. The school have been extremely helpful and supportive on pastoral issues. There are some super-rich kids there but they have those at all London private schools