JAGS anyone have a daughter there??

Alleyns, under new head, requires pupils to be "self starters" which translates as 'sink or swim'. Neither the pastoral care nor the learning support is what is was 5 years ago.

We are going to the Alleyns open day on Sat. Any comments on what it might be like for a boy 10 now, to start in 2 years time? He is sporty, but loves cycling and not so good at team sports ( still enthusiastic). Great reader, loves history, doing very well academically and very happy at his current state primary.

Alleyn's. Co-ed. Thinner and blonder

Alleyn's. Co-ed. saner

DDs know many girls at JAGS. Some are snobby, most of them arenot, some are sporty, some are musical, some are very academic and they definitely come in all shapes and sizes. They do seem to get more homework even for academic girls' schools and it suits girls who thrive under pressure and don't find the work too overwhelming. I think those you just scrape in at 11+ do struggle

Really? Well, I stand corrected must be only the thin ones you see at the bus-stop, from either school

I totally agree with marnie23.

Really,????!!!!!! I honestly can't identify with the comments about thinness and looking nice. Those particular comments are much more associated with the school across the road!!!!! I had heard all the so called stories about JAGS re pressure etc prior to my dd going and I was concerned but I can honestly say that we haven't encountered that. There are also loads of girls from all sorts of backgrounds/personalities, all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. However, it is academic. Even if you excelled at your primary school you will meet girls coming to JAGS in Yr7 who will be as clever or even better than you at least at something. Go to the Saturday Open Day, (you will meet some of the older girls as only yr7 and yr8 take round on the weekday) see for yourself and really quiz the girls you meet. Don't just admire the Chemistry explosions!!!!

she told me she would not have fitted in there as she "is not thin enough"

MrsWobble, I think she has hit the nail on the head - there seems to be a lot of pressure on girls there to look "right"

Sorry but this is rubbish. My DD is in Y12 and has been at JAGS since Y7. There will undoubtedly be girls there who are worried about looking 'right' just as there will be in any school anywhere in the country.

In my experience (and that of DD) it is not an attitude that is prevalent at JAGS and she has certainly not felt any pressure to conform. If you visited the school you would see girls of all shapes and sizes.

MrsWobble, I think she has hit the nail on the head - there seems to be a lot of pressure on girls there to look "right"

my dd plays them at hockey and it could have been a possible school for her so I asked her if she would rather have gone there - it is considered academically better than her school. she told me she would not have fitted in there as she "is not thin enough"

My dd is currently at JAGS (yr9) - loves it and is doing extremely well. There is a fair amount of homework and they do have a number of tests in the year - more so than the other local independent schools. The homework can be a bit of a shock at first but it does settle down, although it does increase each year as you go up the school. But, if your dd is bright, academic, fairly organised and motivated it is the school for her. The teachers are fantastic, they seem to know the girls well and the facilities are great. In our year approx 45 came up from JAPS (they are virtually guaranteed a place) and about 60 from outside - though i dont think many came from state primaries. My dd entered from a local prep school and she chose JAGS from a very strong field of offers. My dd is in a form of 24. They are put into year sets for many subjects so the size of the sets may vary. Re sport - There are a number of girls who compete in sport at a very high (including national) level. But, you will find that they all belong to outside clubs so which ever school they chose to attend they would be at that level anyway - no doubt they were attracted to the school by its amazing sport facilities. But, there are plenty who are not sporty and they also have a great time. It is the exactly same story with music and drama, with some very highly talented musians (usually not so sporty!!) - of course there's the building of the new music centre. But you dont need to worry - there are many clubs and groups to cater for all levels. I havent come across any snobbyness but it is the land of iphones. There are some very well off parents but not all - most are professionals however. I would chose JAGS again without any hesitation. I hope this helps.

Condemned, my DD was doing that much at her local comp at the start of Y7 (possibly because she spent so long on it!)

All girls schools seem to have massive amounts of homework.

My daughter left 2 years ago. It's a good school, not a perfect fit for her but no complaints. What's your daughter like?

Friend of mine has two daughters. First went to JAGS and found it very pressurised (no point playing tennis unless you're county champion, etc). She looked elsewhere for sixth form for that daughter and sent her other daughter to another school entirely.

My cousin was expelled some years ago, and effectively banned from every independent school inside the M25 after her parents challenged the expulsion on the grounds that she hadn't actually been caught doing what she was accused of

Neighbours' DDs went there much more recently. One did well academically but disliked the rather heavy handed disciplinary approach. The other developed an eating disorder and according to her mother the school's pastoral care was non-existent.