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Original poster

Latymer Upper vs KCS / St Paul's

61 replies

windsandandstars · 27/02/2015 12:57

This is my first post on mumsnet; please be gentle!

DS is in his final year of state primary school and is very fortunate to have an offer from Latymer (11+) and a conditional offer from Kings College School (13+). He has an interview with St Paul's (13+) next week. We live in Hammersmith, and therefore Latymer is much more convenient than Kings. The Latymer offer is also for next year, whereas for Kings or St Pauls (if by luck an offer were forthcoming) he would need to attend a prep school for 2 years and take the common entrance exam first. This seems like undue hardship on DS (as is potentially the daily journey to Wimbledon), when he could accept the place at Latymer (which is, after all, a wonderful school). But is it worth it to go to a top school like Kings or potentially St Paul's? Does the fact I'm even asking this question mean I am putting my own interests above his? Any thoughts appreciated!

OP posts:
amoorthy12 · 22/02/2016 21:49

Hi - I have a similar question. We are currently renting so we don't have the location problem. My DS got the conditional offer from KCS for 13+ and offer for 11+ from Latymer. He is interviewing at St pauls next week. We are new to UK and are not sure which one to choose. He is at a prep school that goes to 13 and his sister goes there. Also, is one school better than the other when it comes to preparing for the US Ivy League schools?

Original poster
windsandandstars · 01/03/2015 21:53

Latymer it is! It's where DS wants to go.

Many thanks, everyone, for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 28/02/2015 12:07

I've just read the thread and it sounds like a no brainer.

Logistics matter. Living locally to school is a massive plus.

singersgirl · 28/02/2015 09:50

Oh that makes sense. Well, good luck with your choice. Latymer is a great school and we know lots of people who are very happy there.

Swimmingwithsharks · 27/02/2015 18:02

Of course Latymer and St Pauls will be an easy commute for your son to go to school. But there are school coaches to KCS, check the routes, there is one that leaves from Hammersmith. There are quite a few boys from the Hammersmith area who go to Kings. Does he have a preference?
I imagine you will probably go with Latymer as it sounds the most straight forward option?

Original poster
windsandandstars · 27/02/2015 17:59

Many thanks for all the advice; sounds like a consensus! We are definitely leaning towards Latymer.

Singersgirl, we did apply for 11+ entry to Colet Court; DS got an interview but not an offer (only 10 places each for 11+ and 11+ deferred). Likewise, Kings had only 15 places for 11+ and four times as many places for 13+. Kings wouldn't let us apply for both, so we chose the best odds; in retrospect maybe not the best decision.

OP posts:
singersgirl · 27/02/2015 16:11

I think changing to prep school and then doing the CE exam would be unnecessarily stressful for your son, so I'd go with the 11+ place. They're all good schools and I'm sure he'll thrive at Latymer. And since you live in Hammersmith it seems a slam dunk decision all round.

I'm curious though as to why you didn't apply for an 11+ place at SPS (via Colet Court) and KCS (via the junior school) as well if your son is at state primary, rather than going the 13+ route and having to factor in another prep school for 2 years.

Gummibaer · 27/02/2015 14:33

We are in a very similar position and have just decided to turn down KCS Wimbledon (13+) and the St Paul's Interview in favour of another, closer, independent boys' school where ds got an academic scholarship and can start in September. All are great schools and if your ds is bright and hardworking, he will do well in any of them. Don't forget that the good results of these schools are down mainly due to their pupil selection rather than any special teaching. In other words, a bright child should do equally well academically in either of the schools. Good luck to your ds.

jeanne16 · 27/02/2015 13:36

Also it would be quite an upheaval for him to go to e prep school for 2 years. This could be very disruptive and tricky from a friendship point of view. I would take the place at LU.

MLP · 27/02/2015 13:27

I agree with Basildon. I think I would struggle the additonal commute to Wimbledon vs a school in your neighbourhood. Both schools are very good - I don't think you will go wrong with LU and I don't think the differential is sufficent to merit the hassle of the time taken up getting to Wimbledon.

basildonbond · 27/02/2015 13:14

gosh there are a lot of parents considering nightmare commutes for their children today!! I went to one of the Hammersmith schools and one of my friends lived in Wimbledon village. I remember the first time I went to her house after school and wondering if we'd ever get home - it seemed to take an age ... Yes, KCS and St Paul's are more 'prestigious' than Latymer but is that prestige worth that journey every day? IMO no school is worth a difficult journey, passing many brilliant schools on the way. The choice between St Paul's and Latymer would be trickier but is a bird in the hand worth more than 1 in the bush?