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Original poster

London schools, not academic girl

41 replies

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 10/04/2015 14:39

My cousin has a y 5 dd who's not at all academic. She's in a private prep school and apparently the teachers are saying she would struggle in a large state secondary (which would be ideal from a financial pov, but anyway to get a "good" comp the family would have to move and it may be a bit late in the day for that).

The school also said, however, that even previous "banker" schools for less-bright dcs were much harder to get into these days and nothing could be guaranteed. So what's my cousin to do? Where could she consider? She's in N London but I think she's resigned to a potentially long journey for the right school - atm, she's worried her dd will end up with nothing suitable.

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 10/04/2015 17:49

Agree with Really Tired. There are a few smaller schools across London which tend not to be as well known, which often do a good job with the less than stellar. There is certainly one in North London which picks up good reviews from the couple of parents I've met, but whose name escapes me. Portland Place is another, though more central, and which take from the whole ability range. Is Queens College accessible? More House? And I assume there may be a few if you look further out from where she lives.

The Head is absolutely right on one thing. Schools which used to be seen as bankers, weren't this year. Demand is rising. However with a bit of research you should find somewhere suitable. Children can change a lot during secondary years, but maintaining confidence is vital.

ReallyTired · 10/04/2015 17:23

Could your cousin ask the ed pychs for recommendations where the little girl could go to school. Unlike strangers on the internet, the ed pych has actually met this little girl. Private ed pychs get to see a lot of private schools and are not trying to sell anything. The whole point of going to an ed pych is to get the right education for a child.

GoddessErrata · 10/04/2015 17:18

A really lovely school with small class sizes and really builds confidence, producing all-round nice girls is St Catherine's in Twickenham. Have met a couple of recent students. I don't think it's highly selective but well worth your cousin talking to them.. If it's not too far/ hard to get to!

For weekly boarding, Kent College, Pembury? Again, have met some lovely girls who went there and others who are there now. We went to have a look too... Lovely location, good facilities. Nice staff. Unfortunately, couldn't quite convince DH to let DD board! I boarded, and loved it, but obviously I'm not a good advert for boarding!Grin Hmm

Original poster
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 10/04/2015 15:50

The girl has been assessed thoroughly by ed psychs etc, there are definite issues but not enough for a statement. Thanks for the various suggestions, will get the mum to check them all out. I think what would be ideal is a senior version of the prep which has definitely enhanced the little girl's confidence. She was in the state system until yr 2 but really struggled to keep up with her peers (who did sound like a pretty precocious bunch) and this school has helped hugely in that regard.

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ReallyTired · 10/04/2015 15:44

Sorry what I meant is that no school wants to admit for catering for nice but dim.

ReallyTired · 10/04/2015 15:42

Prehaps saying nice but dim, but I can list some private schools which aren't particularly selective near north London.

Royal Massonic school for girls and Alderham are not particularly seletive and both offer weekly/ flexiable boarding. As you get further out most private schools are not particularly selective. Many private schools need bums on seats and only turn away children with substantial learning difficulties that they truely cannot cope with.

If your cousin's daughter has substantial learning difficulties then Egerton Rothesay School (www.eger-roth.co.uk/) in Berkhamsted would cater for her.

I feel that your cousin needs to get an independent assessment of her daughter's ablity. There might be nothing wrong with the child's intelligence and everything wrong with the quality of the prep. I suggest that your cousin gets a tutor or an educational pycholgist to assess her daughter's learning ablity.

tiggytape · 10/04/2015 15:34

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnotherNewt · 10/04/2015 15:31

I think the head is right to the extent that all private schools inside the M25 are harder to get in to, and are tending to become more academically selective as the way of managing numbers.

I think it would be worth her viewing both Francis Holland schools (the Sloane Square one is a longer journey, but has a newish head from outside London who is very keen to have a non-pressurised environment), Portland Place, St James and Queensgate.

Unless you live very close to a state school, qualify for a statement (has that been explored for her specific issues?) or have exceptional social/medical needs, then it's pretty hard or impossible to be sure which state school you will get (especially with alondin population densities), but definitely worth looking at the closest and applying to any that are suitable for her needs (it's a 'nothing to lose' option).

Original poster
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 10/04/2015 15:22

Sorry, tiggytape x-posted. She has been to see all the close state schools and she wasn't impressed: they seemed great for high fliers, but not so good for those needing more help/smaller classes. I agree the head's words sound confusing, but I wasn't in the meeting, so can only go on hearsay.

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Original poster
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 10/04/2015 15:19

My cousin isn't looking for a top private girl's school, that's the point, she's looking for somewhere for a below-average girl. There are mild learning difficulties. What are these "nice but dim" schools? Will suggest Queenswood to her.

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tiggytape · 10/04/2015 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ReallyTired · 10/04/2015 15:11

Honestly 93% of children attend state schools. Most of them are not academic high fliers. I think your cousin needs to find out how her daughter compares with the national average. Not being able to get a place at top private girls school does not mean that she is stupid. Does the girl have learning difficulties?

There are plenty of private schools for nice but dim girls just outside North london.

JugglingLife · 10/04/2015 15:05

Well my not so academic Dsis went to Queenswood, not a million miles away, lovely school.

Original poster
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 10/04/2015 15:03

State would be ideal financially, but the mum seems resigned to private. I don't know the names of the nearest state secondaries to her, but she's not overwhelmed by them. The problem is the head seems to be saying the privates are all getting harder and harder to get into and nothing can be guaranteed.

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JugglingLife · 10/04/2015 14:57

Sorry it's not clear, is she looking for private or state?

TeddTess · 10/04/2015 14:55

as she is at a private prep the head of the prep really is in the best position to advise her of suitable schools and should be doing so!

does he think she may not get into any of the secondaries? if so, what are her state options?