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Original poster

London Private Senior School For "Tim Nice But Dim"? / Where Do Average Kids Go?

96 replies

EmbroideryQueen · 28/01/2016 22:51

Please help! I'm looking for a private Senior school for my DS within reach of central, north or possibly west London.

My DS will be moving school at 13+ and has various mild SEN which mean he usually gets CAT scores of 100 -110 and "may or may not just scrape through Common Entrance at 55%".

(Note, I'm not actually calling him or other DC like him dim as thread title suggests, just that I'm very aware that this is how he is thought of by many London schools.)

I'd love some suggestions for any Senior Schools looking for 55% CE or below in the right sort of area.

Thanks!

OP posts:
horsemadmom · 31/01/2016 15:24

I wouldn't cross NBH off the list so quickly. It had teething problems a few years ago while absorbing the Royal School at short notice and launching Cannonbury while sharing a Head between two sites. I know some 'average' children who really enjoyed it and did much better than their parents ever expected.
You should see all the schools before deciding rather than rely on hearsay.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/01/2016 14:54

Another one that may be a weekly / flexi boarding option is St James in Ashford (Middlesex not Kent)

Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 31/01/2016 14:21

I will google some of those other schools this eve and let you know what I think.

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Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 31/01/2016 14:20

Almapudden

I wrote up thread:

"Wetherby I'm very sceptical about the idea that initially it may not be that selective?? Firstly, due to location (assuming it's in Marylebone also?) secondly, because isn't the Prep used as a backup choice for the Westminster / St Pauls / Sussex House crowd?? Therefore some may just decide to stay on if they fail 13+ for Westminster & St Pauls?"

Am I wrong about the above, do you think? If so, I wonder if it will only be a few years before it is as I describe?

OP posts:
almapudden · 31/01/2016 14:16

Wetherby is a great option. Mixed ability but the overall profile at the moment is definitely average rather than high-achieving.

Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 31/01/2016 13:54

Sleepwhenidie yes, London has gone a bit mad! It's so pressured for the children too - so many parents feel they have to get a tutor just to be in equal footing with everyone else who has a tutor. I can see in a few years that summer schools and Saturday morning tutoring clubs will be the norm. MN also seems to be filled with a disproportionately large number of people asking about that small handful of Schools, especially Preps.

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Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 31/01/2016 13:47

ContraryMe glad it's been useful. Smile I'm surprised This topic isn't posted about more, I'd have thought there would be many parents in this situation? (But then MN does have a reputation for only having very bright or very SEN DC! Maybe that's fairly true!?)

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sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2016 23:31

Apologies...that should have been for embroideryq Flowers

sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2016 23:29

'Average is the new thick' I like that contrary Smile. I concur. I seem to be surrounded by hysterical mothers under the impression that if you can't get your DC's into a top 20 school in London then boarding is the only option Confused. There are others, including numerous excellent state Shock options. Our DC's can't all be geniuses and in not getting into these (admittedly in many respects amazing) schools they may just be escaping several years of intense pressure to perform and lots of time feeling inadequate. I'm sure you'll find the right place for your DS.

contraryMe · 30/01/2016 23:00

EmbroideryQ, this has actually been a useful thread. I was just confused by the tv reference but accept that it was probably just me that didn't get it. Please continue to update us on the results of your investigations. I will be looking at this issue in a couple of years time.

Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 30/01/2016 22:04

NBH ah, pity you've not heard anything good either SleepWhenIDie. I'm pretty sure it's off the list. Y on KA and structure.

St Chris', Letchworth will investigate. Great to hear about the good bus service, thanks.

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Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 30/01/2016 22:00

Thanks everyone.

I think I have been put off Harrodian & Emanuel due to their popularity.

St Dunstans I will investigate further.

Wetherby I'm very sceptical about the idea that initially it may not be that selective?? Firstly, due to location (assuming it's in Marylebone also?) secondly, because isn't the Prep used as a backup choice for the Westminster / St Pauls / Sussex House crowd?? Therefore some may just decide to stay on if they fail 13+ for Westminster & St Pauls?

St Benedicts, Ealing not heard of it, will investigate.

Aldenham Yes, it is definitly a very strong contender ThreeUnderThree33, especially due to the boarding sort of feel and the excellent bus routes. They were very helpful on the phone. Currently one of my favourites.

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Original poster
EmbroideryQueen · 30/01/2016 21:52

ContraryMe

I apologise if I caused offence. It is a genuine query and as Draylon says, it was used as short hand. I hope nobody with DC at these schools would think I was actually calling their DC dim.

Regarding being average, in London, "average is the new thick" thanks to the increasingly massive numbers of very capable DC from well resourced families competing for a small number of school places in the 'good schools' (both selective private ones and buying houses in catchment areas for state), plus the overall fantastic state school exam results compared to the rest of the country.

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contraryMe · 30/01/2016 19:52

I'm not British so l did not understand the reference to the tv character. Fair enough. I have two special needs children (55% CE would be a dream) and it's a constant struggle. Sense of humour can run a bit dry l'm afraid.

Draylon · 30/01/2016 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EdithWeston · 30/01/2016 16:27

"Who refers to their DC as nice but dim even in jest?"

I suppose it's the same people who quote his other catchphrases? OK, it's not compulsory to like a specific comedian. But some characters do just stick.

contraryMe · 30/01/2016 15:03

Is this a genuine query? Who refers to their DC as nice but dim even in jest? How offensive to mums with children in these schools. I'm suspicious.

SoConfused15 · 30/01/2016 10:06

I can also recommend St Chris, Letchworth, where my DS is. A lot of kids come from North London on school bus or train. It is just a lovely school. A friend sent her dyslexic DS and he is thriving. It's non-selective but they do have some highly achieving kids who are not up for the more pressured atmosphere of other schools-they took their very high achieving other DS out of Habs as he was miserable but he loves St Chris.

Elibean · 30/01/2016 10:02

And I know you're not calling your ds dim, OP, but just as an aside...I hate that saying 'Tim nice but dim' Sad

Elibean · 30/01/2016 10:01

But its not in Chiswick. Its by Kew Bridge, next to Brentford Leisure Centre.

Elibean · 30/01/2016 10:00

I heard Kew House had 600 applications for 80 places this year....but they do deliberately take a cross section of skills/abilities, so academic starriness is not a pre-requisite!

sleepwhenidie · 30/01/2016 08:43

I'm not hearing anything good about NBH either sorry. And I think if DS is keen on routine and structure then yes, cross KA off the list Smile

Threeunderthree33 · 29/01/2016 23:12

Did Aldenham appeal? Someone mentioned it earlier but you didn't pick it up. Does flexiboarding and I think has buses from North London.

AnotherNewt · 29/01/2016 22:53

Emanuel is increasingly sought after, including as first choice.

They guillotine their registration list, because they interview all candidates, and say they attach importance to this. They also say they are interested in pupils who bring something to the school (eg sport, art, drama) not just academic performance. So it may well be worth a look.

Word of warning. The limit of 600 registrations for 11+ Sept 17 entry has already been reached, and they say they are close to the limit of 150 for 13+. So if you think you might be interested, move quickly.

It's an easy school to reach from quite large swathes of London, as it's a short walk from Clapham Junction and all the overground and suburban rail services that stop there.

Needmoresleep · 29/01/2016 22:32

My understanding is St Dunstan is an option for those who would miss the cut off for the Dulwich schools and Trinity/Whitgift.

If you can get there add The Hall Wimbledon to your list.

Both Harrodian and Emanual are oversubscribed. You might have more luck with Ibstock.

St Benedicts Ealing might be another option.

Lots of weekly boarding options. Reeds Cobham. Shiplake.

Kew House is new but set up by a couple of well regarded preps who became only too aware of the shortage of secondary places. It could well be one of those where it is worth getting in early before it becomes too selective.

Another prep that has done this is Wetherby. Again it probably won't be that selective initially so worth a look.