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Original poster

Schools similar to Alleyn's?

37 replies

DeadDuckFace · 03/07/2016 22:45

Hi all,

Would love some advice please. ds is going into year 5 and we are starting to long list schools. Two of his teachers (class and English) have both said that Alleyns could be a really good school for him and after a bit of research I also think KGS could be good and ds's class teacher agrees. He is very arty (on a scholarship prep scheme at school) and also great at creative writing. He's good all round academically but has DCD so not at all sporty. He's polite and hard-working, very gentle and not the loudest boy but popular with the other kids as he's a good listener. I wouldn't say he'd suit a very high testosterone, sporty school or a hothouse as he's gentle and hard working anyway. Alleyn's sounds perfect but I'm aware just how popular it is, would love to hear suggestions for other schools we can apply to, at the moment we are just looking at KGS and Alleyns but would be good to have some other options too.

Thankyou!

OP posts:
Original poster
DeadDuckFace · 04/07/2016 13:46

Thanks all and interesting re Emanuel - the only thing that puts me off with Emanuel is the compulsory religious element - they have to go to Chapel once a week? Ds is at the age of 9 an avowed humanist - something I'm not taking too seriously but I'd prefer a school with a less overtly religious ethos - as it is ds's current school is way more religious than I expected with fire and brimstone featuring in a school assembly I witnessed!

Also ds isn't allowed to play rugby because of his difficulties so a very rugby focussed school isn't ideal but I get the impression that Emanuel celebrates other skills too so hopefully his art will make up for his lack of sporting prowess.

We have already applied to sit the 10+ at Emanuel but this was more to practice for the 11+ but if ds does get in and absolutely loves it we will think about taking the place, although ds is very keen to stay on until year 6 at his current school.

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Cleo1303 · 04/07/2016 11:32

I would think he'd be happier at a co-ed school from what you have said. Is Latymer too far for you? It might be worth a look.

Also, when I looked at Ibstock it didn't strike me as particularly sporty and academically it has improved a lot over the past couple of years.

Almost all the London day schools are going to be very sporty - but that doesn't mean only sporty children attend those schools. DD's co-ed (Emanuel) is considered to be very competitive at sport but not every child is madly interested in sport and it's quite clear the school values its chess players and academic scholars who represent the school in various literary competitions as much as they value the rugby players and rowers. The school is also very focused on art, music and drama and there are loads of plays, musicals, choirs and countless bands - jazz, classical, everything.

There is so much on offer that every child should be able to find a like-minded group of friends, and the opportunities are there for all children to excel in their chosen field. Like Ibstock the academic performance is improving year on year. Three years ago I really didn't think it was academic enough and was reluctant to consider it but I'm so glad I did because DD loves it. She is not super academic but there are a lot of very clever children there. It used to be a fall-back school for children who didn't get in anywhere else but is now getting children who have chosen it over Latymer because it doesn't feel so pressured.

It won't ever match the academic levels of the highest achieving schools because it is one of the few schools to retain a sibling policy which allows siblings to win a place with a lower 11+ score so there will be a wider range of abilities. The main thing is that the brightest children are challenged and stretched.

schbittery · 04/07/2016 07:39

Trinity is often thought of as less alpha than Whitgift. Also very sporty like Whitgift but also very musical so i get the impression it is less of an issue if you're not sporty? I think Id look at all the schools youve mentioned and see what you think. When we did the year 5 longlist we were certainly able to rule schools out on fit for our ds/family and liked others more than expected etc.

Original poster
DeadDuckFace · 03/07/2016 23:49

Thanks both - AnotherNewt - yes interesting re Dulwich, met the head recently and he seemed like a very nice chap. I see Dulwich and Whitgift listed as comparable here on the forums a lot but got the impression that Whitgift is particularly sporty - would you say Dulwich is better of the two for someone like ds?

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AnotherNewt · 03/07/2016 23:43

I think it's worth going to look at Dulwich, all sorts of boys do well there.

herethereandeverywhere · 03/07/2016 23:17

Emanuel? Though they close their list early, not sure if it's already closed for his year.

Original poster
DeadDuckFace · 03/07/2016 23:15

Also grumpy squash may be worth mentioning that ds is pretty academic, it seems to come quite easy to him, so it depends on your definition of hothouse but I'm fine with him going somewhere academic but avoiding schools that are clearly very results driven (for example St Pauls).

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Original poster
DeadDuckFace · 03/07/2016 23:12

Hi AnotherNewt no not definitely co-ed, but based on the fact that ds isn't sporty and is gentle/arty, plus he gets on well with girls (I was told by a number of girls in his class he's the only boy they don't hate!) I think he may be better suited to co-ed. I think he'd be fine in a boys school as long as it's suited to less Alpha type boys, he'd struggle in a really sporty school though. Thanks grumpy squash, we will definitely be going to take a look and one of my best friends also went to Alleyns on academic scholarship a long time ago, he absolutely loves it but also aware of how it has changed and in line with other London schools is probably significantly 'posher' than in his day.

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grumpysquash3 · 03/07/2016 22:57

Dulwich College might be another option (different strengths, but in same area of London)

grumpysquash3 · 03/07/2016 22:56

Reading my post back, it looks very negative.
I went there on an academic scholarship, did very well academically and got into a great university. I played in sports teams and was in school plays etc. It really has a lot to offer.

grumpysquash3 · 03/07/2016 22:53

Go and see Alleyn's. It has many strengths.
I went there. I would not choose it for my DC; however everyone is different (it has probably changed a lot since the 80s when it was very definitely a hothouse)

AnotherNewt · 03/07/2016 22:53

Do you definitely want co-ed?