Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Whitgift v Dulwich

37 replies

Mumofthreelondon · 23/01/2017 21:07

Any views on Whitgift or Dulwich. DS is bright and sporty. Whitgift is far from us but we liked it.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
alison1980x · 10/05/2019 17:17

I have a DS going to both schools. They are comparable academically but very different in terms of general vibe and ethos. Whitgift obviously takes its sports very seriously but imo general pastoral care and engagement of the staff is much better at Dulwich. Dr. Spence also brings an inspirational quality as HM @ DC. There's more of a hierarchical (regimental?) feel at Whitgift which might suit some but is definitely very different to DC.

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 14/02/2017 20:00

Yup that's what I am thinking plus w the day boarding they are very flex so if he only wants to stay 3 nights that's fine too which is helpful. Thanks!

OP posts:
jimmyo · 14/02/2017 09:52

I meant week boarding

jimmyo · 14/02/2017 09:52

Wanted to add that I have many friends with kids at Whitgift and they can't speak highly enough about it.

jimmyo · 14/02/2017 09:51

I'd go for day boarding if he's happy with that. It's not uncommon for the train from Victoria via CJ to be cancelled. Also that particular route has been removed all together more than once and only reinstated after petitioning from parents. The coach would be a very, very long journey.

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 14/02/2017 09:02

Interesting. We re near West Brompton station but DD will have late nights twice a week as he is a chorister. I'm thinking of signing up for weekly boarding and pulling him home whenever he wants -do u know boys doing it? Do they enjoy it? I was impressed w the set up. I never waned boarding but this seems a good in between solution -

OP posts:
Snowjive · 14/02/2017 08:02

Mumofthree- We're a 15 min walk from Clapham Junction so DS gets the fast train coming from Victoria to South Croydon, then a 7-10 min walk from Whitgift. Large numbers of W boys do this commute and the older ones keep an eye out for the younger ones, which is reassuring when they start (true during the school day, too, which helps a lot with settling in). W runs school buses from Wandsworth too, but CJ is closer to us than the bus pick-up by about 5 mins. We considered flexi-boarding but so far haven't needed to use it - the commute takes about 45 mins.

DIN2K · 13/02/2017 14:45

Mumofthree - where are you in SW1? Don't forget that East Croydon is a super fast train ride from Victoria.

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 13/02/2017 11:59

Does your son weekly board or do the commute daily ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 13/02/2017 11:58

Helpful. How do you get to W from SW1?

OP posts:
Snowjive · 12/02/2017 19:52

We turned down an academic scholarship offer from Dulwich (13+) for Whitgift, even although W is further away from us (we're SW London)). DS is highly academic but also super-sporty. Haven't regretted it for a moment. W instil a sense of pride and mutual respect in boys and staff which is reflected in the way the school is pristinely kept, and the way that boys treat each other. A really inclusive environment.

chococupcakes · 12/02/2017 12:53

IMO two different types of children and parents. It's a long time at school. Best to go with the one that 'feels' right.

AnotherNewt · 12/02/2017 09:59

It's mildly unusual for schools that close to London to offer any form of boarding, but offering flexi like that isn't that unusual when you look at boarding schools generally.

Congrats to your DS, and I hope it goes well for him.

If he's serious about sport, there will probably be 2-3 mornings a week with early start training, so I think you're right about the need to avoid the commute. Are you braced for all the name tapes you'll need to sew on? Or does the school offer a service?

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 09:50

So happy they offer the flexi boarding there which seems truly flexible which is kind of unusual -

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 09:50

Yes that's makes sense - flexiboarding looks a very good option as he will have both sport and singing obligations with the scholarship and I would not want him exhausted !!!

OP posts:
Noitsnotteatimeyet · 12/02/2017 09:37

Definitely flexiboarding in your ds's case - there no way I'd inflict that commute everyday on a 13 year old boy trying to get to grips with a new school especially with lots of sport and extra curricular stuff on top. Whitgift is a great school but it's quite full on and he doesn't want to start off completely exhausted - well done to him!

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 12/02/2017 08:50

Thanks again for all advice. DS has a scholarship offer to W and we are thinking the great opportunity merits sorting out the commute. Any parents who are doing the commute from Earl's Court to Whitgift please advise me! train, drive, flexiboarding? What do you do??

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 23:00

Thanks for all the helpful views . Train is West Brompton to Croydon and change to a Croydon for us for WG and it's definitely further. Plus I'm kind of overprotective so I wouldn't want DS on train alone till he is older. Dulwich have a schoolbus from kings road which would be handy. We went for sports assessments at both. If whitgift we may need the flexi boarding a few nights to ease the commute. DC sports also sound top. Thanks again everyone! Very helpful

OP posts:
Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 22:38

Thanks that thread is interesting!! My DS is 13 plus

OP posts:
AnotherNewt · 25/01/2017 19:03

If you're not already on it, you might find this an interesting thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/2810767-ALL-NEW-WHITGIFT-TRINITY-DULWICH-CATERHAM-10-11-2017

Leeds2 · 25/01/2017 18:27

Personally, if it was a choice between the two schools, I would choose Dulwich over Whitgift. But both journeys sound horrendous from where you live and, in reality, I would choose the one with the easier, quicker journey.

Needmoresleep · 25/01/2017 17:51

It would depend absolutely on the child. And sport. Whitgift might be more arty, and DC more trad, but fwiw I know several families who have been delighted with the way DC's structure and pastoral care has done wonders for their absent minded 11 year olds.

When did you look at Google maps. Try at 8.00am. Its the number of schools you pass on route that will be part of the problem, each with their own school run.

meditrina · 25/01/2017 17:51

I'd choose Dulwich under Joe Spence every time.

The idea that Dulwich is anything other than excellent at sport is risible to me. But perhaps see if you can talk to the Director of Sports in the margins when your DS is interviewed and see if he can give you more info that will help you decide should you get offers from both.

Is he applying as a sports scholar? Not available at Dulwich until 13+, but if Whitgift offer him one, that might make your choice a bit simpler too.

AnotherNewt · 25/01/2017 17:47

You won't want to be driving all through the secondary years.

What are the public transport options really like - when carrying a backpack and a sports grip?

West Brompton overground to Clapham Junction, then train to Croydon? Or early down there and catch one of the Foundation a coaches to Dulwich?

If your DS is serious about football, is he on the junior programme of a club? Where's that?

Original poster
Mumofthreelondon · 25/01/2017 16:31

If you had both to choose from and they were equidistant which one would you choose Whitgift or Dulwich ?!?

OP posts:
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.