As the Tiffin results day looms, a second 2019 SW London grammars and indies thread

I think an email would be fine, unless they have specifically asked for something different.

We need to say no to one, does anyone know the etiquette around this? The offer letter didn't say what to do if we are turning a place down. Is it better to email them? Or phone?

Yes, someone has to get the whole thing going; we are all set to say no to a couple tomorrow after a final chat with current school.

In the meantime have closed down the other schools for this very reason. To get the waitlists moving. It must be so frustrating for the schools too because so many people from top of waitlists must walk away leaving them to have to go lower or even left with gaps. Such a game this 11+!!!

@HandbrakeTurn absolutely agree. We have some great offers on the table - just wanted all final options on the table before making final decision. Yes the PHS waitlist will be shorter than WHS one because of how they did their entries - hence why I was waiting. But we love KGS so much anyway - where our DS is very happy - we may just make the jump.

@Bool I know what you mean; I just want to know which school now, and commit to it. But at the same time I want to make sure that we’ve considered all our options. I suspect the PHS wait list will be a lot shorter than the WHS list, which is a cast of thousands..

@Handbrake turn - don’t know about WHS but I called PHS yesterday and they said that people hadn’t been replying yet and so too early for waitlist to move.....seems it is all going to be last minute. Am am mulling over whether to close it now and make a decision without knowing about waitlist. Is all too close.

Hello, just joining the thread. We’re waiting to see if the WHS waiting list will move; did anyone hear anything yesterday?

Although I did worry about the commute, I don't think it's the most important thing of all unless you are committing to some kind of crazy long journey. Up to an hour is absolutely doable even in the younger years. To me the most important thing was fit. That was so important to us that I did not sit DD for lots of schools that she would have very likely got into because I did not think she would be happier there than in the local state option (she got Tiffin, but if she hadn't I'd have preferred local state option over a number of independents).

Congratulations to everyone that got places and best of luck to everyone still waiting.
Does anyone know the stats for Sutton High School? How many girls applied and how many places were offered?

Thanks everyone, we do know it's a lucky position to be in!
Good to hear some have (almost) made their choice.
Commute does seem to be key - especially in the first couple of years.
We've done pros and cons list - they all have both! So will think more about gut feel too.
I think DD has a different view to me and to DH 🤔

I'd say go for the easiest journey, obviously co-ed versus single sex and most of all, the all-important gut feeling that you and your dd should have about which one you instinctively prefer. Remember some posts on here may have an agenda that's not immediately apparent. They are all fantastic schools

Well done for making a decision Flume. I think we just about have too but it’s such a big decision and it would be nice to know the state option before making the final decision.

Juggling- you have 3 excellent schools to choose from. Most of the advice on this forum says go for the easiest journey. Good luck deciding.

@Jugglingmadly, I posted on the last thread re my DD’s experience at LEH. The facilities are superb and grounds extensive. Sport, music and drama all done to an exceptionally high standard and plentiful.
The school bus system is great and the late coach makes coming home in the dark less stressful for the DC (my DD says she can properly relax rather than worrying about who else is next to her/missing her stop etc...).
All three schools are excellent though and I don’t think differentiating them on GCSE exam results is particularly helpful. They are all highly selective and academic environments and will cater well for the brightest DCs. In fact fwiw, since DD joined LEH, I believe they have been consistently ranked “higher” than LU and G&L until this year when G&L have had an all time record. All this tells us is that G&L have a stonking cohort of girls who are now in the lower sixth.
Does your DD have any preference about which school she likes? Obvious difference is coed vs single sex (although at LEH there are opportunities to mix with the Hampton boys during extracurricular activities/on the bus etc).
Having the choice of 3 excellent schools is obviously a nice problem to have but most certainly a confusing one! Good luck with your decision.

Hi Juggling - Agree with Glaciferous above. Also, I have experience of LU and just wrote about it in the other thread where someone was asking for comparisons between LU, G&L and NLCS.

LU has 180 in a yesr group where G&L has 100. Not sure about LEH as never applied. LU has a campus feel which is not particularly “containing” or nurturing, particularly in younger years. They make s big thing of the amazing drams facilities etc, and sure these are all there, but hardly anyone ever gets into a play. Having said this, the DC are not sheltered away, the school has its own GCSE accredited course called “World Perspectives” which is compulsory and introduces them to concepts in Economics, Politics, etc they wouldn’t normally encounter until A-level. It’s s fast-paced school with an urban feel. Most of the DC are comfortable with public speaking and very articulate - not really a place for a quieter, “bookish” type. The curriculum is fantastic, as is most of the teaching. It’s forward- thinking and feels cutting-edge in many ways, but it does take them time I grow into the school ime. Having said this, if you have a girl who is thrives on being in boys’ company, or who is more on the outgoing / gregarious side, it may well be the school for her.

We’re choosing G&L this year because we’re hoping for a more nurturing experience! DD preferred it too SPGS because she said it feels more down to earth and kinder. So, I don’t know, but looks like this is the way we’re headed!

Also, if this matters to you at all, in terms of GCSE results, LEH and LU are similar, st about 92% A-A. Since the new head has been at G&L (I think about 5 years now), results have gone up - I think last year they got 98% A-A which puts them ahead of St Paul’s Boys, Westminster and KCS! So it feels like a school on the up, academically. Having said this the academic differences are minuscule and you have to take it all in the context of the London bubble we’re in!

I have no experience if LEH. I guess the coach is safer, but also more restrictive. I would have worried about the social dynamics on the bus and being stuck with people (inc Hampton boys) for years on end, but maybe that’s just me. LU and G&L couldn’t be more urban in location, where LEH feels I more suburban. I did look at Hampton for one DS which is similar in feel I think.

Good luck and those are my perspectives fwiw.

They are all good schools but you need to think about the details. Will your DD thrive in coed or single sex? For me this was easy as DD was desperate for girls only. Other children may be different. Will your DD thrive in a big school or a small school? LU bigger than many. Not sure about LEH or G&L but suspect LU bigger in intake. Does your DD have a preference (really think it helps with the long journeys etc if the child is already invested in the choice). For a sporty kid, is lacrosse really what you want as it's fairly niche (LEH)? Etc etc. There are lots of variables!

Richmond so all doable.
The late bus at LEH makes it possible as DD loves sport and tube works for the others but with a longish walk home.

Where do you live Juggling?

Offers from LU, G&L and LEH. What to do?
Truly wasn't expecting this as DD v up and down depending on the day.
Can anyone help from experience?

We also put TGS as DD's first choice. Really unsure if we'd accept it if we get it or take the indie offer but leaning towards the indie more. We have the indie offer until the Monday at noon so hubby planning to drop the forms in on his way to work on Monday morning (the indie is only a 10-15 minute drive from home depending on traffic).

Top choice was TGS which my dd is adamant she is not going to!

Who is waiting to see what state option they get and what is your plan to get the forms/deposit in in time for the private if you don’t get the state you can want? I’m in two minds whether to send back the forms this week or wait until the weekend (I don’t think we’ll get our top two state choicesanyway). I wish it wasn’t so tight as feeling nervous about doing it last minute!

whycantwegoonasthree, hope your visit goes well on Wednesday. We will be there too with my DD, its always been our favourite. However my husband has not seen it, somehow he has been convinced so much so that the acceptance papers have been sent back.
I’m looking forward to the visit and looking around knowing she is excited to go there. I hope your daughter gets that feeling too.