Picking between Godolphin and Latymer &. Latymer Upper

I've been answering some questions on here as an LU parent, your instincts on the school are correct in terms of representation. Only you can decide if you want a bigger or smaller school for your dd, I've posted before that I think size is actually an advantae in terms of giving your children a wider choice of potential friends in the year. The children are taught in small groups and have small tutor groups. I can't compare foreign leaver destinations - both schools have an excellent range afaik of destinations and more and more students are choosing to study abroad each year, but I wouldn't read much into it, your child will be well enough taught at either school to fulfil their potential. Good luck with your decision.

Hi I’m in the same situation of having to choose between LU and GL. I find LU very progressive and has a student population which seems more representative of London. I have been impressed by the decision by Lu to move to less rote learning and more towards experiential learning. But GL seems to have better leaver results for foreign universities and is a more intimate school. Any thoughts?

Our daughter attends g&l and am happy to answer any question on the school. We were in the exact same position a year ago. Our DD had her heart set on LU and my husband was taken back by all the stories there so we went with GL. Our DD doesn t regret our choices. She has found a really nice bunch of friends. Pastoral care is really outstanding and no meanness or clique is tolerated. There is a real focus on making sure the girls are not feeling pressured and there is a place for everyone to shine whether it is through your house, sports, academic, drama music or clubs.

And again, I think it comes down to gut feel. When we looked around LU I really liked it and could see DS there. I also really liked the girl showing us around. I looked round G&L and vowed not to send DD there- but that was based, probably totally unfairly, on the other parents at the open day and the sixth former showing us around who was flirting outrageously with a teacher!
I have a niece there who is very happy but there do seem to be lots of lavish parties etc in y7/8 and lots of Uber wealthy kids. There are wealthy parents at LU as well but seems more under the radar. But that's just our experience.

I'm glad your child and family is happier. No school can suit everyone. We have had the opposite experience- DS thought he was rubbish at everything at Primary school but has managed to find lots of things he enjoys and a couple that he is actually quite good at so it's all worked well for us. I think it's as much luck as anything - it's hard to know how things will turn out.

@SA3rules we did move at sixth form to a state school where we also sent our younger DCs. Can’t easily compare the schools as resources and student body so different but for us it’s been a much more positive and comfortable experience. LUS was the wrong school for our child, had they been a star at something it would have been different but as a quiet all rounder they sunk without trace. Since they have moved they have realised that they are actually bright & talented and they can shine too.

We had the same choice and chose Latymer and we are very happy with the school bar a few niggles which to be fair have been dealt with very well. We feel the school listens to feedback which seems in contrast to the message our friends at GL are saying this year although Their Dds seem happy as well so I think both schools are great but have a v different feel. Go with your gut is very good advice . The girls my DD has made friends with at LU are such a great down to earth bunch and there are so many different “types” there that everyone finds their tribe. I do think GL has more of a type which is great if your DD is that but less mix of personalities maybe as it draws a certain type more (based on DDs prep friends that went there and birthday parties my DD attended since with prep friends ) . Could be wrong but my 2 cents worth. I would say #obamas comment on super rich kids and not getting a part in the play is totally in contrast with our experience - GL has more girls and so much money it’s probably one of the wealthiest cohorts in London! Not a reason to reject or choose a school bit just a fact .

Year groups not heat groups!

@pinkgaia - I think it's hard to ask for general opinions as everyone will have different experiences. I have a DS at LU and I remember reading this thread before he started. Our experience has been overwhelming positive ( even with Covid!) and nothing like the poster above and I know girls at G&L who haven't been utterly miserable in very toxic heat groups. I'm guessing the poster above must have moved their child for sixth form so may be interesting to know where they went.
Best to get a feel for yourself at the open events and use Mumsnet for more specific questions.

We had to make the same choice and chose Latymer. Deeply regret that choice. My reasons are set out earlier on this thread. Nothing has got better. So many friends have kids at G&L with a much more nurturing experience.

But the decision to drop GCSE's is new, it's a big move, I expect the offer day will focus on what the dc will be taught instead for 2 years. You must have a view on this as well as mixed and single sex.

@SA3rules we have narrowed down to these two among all other offers we received so I'm just trying to get feedback from parents with children there with direct experience

@pinkgaia - you've asked this question on multiple threads. This one is about 5 years old. I'd just stick to the one you started. But really I think you need to attend holders events. Don't you and your DD have a gut feel? I certainly did between the 2 schools.

Hello everyone

We got an offer for both Latymer Upper and Godolphin and we're finding hard to decide

Is there anyone here attending these schools who want to give me some insight?

Pro and cons?

Reputation wise (in view of university) which school fo you think is better?

Many thanks 😊

Yes, the pastoral care at G&L is said to be excellent and the school is very gentle and the girls learn a lot without stressing out [unlike LU, as Obama said]

I agree with ObamaLlama about Latymer. It is so packed and like a marketplace. Maybe your child will find his way, maybe he won't. No one particularly cares. In general, the school has a much too high opinion of itself. They are always congratulating themselves. But their students are left to fend for themselves. There is low grade bullying and no pastoral care. They hired a head of pastoral care not long ago, but he turned out to be ill qualified for the job. The kids are stressed and self-interested. It's just not a happy environment. Of course some will object to this description. Not everyone is miserable, and not everyone who is miserable is aware of it.

Personally, I think size is an advantage of LUS - there's a big year group and ime everyone is able to find their niche within it - be they more bookish, more musical, more sporty, more "cool" - though of course that doesn't necessarily happen straight away and many kids including my youngest go through a settling in period.

I have friends with dc at other, small schools and I gather there's a tendency for everyone in the year to be caught up together, with nowhere to escape the scrutiny of the most dominant kids in the year group.

I've also been fantastically impressed by how well my dcs' teachers in every subject know them as individuals. I come away from every parents' evening wishing my own, very excellent, private school had been as good as LUS.

Naturally, different schools suit different types and different families have different experiences, but it's been a wholly positive one for us.

Hi please don’t misunderstand me. I wasn’t meaning to “bash” LU at all! I’ve written on other threads about the many positives there. I totally agree the teaching is outstanding in most cases and the teachers are top of their game from what I can see. I love the social inclusivity there; the fact that the homework is not excessive and always relevant, rather than just homework for homework’s sake iyswim and the curriculum is superb. Mine are thriving now, thank god, but I do think it took them slightly longer to find their feet at LU than I suspect they might have done at other schools. Mine are not quiet, introvert DC by any means. There were far more academic yet quieter / timid DC from their prep who were turned away at interview stage. Obviously this is my personal experience and no more, but one DC had a horrendous period of bullying in Yesr 8 which did eventually get resolved, but only really once they mixed up the classes in Year 9. I nearly took this DC out at one point. Of course bullying can and does happen everywhere, but I do think at LU there are perhaps a greater than average proportion of DC who are used to being the “big fish in the small pond” and who don’t react too well to being a “smaller fish in a big pond” if that makes sense? They do seem to get over it by later years though and the dynamics settle down.

Just a couple of thoughts:
if you have a child who likes to feel “known” by teachers
You have to understand that when a school without budget constrains has more students, they have more teachers. I doubt class size is smaller at G&L. In all our years at LU, my child has been known by the teachers to an incredible depth. My DC is now in 6th form studying A Levels in subject groups as small as 6 students. The teacher that needs to "know" your child at LU will certainly do, don't worry. And the Head knows absolutely everyone which is astonishing.

LUS girls have to compete with the boys as well as the other girls That's going to be the rest of their lives out in the real world, at the workplace. Could be that girls in coed schools come out better prepared for it?

Personally, I went to a girls school till I broke free at 17 and would never send a daughter to one. But I have heard G&L is a lovely school and I can see from this thread that lots of girls are happy. It's just that my personal experience was suffocating.

Just wrote on another thread that there seem to be some very determined LUS bashers out there this year. My two dc adore the school, and find it academically fantastic, it's big but they're in very small tutor groups so they've had good pastoral care too. There are rich, entitled kids at LUS but there are at all London private schools - there certainly are at G&L, I see it all on my dcs' Instagram. Happy to answer any DMs about the school

I’m coming to the end of G&L with a non-pushy, quietly confident DD and we’ve been so pleased with it. It’s inclusive, busy and full of opportunities without being overwhelming. In the early years my highly unsporty daughter felt inspired to join the netball club. When something isn’t going well they spot it and take steps. And they get great results without adding pressure to girls who they know are likely to be putting pressure on themselves. DD has made great friends and is really proud of her school.

Indigo: Agreed.
But closer to 120 girls per year at G&L (604, years 7-11).

Utility- yes you are right that ther would be 90 girls at LU compared to 100 ish at G&L. I wasn’t really thinking so much of sports teams though (because mine tend to steer clear of those ) - more things like drama, debating, choirs, recognition prizes, as well as just the general hubbub of the place.

Using hockey as an example, LU and G&L both put out 6 teams in the younger age groups.
90 girls per year on average at LU, 120 girls per year on average at G&L.