SPGS vs CLSG

Hi Moni5!

What a wonderful choice your daughter has earned!

The central location, the accessibility from all round London, the location in the City, the financial support and contacts of the Livery Company behind them - all these are attractions of CLSG.

But SPGS is, quite simply, unique - in my opinion, simply the strongest school for any girl considered suitable by dint of earning an offer there. Intellectually exceptional, and with a culture which develops the strongest, most rounded, assertive young woman, SPGS is special. It will bring the very best out of your daughter and add a few dimensions, too, while respecting her core personality.

Congartulations to your daughter, and to your family, on her offers!

DD is at City and not tutored. I’m not aware of her friends being tutored but maybe their parents are doing it in secret . Your DD has done very well to get into both schools. I didn’t put DD in for SPGS as I wanted something closer to an ordinary social mix - City isn’t ordinary of course but SPGS is further along the wealth spectrum, shall we say. I only know one girl at SPGS and she very much has her head screwed on and can cope with the social and academic intensity. I would hesitate to send a more fragile child there, from the little I know of it. It probably has the edge academically but I imagine it’s marginal at this level.

In every very academic London school you will find kids who are tutored. It is not needed but some parents seem to think it is. I suspect it is counterproductive and prevents children from developing independent study skills of the sort that are needed at University. The only exception, a senior teacher friend suggested, is if there are major problems with maths or English (DD was dyslexic so an issue for us) as these are building block subjects and problems bleed into other subjects.

I would not read too much into A level grades. Both my DC went to Westminster for sixth form. In DS' year there was a big group of very bright girls from SPGS who seemed to have decided they did not like the school and wanted a change. In DDs year there was a big and lovely group from City, most of whom had been there from the age of 7, and again felt like a change. Such movements will affect year on year results. (One thing to remember here is that City's sixth form is quite small, which may be why some move, but from what DD could see, the ones who left and the ones who stayed had formed close friendships and remained a bonded group.)

though in one case the parents still believed it was a worthwhile sacrifice.

No doubt their DD will thank them in later life for insisting that she made it.

I underestimated the impact a long commute would have on my dc...

I’m curious about this as SPGS requires pupils to have a commute of not more than 1 hour and parents have to confirm this in the application form. On a more general note, although not the be all and end all, commuting times are pretty important as your dd will, no doubt, want to be involved with clubs and sports that may take place after the school day as well as having homework to do. A long commute could result in the school day becoming very long - is that something that your dd will take in her stride? Both CLSG and SPGS have super academic outcomes for their pupils in terms of university destinations and exam results - I would query whether whatever difference there is between them is worth imposing a long and tiring commute on your dd. I appreciate I have no personal knowledge of your situation but I would be loath for my dc to have such a long commute.

Geography rules. 1 hour 10 minutes is too far and will make for a very long day. Think what your DD could do with an extra hour a day, and less energy spent on commuting.

Seriously we have known girls who lived a long way from SPGS and were not happy as a result, though in one case the parents still believed it was a worthwhile sacrifice. In practical terms 40 mins is probably the maximum, and you want a good alternative in case of strikes. Think also about frequency and about how crowded the train will be. Standing only of a chance to sit and learn some French vocabulary?

You could try the journey yourself for a few days....

Sorry, not much advice there I realise but wanted to congratulate you and your DD!

Wow @Moni5 - your DD has done so well! Congratulations. What a good position to be in! Both schools are of course excellent, but academically I do think it is clear SPGS is ahead, so if that’s your key criterion SPGS has the edge. Take a look at their most recent results, for example spgs.org/about/news/2019-examination-results/ and www.clsg.org.uk/examresults But that’s only one factor and hopefully people with experience of the schools can help? The old threads could be useful too so you can see others who had the same dilemma. And you’re right to think about the commute - as well as the time it will take, are there many changes etc? Good luck!