Wilson's vs. City of London

@notobelate very happy with Wilson’s, DS in Y10 now.
Motivated kids, excellent teaching and lots of sport and music if you want it. Also happy with top independent.

Happy with Wilson’s.

Hi BunnyLebowski1000,
How was your try on Wilson's, please?
We are on a similar boat now.
Thank you

Hi GI76,
I am new to the site and just saw your post.
I am in a similar situation now: One kid is in a top independent school but very keen to send my younger one to Wison's.
Can you give more details about your comments: ''maybe slightly less driven kids at the top independent'', please? Because that is exactly what I consider at the moment.
Do you still think Wilson's has a more self-motivative atmosphere after 2 years and why? -- Maybe the teachers, students' family backgrounds...?
Thank you

@BunnyLebowski1000 sorry, I know this thread hasn't been posted on for a while, but I was wondering how you feel about your decision about going for Wilsons? How is your DS finding it? We're in the process of applying to schools at the moment and just generally keen on seeing the debate on superselective grammar vs top indie.

@ Quote BunnyLebowski1000 sorry, I know this thread hasn't been posted on for a while, but I was wondering how you feel about your decision about going for Wilsons? How is your DS finding it? We're in the process of applying to schools at the moment and just generally keen on seeing the debate on superselective grammar vs top indie.

Not looking for a squabble at all. Just curious to hear more. Thank you. Your answer was as I expected but wanted to confirm and you made a good point about STEM careers.

Neither bad nor sad, just a fact. And my point really was that is the fees are a struggle then there is no evidence that CLS boys are any more "rounded" than Wilsons. Very bright boys all follow the same paths.

I don't want to get into a STEM/Arts squabble but if you think that the former dicates where and how we live, our buildings our bridges, our scientific progress, our medicine and probably our continued existence on this planet it is hardly surprising it is so attractive to the very bright, or that it pays well!

Do you think that's bad?

Sad, rather than bad, perhaps?

@cakeisalwaystheanswer

Do you think that's bad? The low number of boys taking Art? That there's such a focus on STEM? I guess the highest paying jobs are in STEM areas and that's what many focus on ultimately these days.

Are you saying that despite the extra £20k per year for City there's no real difference in 'roundedness' of education because low numbers taking Art?

No judgement either way. Just curious.

Last year at CLSB despite their amazing Art facilities only 2 boys sat A level Art according to their results, 4 sat at Wilsons. Unsurprisingly, both schools A level results have exactly the same STEM focus that other super selective boys schools have. I have looked at quite a few similar schools recently to do with another thread and all top boys schools show exactly the same STEM bias.

www.cityoflondonschool.org.uk/about/exams

www.wilsons.school/examresults/

No way is City a posh school which would have much of a different outcome from a grammar school. It’s the cheapest private school in London by a long margin and has an extremely generous bursary scheme. The majority of the boys there are not from super rich families and many many of them have siblings in good state schools and come from ordinary middle class families. Undoubtably the opportunity’s there are great but it’s not really a networking making connections school more than a the SW London grammars or really middle class comprehensives

My DS is at a private and my daughter at a state school. Really do not feel that the school determines their level of awareness of society; ‘ otherness’ ; ethnicity etc. That comes from living in the real world in London.
Keep it simple: work out what you want from the school. If it is excellent GCSEs then go to Wilson’s and use the money for other experiences. I really liked Wilson’s and hated City so I am biased but nothing I saw at City was worth 20k a year if the other choice is Wilson’s.

Yes but you are no way mixing with the hoi polloi at Wilson's so that's a bit of a moot point isn't it. Wilsons free school meals: 2.4%; Oaks Park High (the old Stanley Park) 22%

The best private schools unfortunately are not just about 'polish' - do you really think that is what people are paying 20k a year for? Yes and not having to mix with the hoi polloi (in the class-ridden society that we still live in, this is undoubtedly an issue, albeit one that few would openly acknowledge).

To this last point about backgrounds I would say that there would be more diversity of both class and race at a half and half school with a generous bursary fund like Trinity say then there is at Wilson's.

Well every experience is going to be different so I don't think it is worth getting heated about but I would say in our experience at one school:

No real support or interest in art, drama, music was the major difference. I know Wilson's and other schools like Tiffin are very proud of their arts but they don't compare to a school like COLB (have you been there?) or even a mid-tier school like Epsom. And why should they - you aren't paying for those kinds of facilities or opportunities.

At heart super selectives are a bit of a sausage factory but you know this when you sign up. If you have a joiner of a child you probably wont notice this fact as they will do well where ever they are but if you have a child like mine who isn't really that fussed, a top notch private school will make him be fussed and not accept that whereas in our experience the super selective will allow him to bump around not really taking an interest until GCSE time at which point they will ask under achievers to drop GCSEs or move to lower science etc.

In our experience some super selectives won't automatically let your child find their niche or differentiate their learning, how could they with limited resources?

The best private schools unfortunately are not just about 'polish' - do you really think that is what people are paying 20k a year for?

The flip side being that your DC are part of a state school experience that includes children from all backgrounds. I don't think you can underestimate how much that can teach them to be fully rounded in terms of compassion, humility, empathy and understanding. If your DC are on a trajectory for a top-flight career in politics or the public sector, understanding 'otherness' is a very useful attribute.

I think the only thing that a private school would offer over a school as great as Wilson's is possibly 'polish' and confidence.

Oh, and the 'rounding' activities can be afforded much more easily if not paying hefty school fees.

I forgot to mention that every year DS also had the chance to go on at least three residential trips (mainly course related but some 'jollies' too, such as skiing).

Comparing DS and DD's education (she's at a very good comprehensive) there is a world of difference in the enrichment opportunities.

@ChristopherTracy how can you say that your son is less rounded than he would have been coming out of a private school?

DS went to a super-selective and had every opportunity going (possibly short of learning to fence and guaranteed work experience in the creme de la creme of law firms, banks and corporate entities). That he came out not being fully rounded (if indeed one thinks he isn't!) said more about him not uptaking all those enriching activities than about a lack of chances.

Everything was possible from his school, including winning national STEM and maths comps, getting to finals of public speaking and enterprise competitions, in-house journalism across three/four publications, LAMDA, DofE, CCF, being a ball boy at Wimbledon. And that's just for starters.

You wouldn't really be able to tell the difference between him and his school peers and boys at nearby and sought after private schools.

@ChristopherTracy, So clear advice , very useful !

For full disclosure, we had a very similar choice and went with the super selective. Had fees not been a consideration, with hindsight I would not have done so. I have a less rounded son as a result.