G&L, CLSG, SHHS, Highgate? Your honest opinion is needed?

@NewMum112 I think when you haven’t seen any of the schools and have more offers than expected it must be extremely difficult. The only thing to really clarify will be the offer holder events.

Of course for some where there are other considerations in play, such as financial or wanting a choice closer to home etc. - are waiting on state and grammar options on the 1st.

SPGS results came out this morning so I expect a number of those who were holding out will now have made up their minds and in a better position to release their other offers. So anticipating more WL spaces freed up from today.

Are you still deciding between all or narrowed it down to a couple and can release the others? Will help your decision making a bit more if you can do that.

I like the ‘urban city’ feel of CLSG & it’s more slightly more diverse intake. I like the fact it’s not particularly polished! However that concrete setting is exactly why some people don’t like it. A friend’s daughter is there who loves it and is bright and confident.
Only you know how committed and resilient your DD would be to make that journey every day. Ultimately, we never had to really question if our DD would manage it as I was the only one who felt that was about City in our family!

@LLPHLGL Would love to hear some more details on why you personally preferred CLSG despite the longer journey for you and not applying. Did you visit? Trying to garner as much insight whilst deciding at our end. Do you know any girls there and how they are doing now? Sadly it was the one we didn’t get to see and it will be a 45min or so journey for us too. So many have said this isn’t an issue if a child loves it and have read and heard it is the norm for those in SW London who are travelling to the more central schools. I am going to try and not let this preturb us too much at this stage as DD very keen on City for various reasons.

If anyone else has any balanced experiences on CLSG, do share. Thank you!

We live about equidistant between SHHS & G&L. However the journey to G&L is much more straightforward and quicker so we didn’t apply to SHHS or CLSG (which is almost an hour door to door). I personally preferred CLSG as perhaps a ‘more rounded’ & down to earth school compared to G&L, but since our DD preferred G&L, in conjunction with journey times and their rise up the league tables it was a straightforward decision for us when applying and luckily it worked out. She is very happy and there are students from the NW London area in her year.
If I was in your position, it would be very tempting to go for the convenience of SHHS, especially if you have other children to consider.
But my DH really didn’t like SHHS for some reason (which I always found odd as I thought it was lovely!) It’s a real shame if you haven’t been able to visit the schools in person as they all have such a different feel and that too is a big factor. Nonetheless, you have great options and in the grand scheme of things all of them will probably work out fine!

I should have written "the reach is expanding to include"

@KittyWithStripes I forgot about the issue of the Hammersmith bridge closure. But I think the SW crowd still get to properly manage it.

And we know that the centre of gravity is also pushing to include Kensal Green, Brondesbury Park, Belsize Park, Primrose Hill, Marylebone, Holborn - in addition to what @KittyWithStripes wrote.

@newmum112 one other factor though, is that the Hammersmith bridge closure has made travel times from the SW much worse for a lot of people who would have previously been the 'natural' catchment area for G&L, and other Hammersmith schools.

Given this, I wonder if the centre of gravity might shift a bit more towards NW London? Certainly there was no shortage of children from St Johns Wood, Queens Park and Maida Vale travelling to Hammersmith up till now... so your DD wouldn't be the only one from this area by a long shot.

I agree, no brainer with SHHS. 5 minutes versus 45 minutes makes a significant difference in lost time over a week, especially if she's travelling by tube which can be quite tiring (even worse if there's a change of line involved). Year 9 mum here, and I think they're at their best for concentrating and learning in class without a long journey at the beginning of the day (teenagers sleep a lot!) Plus homework tends to ramp up quite a bit in the later years. And obviously more pleasant for them to have local friends. If you're thinking of Oxbridge, then SHHS has one of the highest acceptances of all schools in the country (perhaps because G&L's results have only risen in recent years). But both great choices so very well done to your daughter!

Tough one. On the face of it, it’s a no brainer. I am sure SHHS is as good as GL, even though I only know the former and SPGS directly, which also happens to be the travelling choice you have, i.e. 5 vs 45 min for us. 1.5hrs a day is a lot of time in the day. Unless you gain something you know you would value for this investment, e.g. sports, SW London friendship groups, IB, etc., I would not do it. Only you know the answer. Consider also your child. If she is very fast and efficient, may be she can spend that extra time and not be affected. Also consider how often you are able to be on standby for pick ups/drops offs because it is quicker to drive and much easier for the child., esp. if she needs to take bulky things with her such as instruments, sports kit, etc.

ok thanks hersetta

Apogies for derailing the thread. Good luck everyone with your decisions. They're all great schools.

Please ignore *not in my line above: “but not obvs Covid” should read “but obvs Covid times”

Sorry didn’t check back.

Why don't you try all 3 journeys with your dd this week? Journey time is so important. Make sure your dd carries a backpack with books, water bottle etc.

sorry think I'm probably partly responsible for the tangent thread has taken but @user149799568 no, they didn't use ISEB.

But absolutely agree with you re what people are now weighing up re private vs state. There has been such a huge variation across and within both sectors in what schools have offered.

congrats to all. It's done!

Should we withdraw CAF application after accepting offers?

@MumsRule20 Thanks!

@TomorrowOnce I think @NewMum112 was also @Justanothergirl19 who ended up receiving offers for all the schools she started the post on, so expect she is absolutely fine and on a high!! As I asked earlier in the thread how she was getting on.

Think it seems others are in need of digress and not many other MN forums or threads where it all relates, short of starting new ones...

This thread has become something else.
@NewMum112, are you okay?

@deathbyprocrastination

I'd have thought fewer people choosing independents but actually friend who works in a top London private said they'd had record numbers of applicants this year so who knows.

Hard to say. On the one hand, the effects of COVID on the economy have demonstrated to a lot of people that their incomes are not as secure as they'd thought. On the other hand, the effects of COVID on schools have demonstrated to a lot of people that many private schools have delivered better teaching than many state schools, if only because they have more funding per pupil and students who are more likely to be able to access online education.

Or maybe it was just easier to apply this year. Did your friend's school use ISEB this year?