Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London independent schools. Average child?

36 replies

Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 17:38

Has anyone got a perfectly average girl into a SW London independent? Our daughter is wonderful, chatty but perfectly average. She goes to a state school and has one tutoring session a week. Is it worth pursuing an independent place or should we just park it. Not interested in prepping her within an inch of her life, though perfectly happy to help her familiarise herself with the exam format.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Vegiereggie · 04/02/2021 14:37

I get the impression Emmanuel would be well out of our league cloudpop.

Thank you for all the other suggestions.

OP posts:
CloudPop · 04/02/2021 14:24

Have you looked at Emmanuel ?

SquirmOfEels · 04/02/2021 14:10

It's a fairly straightforward journey to get to St John's Leatherhead by train (no worse than journey to Woldingham) and worth a look as you want co-ed

EshSchools · 04/02/2021 13:58

Have you thought about Radnor House in Twickenham? Not sure if the journey would be tolerable

Iamsodone · 04/02/2021 12:28

I am hearing great things about ACS Cobham

Original poster
Vegiereggie · 04/02/2021 12:11

Thanks all. Co Ed would actually be preferable blowonitthen.

OP posts:
blowonitthen · 04/02/2021 11:31

If the journey to Sutton is ok, and you want a non-independent option, Glenthorne have an entry stream based on performing arts. DC who get in on that basis have extra performing arts opportunities worked into their timetable. It is co-ed though.

AveEldon · 04/02/2021 11:13

Sydenham also worth considering

Seeline · 04/02/2021 11:12

GDST schools in Sutton and Croydon
Royal Russell near Croydon

Travel may not be ideal though.

Stircrazyschoolmum · 04/02/2021 10:51

Would Sutton be worth a look? Depends on trains I think?

@AveEldon makes a very good point about bulge years. The numbers applying may drop off a little due to lower birth rate - we certainly saw that with our primary catchment.

I’m hearing lots of positive things about Thomas’s new secondary and that will be less subscribed initially.

Original poster
Vegiereggie · 04/02/2021 10:43

Not really thinking about university daisypond. I think she may well do something more vocational. Would love for her to have sporting/drama/music opportunities though. Our experience of state secondary/primary has been that there hasn't been much of that. But then I suppose there is always opportunity to do that outside of school.

I think St Dunstans is probably too much of a shlep.

OP posts:
SouthLondonMommy · 04/02/2021 08:20

From what I understand Streatham and Clapham used to struggle for numbers upon a time but now are oversubscribed. However, I think the intake's ability is still fairly average but more people apply.

St Dunstans and Royal Russell are also seen to cater to more average children.

daisypond · 04/02/2021 06:42

If you’re thinking about university in the future, all these “average” children ended up at a good RG university. Despite what selective schools and parental angst may indicate, it’s also straightforward to get into a good university, in my experience.

Londonmummy66 · 03/02/2021 23:19

SCHS is still easier than pretty well anything else around - it isn't great - but worth a shot.

Original poster
Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 22:15

Yes I think you are right daisypond. Thanks also for being so candid. It’s rare for people to speak openly when they have spent so much money on an education.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 22:01

That’s what I had heard about SCHS but I didn’t know how much of that was hot air. Our younger two got into a prep that is considered really selective but they are far from super smart.

As I said earlier we also have experience of the local state secondary sector. Just exploring options. Definitely not diminishing their offering Smile.

OP posts:
daisypond · 03/02/2021 22:00

I suspect as the area has become wealthier, more people are able to apply for private schools than before, and it is more competitive these days. But it really was an eye-opener for me to see that the average children who went to Chestnut Grove, Lambeth Academy, Burntwood etc all ended up at the same good university as my SCHS DD. It made no difference in the end, academics-wise.

AveEldon · 03/02/2021 21:53

Streatham & Clapham like Emanuel has become more difficult to get into but it seems more to do with numbers of kids applying and the bulge birth years currently reaching 10/11 years of age

Near Balham there are plenty of good state options - Chestnut Grove, La Retraite, Burntwood, Dunraven, Graveney, Bolingbroke

Original poster
Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 21:41

daisypond I don’t think any of her classmates will go private for secondary. All those who would’ve jumped ship at 8yrs old.

I purposely avoid those threads stircrazy. They make me think it’s not even worth a shot. Our daughter does nowhere near that amount of prep. Not that I believe that there is anything wrong with that determination it just doesn’t fit our family dynamic.

Ok, so it sounds like SCHS and Woldingham might be worth a go. I’m not sure that I can see the benefit of Northwood Senior right now.

OP posts:
daisypond · 03/02/2021 21:33

At my DC two-form entry primary, mine was the only one to go to an independent secondary school. Everyone else went to local state schools.

Stircrazyschoolmum · 03/02/2021 21:18

This year’s offers will come out on 11 Feb. (Although this year is not a great reference point as all the entrance procedures have been different.)

You can get a flavour of competition from the SW indies threads from the last couple of years. Usually a good handful of girls from our state primary get offered SCHS but only 1 or 2 get offered WHS or Jags and 2 or 3 max get offered Alleyns. Emanuel has also gotten very competitive in recent years simply down to sheer numbers applying.

Original poster
Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 20:28

Sorry hadn’t read all the other posts. Yes stircrazy I agree that there are lots of good options but the truth is that we can easily afford it so if it offers her a happy and fulfilling experience why not? Do you know of average children who got in this year?

I’ll take a look at Woldingham Iamsodone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Vegiereggie · 03/02/2021 20:23

SouthLondonMummy this is what I find confusing. Everything on the 11+ threads here suggests that Streatham and Clapham is now fairly competitive. She would be going in at secondary not at prep. There isn’t really a value agenda. We just want her to be happy, engaged and have a variety of opportunities. I suppose what I am interested in is how much of the competitive stuff is parents hyping themselves up or if it is a true reflection of how selective the school is?

AveEldon I’ve been keeping an eye on Northwood senior but it is tiny and there seem to be very few girls there currently. It will be interesting to see if it gains in popularity as the Northwood lodge and Broomwood children filter through.

daisypond that’s a really interesting insight. We have experience of state secondary school (a well regarded one in the area) and the class sizes, general disruption and lack of sporting opportunities are the main reasons we are looking at independent. We wouldn’t be devastated if she ended up at a local state secondary though as I think we are really lucky with the options generally.

OP posts:
Iamsodone · 03/02/2021 20:15

You could also look at Woldingham, an easy train ride from Clapham junction.

daisypond · 03/02/2021 19:52

In my day, some years ago now, SCHS had a reputation of being easy to get into. It took everyone. It was the only independent we applied for. We knew she would get in. It may be different now. However, think about what you want from an independent school. Mine has ended up at the same university with other average children from her primary school who went off to local state schools.

Swipe left for the next trending thread