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Original poster

St Pauls 13+ vs Westminster 13+ vs KCS 11+

56 replies

SARTN · 14/02/2021 02:42

Please can anyone advise with above school offers St Pauls 13+ (offer received) Westminster 13+ (pending results) and KCS 11+(offer received) - what are your opinions about these school choices. Very nice dilemma to be in and with no options of visiting school before deadline 5/3/21 was wondering if anyone can share their thoughts and experience.

OP posts:
Jumpalicious · 15/02/2021 13:59

@SARTN we’ve decided on KCS. Didn’t apply to St Paul’s because a difficult journey! When you have great schools to choose between, probably the travel is the main thing.

I can’t but help love Westminster. If travel is same for all, I think I’d pick that. BUT I’d say it’s much more fast paced than St. Paul’s - Saturday classes, right?

However, your son seems to have kings on the brain! Like my son.

Fbmd1 · 15/02/2021 10:19

@SARTN and @Motherdare I’m new to the site but anxiously waiting for St Paul’s results, so hoping you could please tell me how long did it take to get the response after the interview?

Original poster
SARTN · 14/02/2021 22:33

Thank you motherdare. It’s soo hard. I have heard a lot about people saying the ‘vibe at St Paul’s doesnt fit all boys - not being able to visit the school makes it hard to understand what is it in St Pauls that few feel it is just not right? As westminster is also equally academic but i dont see many reviews about this. We have been to both schools for 8+ But my son cant remember much about it. KCS my son knows in and out and loved it when he was on reserve list tour last 2 years. But suddenly now he is favouring westminster more (maybe peer pressure as more boys from current school go to westminster). I have spoken to current boys at st pauls and westminster and they talk high of their current school and not really much negatives. Hard to think what will suit my son better ....dilemma

OP posts:
Motherdare · 14/02/2021 20:42

I’m in a similar position deciding between KCS and St Paul’s. Our places are both for 13+. Based on our visits, I preferred KCS. I’m now wondering whether the reduced 13+ intake is a problem for prep school boys and they have a weird system of integrating their own prep school with their Y7 and Y8 “lower school” cohort and the 13+ boys. So bringing together three groups at Y9. It doesn’t look like anyone else from my son’s prep is going to KCS but quite a few waiting on SPS.

My radar was telling me that my son isn’t a SPS boy. I’ve heard too many tales of boys under pressure there, feeling unhappy in the very academic environment. One male friend friend told me I’d be ruining my son’s life if I sent him there!

So much to weigh up, hard isn’t it?

Original poster
SARTN · 14/02/2021 07:31

Thank you Mumtum79. We are very happy with current school online teaching and school tells us they will prepare for scholarship if he stays for the extra 2 years. A lot of dilemma to be considered in a position like this and thank you very much to take the time for your opinion. Much appreciated

OP posts:
Mumtum79 · 14/02/2021 05:51

We’re in a slightly similar conundrum about deciding between a 13+ and 11+ offer (different schools though)....my advice might only help you decide between those two factors. What has your prep school’s teaching been like during lockdown? It looks like there might be another year or so before we come out of this with online learning likely to feature heavily.... can you see your current school maintaining standards? Ours has been not great as some of the older staff have found it challenging (the Latin teacher sent the boys a Zoom link and sat in Teams waiting for them 😂🙄) and a friend pointed out that a senior school would have more of a drive to push boys as opposed to schools where the boys have already got their places sorted. Also, in our prep school a few boys, who didn’t sit the pretests, will be sitting the 13+ and I’m curious as to whether class time in year 7/8 will be eaten up with pastpapers etc which a child like yours,who has already got an assured place at 13+, might find boring and won’t need. Good luck to you and your little chap...amazing schools and he’s obviously bright enough to shine and be happy in whichever choice you make!