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Original poster

London girls independent school suggestions

58 replies

Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 14:32

Please can you give me your suggestions for girls London independent schools that might fit the bill for my DD2?

Bit of background. We currently live in the Home Counties and have DD1 weekly boarding within 40 mins drive of north London. We are beyond happy with this school and always envisaged DD2 would go there, but as she gets older I am not sure boarding is right for her and there is no way she will be doing it unless we are all 100% on board. She could be a day girl but she would be spending two hours every day commuting which feels too much.

DD2 is also a lot brighter than DD1 and her current school said we can realistically aim for top academic schools. I have discounted St Albans High, NLCS and Habs girls as I just didn’t like the vibe. We did, however, like the feeling we got from Wycombe Abbey so I don’t think it’s an academic school thing. More of an environment of naturally bright girls who are confident in their abilities without the constant pressure of parents cracking the whip in the background.

I should add that we are VERY anti tutoring. Her current school preps for entrance exams and uses Atom for VR and NVR but outside that I don’t believe a child should have to be tutored endlessly at home on top of this just to get into a school. It’s either the right school for them or it isn’t.

We are in the very lucky position that we could pick and choose between London day schools and move back into London (north) if she got into the right school so we can just apply to one or two and use my eldest daughters school as a backup.

DD2 is very artistic and art, music and dance will be very important to her. A good all rounder but very strong in maths. Likes sport but she is rather take it or leave it to be honest. Definitely not A team material. She is extremely quick witted and sharp - would be good at stand up comedy 😂😂😂. Genuinely interested in what’s going on in the world and has quite an entrepreneurial side. A free thinker who likes to dig down further into things that interest her - shells and rocks are the current favourites.

Current school has suggested St Paul’s Girls. I like the look of it online and had a really positive chat with admissions. Will be going to see it next year. I am slightly put off by it being the “holy grail” of schools though and the obvious amount of tutoring some girls will be put through to get in. Is it impossible to get a place without endless hours of preparation?

Also suggested were City and SHHS but I am a little put off by schools with a prep attached as the dynamic for new Y7 joiners can be a little off. Interested in people’s thoughts on that.

Can’t do the schools too far south as logistically it doesn’t work for DD1 coming home at weekends. We would look to live St John’s Wood / Marylebone areas.

Any other suggestions? We deliberately moved out of London to avoid the 11+ madness so I feel really clueless. Current school has one teacher with experience of London admissions as they just moved to our school from a top London prep but it’s all very new. It’s not territory her current school has much experience with.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zodlebud · 04/11/2021 13:08

I agree @Glaciferous. I 100% hand on heart don’t think the brightest girls need to be with other bright girls to be successful. But every child is different. DD2 comments on a daily basis about classroom disruption (mostly from the boys), even though they are set. She actually asked why they can’t just take the children who want to learn and not mess around and teach them separately.

Of course, academic schools also have issues and I’m not blind to that, but when the majority are at the same academic level and want to learn, it must minimise the messing around. Also, as is often the case with girls, they don’t want to stand out or be different. At times my DD2 is a little embarrassed about her abilities (she doesn’t like the spotlight).

DD1s school does set effectively and it works. The very brightest are supported by an academic scholarship programme. DD2 would do extremely well there and we would love it if she joined her sister.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not looking for a “better” school than the one her sister is at. I am looking for alternative schools that also meet her needs so we can apply to three. The other two schools we applied to for DD1 just don’t fit for DD2. We would be foolish parents and be doing DD2 a disservice by only applying to one school.

Thanks for all your help. I am going to find out more about SHHS, SPGS, G&L and St Helen’s.

OP posts:
Glaciferous · 04/11/2021 10:40

Why is being with lots of very bright girls better than being with just a few?

It differs for different types of girls. Some very bright girls will love being a big fish in a small pond. For others they prefer being part of the crowd. For DD being with lots of other very bright girls was the first time she had not felt like an outlier and she loves being one of the crowd rather than an anomaly. Plus she likes the fast pace. You can move a lot faster and cover more interesting things if everyone is very bright.

TizerorFizz · 04/11/2021 09:11

Some of the schools mentioned here are no advantage over what you like and know. Why is being with lots of very bright girls better than being with just a few? Never really understand that.

TizerorFizz · 04/11/2021 09:10

In that case, High Wycombe it is.

footballfan1963 · 04/11/2021 08:55

@Zodlebud I hope you consider St Helen’s, it’s a fantastic school. Some points -

Strongly academic - the brightest girls are really stretched, but the slightly less able are well catered for. They are set for Maths, dd was weak in Maths and was in the bottom set which was good for her and the group was small. They had a fantastic teacher in years 10 and 11 who was determined they should all do well. Dd got an A for GCSE (and actually not that far off from A*).

Excellent language provision - girls choose 2 MFLs from year 7, plus Latin

Beautiful grounds and lots of green space, yet very close to the tube (Metropolitan line)

Very nurturing and caring environment

Combined Cade force with Merchant Taylor’s from Year 10, dd did RAF and really enjoyed it

I really can’t think of any downsides!

Original poster
Zodlebud · 04/11/2021 08:28

@bendmeoverbackwards Yes, I did wonder about the Northwood schools but they never really seem to pop up on here and, again, it’s outside the normal “territory” for her current school. I’ll take a look.

@TizerorFizz Please read all my posts. Can’t move closer to DD1s school for various reasons, mainly work commute for husband plus being a sensible distance from Heathrow. Moving into London is possible though as his commute stays the same, just in a different direction.

We have also discounted NLCS. I’d go as far to say we hated it. Brilliant school, just not right for DD2.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 04/11/2021 07:49

NLC is an obvious choice.

footballfan1963 · 04/11/2021 07:44

OP is Northwood too far? Have a look at St Helen’s. My dd was there, it’s a really lovely school and often overlooked but exam results are similar to Habs etc.

PearandHoney · 04/11/2021 07:40

Interesting, thanks @Zodlebud. I think in the Herts area it’s one of the best options in terms of being academic but also doing other “stuff” (eg they have all kinds of scholarships for a variety of subjects), but if you have more geographical scope then I can see that you can probably do better for your DD2.

TizerorFizz · 04/11/2021 07:24

Yes but if you move you can move closer.

Original poster
Zodlebud · 04/11/2021 00:21

@TizerorFizz The commute is ON school transportation.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 04/11/2021 00:05

School transport for day girls? Plenty of options.

Original poster
Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 23:58

@TizerorFizz Not at all. I looked at all options for DD1 and found the best school for HER. I intend to do the same for DD2.

I think DD2 would thrive and be very happy at her sisters school. Right now I’m not sure boarding is right for her though, nor do I want to put her through a one hour each way commute every day. We can’t live closer to the school for a number of reasons. We could, however, move into London and explore options there.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 03/11/2021 23:49

My DDs only entered for one school. If you already have the best school why look elsewhere? Don’t you trust them with a bright child?

Original poster
Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 23:28

@Stokey We discounted WA as it’s too full on. Saturday morning school followed by sport even for day girls feels like too much. I like my children and want to see them at weekends. I think what we like is the “buzz” you get in a boarding school environment though. Days are full and there’s enough time to fit in all the stuff that isn’t academic without it feeling pressurised. I know it has the reputation for being a hot house but we didn’t get that vibe at all. You know like really rich people actually don’t put on airs and graces because they don’t need or want to impress? The girls are just bright. But they are all bright, so they can be themselves. It felt really quite refreshing actually after seeing Habs and NLCS. I guess we are after the day school version of WA but with more art.

@PearandHoney I visited STAHS for DD1 under the old head who I did actually really like. I don’t know, the school just felt flat. Facilities are quite cramped (although this is invariably down to location) and sports grounds and pool are a coach ride away. The girls showing me around didn’t do a convincing job of showing me they were happy there and it exuded pressurised environment. I probably should give it another go now the new head is there but it really didn’t give me any of the feels. Out of the three it was the least worst. Not worst as in bad, just not a good fit.

OP posts:
PearandHoney · 03/11/2021 21:49

Can I ask what the vibe from St Albans High School was that you didn’t like? I didn’t think it was so different to some of the other schools you’ve mentioned. Isn’t the previously former head of St Albans High now the head of City? (And I think her twin sister is/was head at Wimbledon?!)

Stokey · 03/11/2021 21:42

Did you discount Wycombe? They have day girls as well as boarders but sounds like it may be a good fit too.

I think City have a lot of girls that come in Y7, I didn't even know it had a junior school. It's definitely worth a look.

Localschool · 03/11/2021 21:37

SHHS would work well. It has great art, music and dance with lots of clubs covering all three plus allied areas such as DT. DD joined in Yr 7 and has made lots of friends both other Yr 7 joiners and those from the prep. It has a laid back fun feel whilst also consistently working hard. They don't set any homework in the half-term/end of term holidays in yrs 7-10 as they want the girls to really relax and enjoy the breaks. The girls are bright, articulate and enjoy everything the school has to offer - always busy with things at break/lunch etc. None of the parents we have met seem pushy and the school ethos is very much to look after the girls. The entrance exam is the ISEB which can be prepared for without a tutor, more easily than some of the other independent schools, using things such as Atom etc. Good luck with your research :-)

FlumePlume · 03/11/2021 21:28

DD2 is very artistic and art, music and dance will be very important to her. A good all rounder but very strong in maths. Likes sport but she is rather take it or leave it to be honest. Definitely not A team material. She is extremely quick witted and sharp - would be good at stand up comedy 😂😂😂. Genuinely interested in what’s going on in the world and has quite an entrepreneurial side. A free thinker who likes to dig down further into things that interest her - shells and rocks are the current favourites.

Sounds like classic SPGS to me. Like Glaciferous, my dd is there from a state primary with us doing home prep (no formal tutoring). It’s the right place for sharp witted free thinkers. Also the music is fantastic with a big range of opportunities at different levels, auditioned and non-auditioned. My dd is in four different music groups, and could do more but wants to have time for other lunch activities. On maths, the top and middle sets are strongly encouraged to do further maths at GCSE, and lots (70%? Maybe more, I asked at an open day several years ago) take it at A level.

Original poster
Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 19:27

@Ericaequites. Exactly. We applied for three schools for DD1 plus she got a grammar place. Three is more than enough and she is practically guaranteed a place at DD1s school.

I think deep down she’ll probably end up there one way or another but I just want to give it the same attention to her specific needs in the same way we did her sister. Now we have the option of looking in a totally different location I just want to validate that decision.

Our prep school will only write references for three independent schools anyway to focus parents minds and stop children having to sit multiple exams.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 19:22

@MrsDThaskala Palmers Green is way too small for us with only about 26 in each year and most of those come up through from the prep. Thank you for suggesting it though.

OP posts:
MrsDThaskala · 03/11/2021 18:53

Have you thought about Palmers Green High School, Winchmore Hill? Small school but very nurturing.

Ericaequites · 03/11/2021 18:36

At least three options would be good: one DD2 will most likely be accepted, one reach school, and another where she will definitely be accepted. Seven are too many with all the applications and testing.

Original poster
Zodlebud · 03/11/2021 18:29

@Ericaequites We all love DD1s school and it offers everything and she would stand a good chance at academic and art scholarships which don’t offer a fee reduction but provide greater depth of learning and specialist sessions. It would also be very handy for her to go there. Flexi boarding is an option. The school is still very much “up there” for our choices. It’s just we have no other schools in the mix as they just don’t feel right. I do feel for those children sitting for seven or more schools but I think we need more than one option just in case

OP posts:
Ericaequites · 03/11/2021 18:24

I attended the same day school as my sister, although we were eleven years apart. It’s been a strong bond between us, talking about teachers, classes, and experiences. The logistic advantages of sharing a school are obvious.

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