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Original poster

Why on earth would anyone reject SPGS??

260 replies

newsibling123 · 25/02/2022 08:43

I've been reading through many threads with mums wondering between SPGS and G&L.

While G&L is a great school, why on Earth would there be a conflict in choosing SPGS, they applied in the first place, its not like they got cold called by the school and their DD offered a place!

If we applied to SPGS, we'd put G&L as back up, but if we had two offers there's no question we'd choose SPGS. The only way I can imagine conflict is if G&L offered a scholarship, or DD really didn't want to go SPGS, even then we would try and show her what a brilliant opportunity it was.

I know one chooses the best school for the DC, etc etc, but I can't imagine any scenario, all things being equal, how G&L would be 'better'. If DD was heavily tutored and parent was worried she'd struggle at SPGS now they have offer in hand, then G&L doesn't come to mind as an alternative to that! One of the less intense GDST schools or somewhere with broader selection, less high academic like Portland or More House maybe?

Don't mean to offend anyone here, choosing school is tough, but I just don't get this at all...It's like getting a place at Oxford and choosing Durham

OP posts:
morecookies · 28/02/2022 22:51

@TheAbbotOfUnreason

Jesus Christ...I give up...

Please do - you completely misunderstood what had been posted.

I don't want to out myself, but I know one of the schools mentioned and to say 50% of the school shouldn't be there is ludicrous. Can't speak for the other school. That's why I assumed the poster meant 11+ entrants who apply who aren't in the top half of their feeder schools.

Its true that at least 50% of the girls are pushed to attend the school by pushy parents, but all oversubscribed, academic schools suffer this. With a school full of clever girls, there will always be the exceptional and everyone else. And knowing one of the schools very well, its true mental health pressure is a worry, but that's in every highly selective, academic school.

Tops there's around 10-20% who maybe shouldn't be there but cling on till 6th form, but I'd say 80-90% are being the best girl they can be.

Maybe I've mis-understood the post. As you said, I should give up.....and I will.

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 28/02/2022 22:24

Jesus Christ...I give up...

Please do - you completely misunderstood what had been posted.

morecookies · 28/02/2022 21:21

@TheAbbotOfUnreason

I’m keeping up just fine. The comment wasn’t about girls turning down places or where children sit in the primary classes from feeder schools - it was about girls at those secondary schools and how they struggle if not in the top half of classes.

I’ve come across a few girls at close quarters from two of the schools people on this thread don’t understand anyone turning down a place at.

My own experience is that some dc at these schools are made anxious by the pressure. These are the dc who shouldn’t have been sent.

Jesus Christ...I give up...
pkim123 · 28/02/2022 21:18

@TheAbbotOfUnreason

I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

By that reasoning then, 50% of those girls shouldn’t be there Confused

That is correct.
TheAbbotOfUnreason · 28/02/2022 21:07

I’m keeping up just fine. The comment wasn’t about girls turning down places or where children sit in the primary classes from feeder schools - it was about girls at those secondary schools and how they struggle if not in the top half of classes.

I’ve come across a few girls at close quarters from two of the schools people on this thread don’t understand anyone turning down a place at.

My own experience is that some dc at these schools are made anxious by the pressure. These are the dc who shouldn’t have been sent.

morecookies · 28/02/2022 20:56

@TheAbbotOfUnreason

Read what was written by the PP:

I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

My understanding is just fine, thank you.

Last time I checked, “half” is equivalent to 50% and the schools alluded to were the secondary schools being discussed on this thread, not primary.

Yes, they are secondary schools, with girls applying from primary schools, state and preps, if you are in the top half of your class you should apply, if you're not, you will probably struggle if you manage to get in.

The reference is to the feeder school. Do keep up....Wink

The clue is in the thread title, girls who apply to go to SPGS and then rejecting their place....

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 28/02/2022 20:48

Read what was written by the PP:

I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

My understanding is just fine, thank you.

Last time I checked, “half” is equivalent to 50% and the schools alluded to were the secondary schools being discussed on this thread, not primary.

morecookies · 28/02/2022 20:30

@TheAbbotOfUnreason

I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

By that reasoning then, 50% of those girls shouldn’t be there Confused

How did you come to that conclusion?

SPGS (and Tiffins) take girls from all over the place. A girl in the top half of her Primary school, go for it, a girl in the bottom half, maybe not a good idea.

What's so hard about that to understand?

TheAbbotOfUnreason · 28/02/2022 19:48

I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

By that reasoning then, 50% of those girls shouldn’t be there Confused

morecookies · 28/02/2022 19:15

of course, you must know @ForeverbyJudyBlume. friend!

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 19:05

[quote MissHavershamReturns]@pkim123 not necessarily, but that’s why some people make those choices.

I’ve come across a few girls at close quarters from two of the schools people on this thread don’t understand anyone turning down a place at. One e.g was in the bottom third of a class studying for a particular professional qualification. Another didn’t get an Oxbridge place when a state school pupil I know did - same college and same year. Both these things happened 20/30 years ago. So lots of work to then not be top after school.

My own experience is that some dc at these schools are made anxious by the pressure. These are the dc who shouldn’t have been sent. For some they work well.

I wouldn’t send my dd to one.[/quote]
I agree with you in that if you go to a top school, then you need to make sure you are in the top half of the class. If you are in the bottom half, then I don't think it's a good idea.

Onceuponatimethen · 28/02/2022 19:01

@pkim123 not necessarily, but that’s why some people make those choices.

I’ve come across a few girls at close quarters from two of the schools people on this thread don’t understand anyone turning down a place at. One e.g was in the bottom third of a class studying for a particular professional qualification. Another didn’t get an Oxbridge place when a state school pupil I know did - same college and same year. Both these things happened 20/30 years ago. So lots of work to then not be top after school.

My own experience is that some dc at these schools are made anxious by the pressure. These are the dc who shouldn’t have been sent. For some they work well.

I wouldn’t send my dd to one.

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 18:53

Both my DC's were offered the Nobel Prize, but we didn't feel that it was the right award for them so we politely declined both.

morecookies · 28/02/2022 18:52

[quote pkim123]@morecookies I'm just curious, if she turned down all those wonderful schools, then why did she make her DC sit all those entrance exams? What was the point if mum was just going to "sent DD to the failing school at the end of the road"?[/quote]
I think my 'friend' was following the trend on this thread to talk absolute nonsense about school selection Wink

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 18:46

@morecookies I'm just curious, if she turned down all those wonderful schools, then why did she make her DC sit all those entrance exams? What was the point if mum was just going to "sent DD to the failing school at the end of the road"?

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 18:43

@MissHavershamReturns

Maybe she’s doing a little less well but with no mental health problems and has time for a full social life?
The implication being that if she went to Tiffin she would get mental health issues?
morecookies · 28/02/2022 18:13

@ForeverbyJudyBlume

Just remembered my friend's dd who rejected SPGS and Tiffin for her local, very bog-standard comp. She seems to be doing just fine.
My friend's DD had a place at SPGS, Henrietta Barnett, CLGS, CLC, G&L , NHEHS and LEH and PHS and WHSG , a free place at JAGS and Channing, AND SHHS actually offered to pay her parents money to attend and they turned them ALL down.

And sent DD to the failing school at the end of the road,

Mum was right proud...

Onceuponatimethen · 28/02/2022 17:06

Maybe she’s doing a little less well but with no mental health problems and has time for a full social life?

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 16:31

@ForeverbyJudyBlume

Just remembered my friend's dd who rejected SPGS and Tiffin for her local, very bog-standard comp. She seems to be doing just fine.
I'm glad she's "doing just fine". Would she maybe be doing even better at Tiffin? Or even SPGS?
ForeverbyJudyBlume · 28/02/2022 15:22

Just remembered my friend's dd who rejected SPGS and Tiffin for her local, very bog-standard comp. She seems to be doing just fine.

Original poster
newsibling123 · 27/02/2022 16:23

[quote saraclara]**@mnhq could we have a private school sub-forum? Thank you.

Seconding that. It's a whole different world, and at the moment it seems as though this branch isn't for your average parent at all.[/quote]
@saraclara

It's only because Feb is the time all offers are made by private schools, and parents have to decide and commit with hefty deposits, so it's a pivotal time of year , I'm sure in March, (by Tuesday) when state school offers are being made this whole forum will completely change....

I'm signing off this thread (for good) as I think its run its course.

OP posts:
saraclara · 27/02/2022 16:04

@mnhq could we have a private school sub-forum? Thank you.

Seconding that. It's a whole different world, and at the moment it seems as though this branch isn't for your average parent at all.

Original poster
newsibling123 · 27/02/2022 14:56

And I assume St Pauls boys isn't? Or Westminster? Or Eton?

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 27/02/2022 14:38

@newsibling123 no im not joking. A lot of chambers we work with actively refuse certain schools when selecting their pupils. SP is on that list. Therefore in my experience certainly not bollocks.

SpikeySmooth · 27/02/2022 13:22

This is another world! Wow. The talk earlier in the thread of some private schools being feeders into Oxbridge just puts me in mind that if my state-school educated daughter wanted to study there the "feeder" private schools already have priority. Or that's the impression I get. She has no interest in going anyway

But aside from that, I can't afford private education (neither can most families) and whilst we are at the mercy of LA computer programmes when "choosing" a school I have found that the "best" school academically isn't always the best school for the child. We were first given the worst performing school in the Borough. I mean results don't count for everything but honestly, the head and management were so passive. Then she was offered a place at another school. Good results but rubbish extracurricular activities and poor pastoral care. We applied in the next borough, and got a school with decent results plus a sense she will feel cared for. She's thrived there. It's a balance.

@mnhq could we have a private school sub-forum? Thank you.

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