Gdst or specialist maths 6th form - which to choose?

If it's King's Maths School, you are referring to yh it's absolutely worth it. The teaching is first class and very high quality. One of the reasons why I love it is because there are a number of late Maths Bloomers there who won't have passed the 11+ at Super Academic Grammar and Private schools if they took it then but came into their own much later on.

If you want a well rounded school, then The GDST is probably the better choice as not only is the subject s of choice incredibly narrow, extracurricular activities is pretty much non existent apart from the odd Friday afternoon sports event. Then again that's not what it set out to achieve when it first opened. It's objective was to get more pupils from working class and unprivileged backgrounds with a flair for maths studying it more In depth in college and at University level and it does this quite well.

In your shoes, I'd check the GDST School in question has a sizeable amount of Girls not only taking but passing with High grades the subjects your DD will be taking at Alevels. If that is the case, then it's a no brainer considering the extra journey time required. Lastly you won't be getting any Contextual offers as they do cherry pick the brightest pupils even if many do come from low income backgrounds.

What are the maths results like at the GDST school you are considering? There's a huge range in GDST schools. You might get better answers posting the school names (but I understand why you might not want to do that too).

My DD has an offer for the same maths school, loved the school and class sizes are very small there but issue is the commute for us too, even longer from here. It would absolutely be the first choice if closer or there was a way she could live closer. We are trying to find a solution but not easy especially as I am undergoing cancer treatment which will last to at least the summer. Happy to discuss via PM.

I have a dc who went to the school I think you are talking about in London.
The commute was absolutely worth it. The social life was very much based in London, but they rapidly learned how to negotiate that without issue and still have lifelong friendships from there.

It was really good for my dc to be alongside other mathematicians of a similar ability and prepared them well for university.

In terms of the curriculum, if they love maths and want to go into a STEM related subjected, then it isn't restrictive. Students go on to engineering, architecture, computing, physics and maths.

There is a good push to ensure that students also stretch themselves with their wider curriculum. DC did all sorts of activities, enrichment and trips with them. The school is hot on mental health and living a balanced life.

If worries about public transport and lateness exist, don't worry, the school are understanding about when transport goes wrong.

I've sent you a dm in case you want to talk more privately.

I'd do the train going into Waterloo for a couple of days to test the rush hour, if that's the way you're coming in. Personally I'm not a fan and did it for years as a regular commuter. The tube is no better at that time. It's very very far from relaxing. It's a squash and a squeeze and not in a good way.

I'm assuming it's the one close to Waterloo anyway.

Yes it's a wonderful opportunity but it's also a bit niche. WHS will have far more extra curricula stuff going on that's just more 'normal'. The pastoral support would probably also be very good.

And normal at 17/18 is no bad thing. She'll make some good friends for life hopefully.

We have a very mathsy DC and we've looked at this option too for later on but not sure it would be right for a variety of reasons.

However the other school does look more gritty and diverse and raw somehow. Another experience which I'm sure in other ways would be very inspiring and interesting. But couldn't that be saved for university? No need to rush...

In the end for me it's down to the journey. I'd hate to have to go on the tube every morning for over an hour door to door. It's exhausting. That's why we won't be applying for DC. I'd want them going out of London, not into it. They'll be doing that potentially for the rest of their lives anyway.

Will she be academically challenged enough at the GDST school?

I'd go for the GDST school purely as she can choose a contrasting subject and it's an easier commute

BUT do be aware that as a state school child from a low income family she may be eligible for things like contextual offers, Uniq summer schools etc that she won't if she goes to a private school, even on a free place.

And well done to your DD!

I agree, I wouldn't consider that commute for myself, let alone my DD. I think those sort of sacrifices could possibly be made if they really wanted to and there were no great options closer, but that doesn't sound like the case here.

I wouid go for the shorter school run.

I know that sounds boringly prosaic, but if your heart would sink at the thought of the journey for a parents evening, don't inflict it on your DC daily. And you're talking about an extra hour a day, which isn't a trivial amount. It would be worth it if you were set on the more distant school, but you're not

The GDST school is more convenient and has the subjects your DD wants.

How she gets in with her classmates is an unknown for both schools. But it'll feel easier to hang around with people after school (an important teen bonding ritual) when you don't have an hour+ travel afterwards