Feedback on SPGS

Thanks- it seems they are quite flexible, re: form changes.
Interesting if there will be any changes to the GCSE process, now that there's been more talk about it.

Probably because that's what it used to be. For many years they started 106-110 in Year 7. It sounds like they're now starting closer to 120; I don't know when that changed.

Thanks I don’t know why I had the impression that the cohorts were smaller (around 100/110max)

They changed forms every couple of years I think. There was uproar when our DD was in LV when they implemented form changes as there had been no prior consultation -the girls wore white t-shirts in protest, some parents emailed and called Miss Paillasse-the then Head of Pastoral (who left to become Head of St Christopher's Prep). I think after that the school must have changed the way they created forms and classes. A rare moment of drama 😂😂😂... The "protesters" have their valediction next Wednesday.

DD's year had a form change in the UIV - I think it was the start of the 8 forms of 14/15 rather than 10 forms of 11/12 (I just checked my emails and realised that her UIV had 8 forms and MIV had 10). She was pleased as she did not really get on with her MIV form particularly but has had a really nice time in her new form. The expectation is that they will stay in the same form until they have taken their GCSEs, though, I think. DD is just about to go into the VII and will be in a new form next year - don't know what size or how it works yet.

Do the forms change throughout the years I wonder, or the girls stay in the same form from MIV?

They changed the putting two forms together to make a lesson group when DD was in the UIV and instead took three or four from several forms to make 22 for lessons. 15 in forms actually seems quite a bit more sensible to me. It's more people to hang out with in the morning and more chance of having a good friend in the group.

In our year there were 10 forms of 11 girls per form. 2 forms join up and made up a class of 22 for lessons. In later years GCSE/A levels girls are divided into classes according to the subject-although they kept them in forms for the compulsory GCSE subjects if m memory serves right.

8 forms, about 15 per form.

Hello did anyone go to the induction evening on Monday? Do you know how many classes they are and how many per class? Had the impression it was huge year group.

🥱

I see. So now it's not the school's fault, it's my fault. Got you.

Maybe re read this. We are talking about real young people here. The onus is not mainly on the school, but on the parents (including you). A little bit of acknowledgment from your side would go a long way. The school is probably limited in what they can do, if support from the community is not there (never mind ignoring the issues)

Thanks. Wishing you the ability to tell the truth in your future interactions on MN.

Wish you the best Bonjour!

I guess you haven't bothered to read the whole thread.

And again, what kind of data point is this, how much do you actually know about it and where did you get your information from? Your reluctance to answer any of these perfectly reasonable questions speaks volumes.

All the actual parents at St Paul's who have posted here have been happy to explain their involvement with the school and the background to their opinions. You aren't.

I think we all know who is talking nonsense here and who is over-invested.

I respect your point of view Bonjour. No problem with that, although you seem to be a little over invested. I am not that invested. There is a problem with ED at St Paul's and it has been acknowledged by other parents that have the same right to put forward an opinion as you do, although you seem to have ignored their comments in this thread.
But that's fine, and I am happy that I am offering a data point to balance a bit parents ignoring or minimising what other girls are going through just because they have a daughter that has no issues.

You're the one with the agenda. And you're the one who can't explain where or how you somehow acquired made up these extremely iffy stats.

I don't need to ask the school about the prevalence of eating disorders since I have the evidence of my own eyes and ears to show me that my daughter's friends are no weirder or more prone to eating disorders than my own were as teenagers. She surely can't have acquired thirty relatively normal friends and somehow magically managed to swerve all the ones with eating disorders? Why aren't ten or even five of her friendship group suffering with EDs? Because you are talking nonsense.

Why are you posting made up stats about a school you have no direct experience of? Where did you get your 'data point'? Why do you think it's appropriate to volunteer non-substantiated gossip on a thread specifically asking for personal experience? Why are you so invested in a school you have nothing to do with? You seem to have an axe to grind, as so many who insist on posting nonsense relating to the school do. Most of us can guess what lies behind it, and it's usually related to insecurity.

My daughter is fine. She definitely hasn't got an eating disorder.

Godolphin is no different from St Paul's in respect to having perfectionist girls who are hard on themselves, by the way. The maddest person I have ever met in my life (who has had an eating disorder for more than 40 years and is a workaholic perfectionist with some very serious issues indeed) went to Godolphin. But unlike you, I'm not extrapolating that to mean they're all like that because, you know, that would be unfair and nuts.

Bonne nuit.

Why are you accusing me of lying Bonjour? What is your agenda? Because I have none. I just volunteered a data point. And I am not lying nor making things up.
Now go and ask the school what kind of stats they hold about prevalence of ED among the girls and whether they will show it to you. Then, you will be able to accuse people of something with basis (or not, as may be the case).

Now, to the chase, if you are going to put your daughter through a school where about 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 have or have had fiddle problems with food, or proper ED problems or whatever perimeter you define appropriate we should worry about with ED. You better have a very resilient daughter. Otherwise, you may as well head over to Godolphin or elsewhere. I will leave it there.

Bon nuit.

Again with the lies, gossip and supposition. Still can't provide a source for all the stuff you are making up, huh?

To reiterate, all the nonsense comes from people with no experience of the school. Experiences differ but you have to actually have some experience to be able to talk about this kind of thing.

Experiences may differ Bonjour, and sorry you disagree but not everyone has the same and as someone said, where there is smoke.... it also depends what you education priorities are for your daughter. If it is academics Uber all, then the decision is easier.

You asked "does it seem that SPGS gets more comments on this forum than any other girls school? If it is true, then I don't know why that's the case." "Appears to be a lightening rod."

I presume the statement from some people (with or without DD) I quoted above will probably attract more attentions in MN. It is rarely seen for other schools.

BTW, what happened to @laurasparrows ? Is she okay? Brought some old threads back to life and then vanished. I hope her DD is okay.

I'm confused, not sure I understand, but okay.

No direct knowledge of how widespread the ED issues are across different schools. Corona's claim should probably be discounted some how without evidence or proof.

We do hear in this thread some Mums direct experience on this school wrt ED, just seems a bit conflicting.

Reply to @bjmin s question:

Just look at some of the other threads related to the school with a lot of comments in MN

"Why on earth would anyone reject SPGS??"

"Naive people like me eventually work out that the negative comments are just the bitter taste of sour grapes."

"the holy grail of the private SPGS"

It does tell something about the attitude of some people (with or without DD) towards the school. I guess that is part of the reason why.