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Original poster

“Backup” private options in London

58 replies

Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 15:32

My DD is prepping for 11+ at London indies. She is at a well-regarded private prep. Increasingly clear that our original ideas of her ending up at somewhere like CSLG/G&L are not realistic, and places like Putney/JAGS/FHSS (which we would be delighted with) feel really stretching… This is because her maths isn’t where it should be - she’s scoring ~60 per cent in practice maths papers. VR/NVR are ok though not stellar and English is ok to good, occasionally excellent.

Where should we be looking? We are thinking Queens Gate and Queens College? Emanuel looks like may be a stretch given how competitive it is getting. She’s a sparky, sensible, enthusiastic, hard working girl. I feel a bit shocked that she may end up with so few interesting options. Looking for central or west/south.

We are obviously prepping Maths pretty hard to try to offer her as many sensible school choices as we can - she is working hard and is happy. Just me who is freaking out a bit……

OP posts:
Akiddleetivy2woodenchu · 23/08/2023 21:48

@Lindtnotlint it’s 20 minutes from Clapham Junction to Esher and then 10 minutes on the school bus, so not sure how far you live from Clapham Junction! There are loads of non selective private schools around Esher as well.

Foxesandsquirrels · 23/08/2023 21:35

@DibbleDooDah Always hear great things about Queenswood. Only downside has been the fees but seems they're pretty on par now. Long days too.

DibbleDooDah · 23/08/2023 21:28

Bit of a curve ball but what about Queenswood? A lot of girls travel in from Islington / Hampstead type areas, some getting the train (there’s a minibus that picks up from Potters Bar) or use their door to door transport service.

They also have a great flexi boarding offering which even if the thought horrifies you now, as they go up the school many choose to board even if just one or two nights a week.

Just wanted to highlight its accessibility before talking about the school.

Has a very broad intake academically but you need to be “average or above” to get a place. Many girls there as academic scholars but also caters for those with dyslexia, dyscalculia etc. It’s known for getting results without the stress. If you look at their results then you’ll see that even through the covid years their results remained pretty stable - an indication that they know the girls VERY well and they weren’t one of those places that saw huge grade inflation.

We turned down a grammar place as well as one at another very academically selective north London school to go there. My DD just felt at home there.

Sport, drama and dance are all superb. There’s no one typical girl there, unlike at some independent schools where the girls are all clones of each other.

We are now looking for DD2 and I think she will also head there. She’s extremely bright too but honestly, my eldest has thrived there academically and I think there’s so much more to a school than just academics.

HawaiiWake · 23/08/2023 18:34

FHSS, new head coming in.
Putney Head is new too.
Headteachers do have impact and it can change direction of schools.
Try Knightsbridge they have senior school and maybe DC can get in schools on on your list at 13+. Ask how they teach Maths and Sciences and your DC could improve.
Fulham Senior is new.
Emanuel, does your DC do music, sports, drama, art? They have a diverse group of scholars.
FH Regent Park branch.

minipie · 23/08/2023 18:15

Is Surbiton reachable? Surbiton, Sutton and Sydenham seem to be schools which are less selective than the likes of G&L or Jags but still have plenty going for them. I’ve only visited Sutton of these which seemed like a really nice school.

smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 23/08/2023 17:59

We're fast reaching a point where having a private school on a university or job application is a disadvantage.

Their results are only better because they are selective, they don't actually add value.

So if you don't like the state you are near, move somewhere you do?

I know you're set on private, but I wondered if you'd done the evidence based critical thinking?

Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 17:45

We don’t want to do a big journey from Clapham Junction. Somewhere like Cobham would be nearly two hours door to door!

OP posts:
Akiddleetivy2woodenchu · 23/08/2023 17:37

If you can get to Clapham Junction that opens up a lot more options. How about an international school, like ACS Egham, Cobham? If she wasn’t up to the IB she could do AP exams at Cobham, which would get her into a British university.

Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 17:31

My “schools that I thought she would go to when I hadn’t thought about her personal progress in maths” list was G&L/CSLG/Putney/Jags/FHSS/Emanuel which gives a sense of the spread of places.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 17:29

We can do anywhere in Dulwich, Battersea, Clapham, Kensington, central London, Fulham, Putney, Hammersmith. Not Ealing, Hampstead, Croydon, Sevenoaks. So of places listed so far the accessible ones are Wimbledon high (just), Streatham/Clapham high, St James, Knightsbridge school , Fulham school, FHRP.

OP posts:
ThePlacesYouGo · 23/08/2023 17:25

Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 17:24

What would be really helpful is to understand a bit more about places people are suggesting - like where is good? (I don’t mean in terms of pure academic results - I mean a much broader picture of good). There is tonnes of chat online about the relative merits of SPGS/G&L/CSLG, and indeed I know tonnes of people with kids at them. It seems to be much harder to work out where is really great among this group of schools that are a bit less fiendish to get into. I am not really looking for lots more “deep backups” that are entirely non competitive - more looking for lovely schools with mid-tier standards that are not so demanding on entry and that will probably offer a place if we turn out to be a miss at FHSS/Putney….eg i thought I had come across Emanuel as a bit of a gem but turns out everyone else spotted that one already so it isn’t really hidden anymore!

Where are you based / what's a viable geographic spread and people will be able to offer more info on specific schools that might be relevant.

ThePlacesYouGo · 23/08/2023 17:24

@Lindtnotlint I totally feel for you (we are sitting the 11+ this year too) but I would try not to panic just yet. Presumably your prep school will do CAT tests pretty soon after they go back - I would wait and see the results of those and see how your DD is doing. Lots of kids do really well in a "real" test / exam situation but just don't quite (understandably) feel the urgency in a practice paper at home. So she may be further ahead than you think.

I think both Queen's Gate and Queen's College are good options (and not as hard to get into as a PP suggests). It depends where you're based but NHEHS in Ealing could definitely be an option. Could you feasibly try FHRP as well as FHSS?

Our school has said that some girls come on leaps and bounds between the start of school and the exams so it's all still very much to play for. Good luck!

Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 17:24

What would be really helpful is to understand a bit more about places people are suggesting - like where is good? (I don’t mean in terms of pure academic results - I mean a much broader picture of good). There is tonnes of chat online about the relative merits of SPGS/G&L/CSLG, and indeed I know tonnes of people with kids at them. It seems to be much harder to work out where is really great among this group of schools that are a bit less fiendish to get into. I am not really looking for lots more “deep backups” that are entirely non competitive - more looking for lovely schools with mid-tier standards that are not so demanding on entry and that will probably offer a place if we turn out to be a miss at FHSS/Putney….eg i thought I had come across Emanuel as a bit of a gem but turns out everyone else spotted that one already so it isn’t really hidden anymore!

OP posts:
sarah291260 · 23/08/2023 17:12

Kew House? St Benedicts, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Ealing, Ibstock, Harrovian?

farfallarocks · 23/08/2023 16:49

Roughly where are you as there are some surprisingly fast trains from Clapham Junction to the surrey schools or from Balham to the croydon schools.

I would also say 60% is also not that bad as you have another 2/3 months to prepare and I assume your prep school will be all over it next term?

DD goes to a selective prep with good exits and the average maths score was 65% in the year end assessments. Good luck!

Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 16:46

WHS is a really good shout. But of a pig of a journey but could be done and we could move West if needed I guess! Streatham and Clapham same. Thank you. Woldingham, caterham, Kew and Radnor are all just really too far and the logistics are terrible for St Dunstans.

I will look at Fulham - I don’t know anything about it and can’t find much online (or even any 2022 results)

OP posts:
Pinkblack · 23/08/2023 16:35

Also 60% for Maths paper sounds good for the consortium schools listed above, some of which have to over offer a lot in the recent years.

farfallarocks · 23/08/2023 16:26

Woldingham, Streatham and Clapham, St Dunstans, Radnor House, Fulham School, Kew House, Caterham?

zipittydoodar · 23/08/2023 16:23

Ibstock?

zipittydoodar · 23/08/2023 16:22

Also suggest WHS- if she can get through the VR/ NVR she can use her strengths in the next round.

Pinkblack · 23/08/2023 16:19

Try the schools that not in Consortium and do not have much maths in the entry test, for example Wimbeldon High only do VR / NVR.

SummerInSun · 23/08/2023 16:18

Maida Vale of Northbridge House? Those those are more north west London (and Co-Ed)

Original poster
Lindtnotlint · 23/08/2023 16:16

Totally, of course. Wasn’t saying that I was expecting G&L results levels! Rather just that the step from Queens College/Queens Gate to More House was a reasonably chunky one in results terms (was hoping for magical new ideas at the QC/QG results level…suspect they don’t exist so yes to being open minded all round)

School think she should hopefully get FHSS or Putney. Her English is good. I am more sceptical having done a lot of maths with her in last few weeks. She isn’t “totally unsuited” to an academic school per the above, she is a voracious reader, super vocab, great memory for facts and texts, curious etc etc - just she is not winning at maths right now (and may never of course, though I think important never to be absolutist about any strengths or weaknesses both of which can come and go!)

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 23/08/2023 16:16

Are you near Clapham Junction station?

If so, then Woldingham, or co-ed Royal Russell in Croydon

Daftapath · 23/08/2023 16:11

Where would she be travelling from?

Is St James a possibility?