Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

London Y7: St Marylebone or Camden School for Girls?

35 replies

clevud · 07/09/2024 11:23

My daughter got a music aptitude place at St Marylebone. We are agnostic/atheist. The school's religious side is extremely light touch. On her first school day, CSG called to offer her a place based on banding and distance. It's very unusual because we live far from the school, 30 min by overground. I'd have loved to send her there, but she says she wants to be with her best friend from primary and that she's happy. Who knows. Uniform police at StM has already irritated me, but not her. We just had a laugh and agreed that not all things that schools state make sense. I'm more interested in a very good academic environment where she can develop independent and critical thinking.
I think she'll be happy in both. Of course sibling policy applies to CSG but not StM which woudl have been useful for my Y11 daughter.
Any views? Need to make a final decision by 9am on 9.09!

OP posts:
Original poster
clevud · 08/09/2024 20:48

Firenze12 · 08/09/2024 19:54

You must do what is right for your daughter but I wouldn't give too much sway to having starting at one school/ current friendships. As a teacher we often have new pupils join in the first couple of weeks and after a day or two it is forgotten they weren't there from day 1. Friendships can also massively shift at this age.

You are right and have no doubt she would immediately find new friends, but this specific friend has been with her since reception. If DD was currently at another school I'd put pressure on her, but the results of the two schools are marginally different.

OP posts:
Firenze12 · 08/09/2024 19:54

You must do what is right for your daughter but I wouldn't give too much sway to having starting at one school/ current friendships. As a teacher we often have new pupils join in the first couple of weeks and after a day or two it is forgotten they weren't there from day 1. Friendships can also massively shift at this age.

Original poster
clevud · 08/09/2024 18:17

Thank you every one, lots of food for thought. I'll take the night to sleep on it and then send my reply by 9am tomorrow.

OP posts:
PollyPut · 08/09/2024 17:30

PollyPut · 08/09/2024 17:18

or a space came up for music, and she was next?

Show quote history

OK - re-read post and ignore that.

I am not sure what I would do in your shoes.

One thing to consider is that she is more likely to have local friends at Marylebone, and it's probably an easier journey.

PollyPut · 08/09/2024 17:18

clevud · 08/09/2024 10:36

We live more than 6km from the school. She was in Band 1 so maybe some availability came up in that one.

or a space came up for music, and she was next?

Original poster
clevud · 08/09/2024 10:36

We live more than 6km from the school. She was in Band 1 so maybe some availability came up in that one.

OP posts:
clockstern · 07/09/2024 22:35

We had offers from both and we would have chosen CSG (but in the end we decided to go private). The ethos felt more in line with our family, as we are atheists too, and it felt more liberal and mature. We live fairly locally so that was a factor too. Do you mind me asking your home distance to Camden? Also surprised that you got in from where you are, I have friends on the waiting list.

The sixth form is excellent and if it would mean your older child could definitely get in, I'd consider moving just for that.

Original poster
clevud · 07/09/2024 15:58

Thanks PBC, elder daughter at Queen's College London, she wants to move to a new school for 6th form next year, and I don't want to pay any more fees, tbh. Hence the dilemma. But yours is a sensible piece of advice. StM seems also more diverse culturally and socially.

OP posts:
PBC · 07/09/2024 11:57

I wouldn’t move her, particularly if she has a shorter commute and good friend there with her (which will help in the first few weeks of Y7). Plus the music aptitude place will give her some great opportunities. Sibling policy is less of an issue for sixth form years. Is your older DD unhappy at her current school or does her school not have a sixth form?

Original poster
clevud · 07/09/2024 11:32

Bump

OP posts: