SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2026

We had the same choice a few years ago and went with G&L. DD is very happy. I still think both schools are great. It depends on your dd and circumstances.

hi all,
congrats on the offers !
any views on PHS vs GL? 99% sure we're going for GL given the spectacular reputation (academically, pastoral, extra curricular...) but PHS is a fantastic school too. thanks for your thoughts on this. x

we also know quite a few kids on the Emanuel WL.
the school got caught with too many accepting a few years ago and had to create an extra form, they have been very cautious about over-offering ever since especially as their latest GCSE results are amazing

Does anyone know the rate at which KGS over offer?

I suspect Emanuel is a bit less than that- they took 300 through to interview (at least that was what I was told by their admissions team on the interview day) and I know of at least 3 kids who are on the waiting list. Would expect their numbers are 2 to 2.5x but might be wrong

Do you know if Alleyns tends to go to waitlists if theyve already over offered?

Yeah I think it's 96 spaces for emanuel and 116 for alleyns this year, excluding their y6 kids. My comment was about the offer numbers - I'd heard that emanuel offer ~3x their spaces and alleyns ~1.5x. Which sounds about right to me based on the offers I've heard - putting this here in case useful in future years!

Alleyns and Emanuel approx, about 150 per year group, larger year group than GDSTs or some of the Central Zone 1 locations.

Could you share with me too please - either a pm or on here if easier. I get the impression Emanuel make a lot of offers!

Please might you be share your thoughts with me too? We are weighing up Emanuel vs KGS, and have younger siblings to consider.

Of course

Please pm me too. I have the same questions. My dc has been offered Emanuel. I’d like to know everything you know.

Sent you a pm

Thank you so much for sharing that. Its definitely been a tough ride! Happy to know youre decided and sorted for your first choice.

Thank you so much! I’d love to know how friendly/inclusive your DS finds it? Does it lean towards wealthier families, does it feel diverse (also in terms of ethnicities)?

Are clubs included in the price, and does your DS find that there’s a good variety? Has it changed much in terms of ethos with the new headmaster, is it more laid back or feel pressurised at all? Is there any streaming/sets?

Sorry, hope that’s not too many!

Just to reiterate that someone turning down a place does not automatically mean it frees up a place for someone else. (Same with scholarships). All schools over offer - some by as much as 3+ times the number of places they have. Some schools never go to waitlists some years. Others exhaust their waitlists and start calling up pupils they said No to. ( and this can happen at the very top schools..)

Sadly academic scholarships do not get redistributed (because they are over offered) and the schools do over offer general places by a ratio that is higher than imagined so it takes a while to have enough rejections to turn to the WL.

I will be turning down LU, Alleyns (academic scholarship), DC (academic scholarship), Emmanuel, Hampton next week most probably after the offer days. I'm not sure how the scholarship places get reassigned.

I hope these places make some kids and parents very happy, it's been a tough ride.

And if comfortable to share when refusing offers to some of the sought after schools so can also have an idea about waitlist movements. Will help many with the unsettling feeling. Thank you

Those on WL please post when offered a place. It will be nice to know if the list is moving for those who wait

I have a DS at Emanuel who is in Y7 - he's very happy there. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions and I will try and answer. It's hard making the decisions!

Thank you for the advice @BrentfordForever and @sevilleseville . Lots of good food for thought there.

I think when parents start this journey, a few of of us might be underestimating the importance of a pragmatic/practical commute

I did too when 1st DS did his 11+…
there is a lot of homework to do in secondary in 10+ subjects , perhaps after school clubs too, so tricky train rides won’t help (especially district line which is awful!). 2nd dS had to drop his Ibstock offer which we so much longed for, to accept an offer at a closer school (nearly as good academically tbf), mainly cause it’s a mile away

also LU has a diverse GCSE approach , which might not be for everyone, worth considering

Emanuel has had such amazing reputation lately !

well done to your boy !

Ps- DC came from tiny one form entry State primary - no problem with size - although did start in COVID so couldn’t mix much!

But if you live super near Emanuel I’d just go for that- so much easier when you and them
can get to school easily! ( although their boathouse is miles away!)

Not sure if it’s worth it if journey is very complicated but LU has about 165 in a year- not sure how that compares to the others.
In the early years the pupils are in separate teaching groups and then different tutor groups so they get to meet lots of different kids. Mine has also met lots of others in different year groups through music, drama, sport etc.
Certainly don’t feel it’s any more ‘edgy’ etc than any other schools. My DC socialised with kids from lots of schools and they all seem quite similar.
Remember as well there is a lot of movement at sixth form so a school is not forever.