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Original poster

Alleyn’s and Dulwich offers

65 replies

Twinklestoes198 · 22/02/2025 12:56

We are in the lucky position to have offers from both Alleyn’s and Dulwich. My Ds has been a coed school his whole primary. He will chose swimming over football but does enjoy rugby and cricket. It’s not a deal breaker that Alleyn’s doesn’t do rugby. He isn’t musical but does enjoy performing in plays. He gets along well with girls his age but doesn’t have close girl friends as his close friends are all boys. That said, I'm worried how the change to all boys environment might be and the larger year groups.

Is anyone choosing between the same schools and which one are you leaning towards? Any current parents offer some advise please?

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WombatChocolate · 06/03/2025 10:03

The exact balance will shift as September approaches because some people will drop out due to unexpected moves etc. Late in the day, schools often don’t use WL but might have a last minute enquiry from a family relocating to the area, test them and if satisfactory give an offer. In the very last stages, gender won’t matter so much as the balance will never be exactly 50-50. So any figures they give you now can’t be the final ones ….but will give you a good idea.

SamPoodle123 · 06/03/2025 08:29

Twinklestoes198 · 05/03/2025 21:25

Really hoping for an even balance! How is the split at LU @SamPoodle123 ?

I’m not sure, but I’m sure roughly 50/50. Will ask if I get a chance.

11plusinLondon · 06/03/2025 05:28

I’m sure I read/heard during the process that they are at pains to keep it 50:50.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 05/03/2025 21:25

Really hoping for an even balance! How is the split at LU @SamPoodle123 ?

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SamPoodle123 · 05/03/2025 20:08

I am sure it won't be an issue in secondary. Even if there are slightly more girls, there are many dc and he will find friends.

BadgerFace · 05/03/2025 20:08

I am not an Alleyns parent but my understanding from talking to some (we live locally and are at a different private school) is that Alleyns tend to have slightly more girls than boys each year but it’s not too heavily weighted, maybe 55% girls.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 05/03/2025 19:56

Really hope there is an equal balance and not a girl heave or boy heavy year. My Ds was in a girl heavy year 6 class as many boys left at year 4 so keen to have equal balance

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11plusinLondon · 05/03/2025 19:29

I don’t know how it’s done, I’m afraid, but guess it’s as @SamPoodle123 says - a boys’ WL and a girls’ WL.

SamPoodle123 · 05/03/2025 19:22

Twinklestoes198 · 05/03/2025 19:21

@11plusinLondon see you in September!

Do you know if there is an equal split with boys and girls in the year? Wonder how they monitor this with acceptance?

Perhaps if too many boys or girls accept they offer to the other as they need.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 05/03/2025 19:21

@11plusinLondon see you in September!

Do you know if there is an equal split with boys and girls in the year? Wonder how they monitor this with acceptance?

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11plusinLondon · 05/03/2025 18:59

Twinklestoes198 · 04/03/2025 23:17

@SamPoodle123 congrats with the decision! Yay! Time to celebrate! You must feel sooo relieved and happy that it is done. We have been discussing it till now. DS is super keen on DC but we feel Alleyn’s is better fit. Alleyn’s I feel has won and will accept tomorrow morning

Congratulations! See you in September 🤩

11plusinLondon · 05/03/2025 05:54

SamPoodle123 · 04/03/2025 23:14

@Twinklestoes198 did you decide!? We finally did - Latymer!

Congratulations!

SamPoodle123 · 04/03/2025 23:25

Twinklestoes198 · 04/03/2025 23:17

@SamPoodle123 congrats with the decision! Yay! Time to celebrate! You must feel sooo relieved and happy that it is done. We have been discussing it till now. DS is super keen on DC but we feel Alleyn’s is better fit. Alleyn’s I feel has won and will accept tomorrow morning

Thanks, and yes, we plan to celebrate this weekend!! It was such a hard decision and stressful the last few days. I feel relief now. I think my ds preferred Dulwich too, but he understood the reasons why Latymer so agreed on it. Good luck and let me know what you accept in the end (it sounds like Alleyn's!).

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 04/03/2025 23:17

@SamPoodle123 congrats with the decision! Yay! Time to celebrate! You must feel sooo relieved and happy that it is done. We have been discussing it till now. DS is super keen on DC but we feel Alleyn’s is better fit. Alleyn’s I feel has won and will accept tomorrow morning

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SamPoodle123 · 04/03/2025 23:14

@Twinklestoes198 did you decide!? We finally did - Latymer!

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 04/03/2025 08:12

@SamPoodle123 me too! This is seriously the hardest decision! Luckily also didn’t get first state option aswell so doesn’t complicate it more.

DS like the one school and I like the other and Ds likes both!

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SamPoodle123 · 04/03/2025 07:17

@Twinklestoes198 I never thought it would be this hard...we are still trying to decide and I have made my decision. DS is unsure. DH prefers the other two schools. I wish we could pm!! What bad timing for those to temporary stop.

What about you? Any closer? At least our state option means, we do not have to worry and put that into the mix. 😅

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 03/03/2025 20:57

@SamPoodle123 I think y6 and y7 sport is at sports fields at school but the older they get they go off to the offsite fields. When we went to DC and Alleyn’s they mentioned sport is onsite and less time travelling so more time to focus on sport and space . I really like that idea.

have you made your decision? Wish could pm you!

@AlbertinaRoad have heard the patt ball is a big thing!

DS is favouring DC. He has been I a small primary with a few boys so the who transition to a big school with 160 boys frightens me and another 70 joining year 9! How do they all get to know each other?

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Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 03/03/2025 20:55

@SamPoodle123 I think y6 and y7 sport is at sports fields at school but the older they get they go off to the offsite fields. When we went to DC and Alleyn’s they mentioned sport is onsite and less time travelling so more time to focus on sport and space . I really like that idea.

have you made your decision? Wish could pm you!

@AlbertinaRoad have heard the patt ball is a big thing!

DS is favouring DC. He has been I a small primary with a few boys so the who transition to a big school with 160 boys frightens me and another 70 joining year 9! How do they all get to know each other?

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AlbertinaRoad · 02/03/2025 20:56

@Twinklestoes198 lunchtimes with no club or other commitments, it's mainly hanging out in the library or playing football, and if you're new to the school almost everyone goes through a 'pat ball' phase, which is played outside in the playground area. There's a tuck shop for sweets and drinks. They are kept well entertained. Lunchtime speakers or author visits sometimes.

There is a wide range of sporting abilities. Plenty of boys without any interest in sport and plenty with loads. They group them by ability so you play with people on your level. Rugby in winter, hockey or football in spring, athletics/ cricket in summer. Swimming is during PE lessons so that's with your form and every other week I think.

Other chances to mix are house competitions but you don't have to take part in those if it's not your thing. You don't have to take part in house drama for example so it attracts the boys who want to take part.

Does your son have a preference? Is there something he particularly likes or doesn't like about one or the other. I don't think there's any harm in going purley on vibes at this stage. They are both great, so there's no wrong choice !

SamPoodle123 · 02/03/2025 20:07

@Twinklestoes198 interesting. Could you elaborate more on your thoughts for the off site sport at Emanuel. Dh seems to think the younger years spend most of their time doing sport on site....but I think they def go off site for some of it.

I miss the pm function too! So annoying, esp now! I want it working. Yes, we find out tomorrow about Tiffin. It is such a small chance. I am hoping he does not get it, or it will put more stress and complicate things further 😅

Good luck on making your final decision!

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 02/03/2025 19:59

@SamPoodle123 yes we declined Emanuel after the offer holder days last week. We just didn’t get blown away on the day, it was super busy and just felt a bit rushed chatting to the teachers. Didn’t like the offsite sport compared to other schools with onsite sport and the current building going on. Dh and DS preferred the feel of DC and Alleyn’s.

Miss the pm function! how is your decision going? Tiffin tomorrow? Good luck!

@AlbertinaRoad it sounds all brilliant. If there isn’t a club they don’t want to attend do they just play in the playground? Fab to know there is opportunity to mix with the whole year group. Is there a wide range of abilities in all the sport?

fab to know the girls aren’t avoiding the DC boys!

my heart says one thing and head says another! Hopefully will get an answer soon!

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AlbertinaRoad · 02/03/2025 17:48

Good luck to all those deciding. I would think about the commute first ( not such an issue between Alleyns and Dulwich I guess!) and then follow your heart!

SamPoodle123 · 02/03/2025 13:43

@Twinklestoes198 I wish the private messaging was working! So frustrating it is not. If I remember correctly, you were also considering Emanuel before? Curious if you decided to decline and if so why? Any closer to making your final decision? I still feel lost and am hoping to do so by tomorrow. Or Tuesday the latest 😅

AlbertinaRoad · 02/03/2025 12:42

@Twinklestoes198 Clubs are quite fluid, they don't need to go every week. I haven't been aware of a club being too full to attend. I think if that was the case, you know what boys are like, they are low temperature, they just find something else to do. But no it all seems to work out well. The younger ones still hang out in the 'playground' area and they just mix with everyone. Also sports is mixed by ability not on which form you're in.

Pastoral care seems very good. I think all schools take this very seriously these days, It comes across as very caring, kind environment. They have wellness lessons every fortnight which covers all sorts of topics. I noticed one of the lessons on the wellness curriculum was 'toxic masculinity'. ( cant remember which year group that was for)

Not seen any evidence of the Jags good avoiding DC boys. I see girls wondering on the school grounds looking perfectly comfortable. I know my son and his friends would be completely confused by the idea of them being viewed badly. They don't have anything to do with it and it was quite a few years ago now.