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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?

OP posts:
Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 02/03/2025 11:09

I do agree in every school there will be bad behaviour but have also heard mr Milne will be brilliant at pastoral.

does anyone know if Alleyn’s or DC are stronger at swimming?

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11plusinLondon · 02/03/2025 10:18

Anonymousmum98 · 02/03/2025 10:07

I wanted to add on here too as I think there are some people who go back to everyone’s invited and Dulwich being the first school mentioned but when you look at the list of schools included pretty much every secondary school is there and Alleyns hasn’t been immune from poor behaviour too. My take is that at school you can get children who don’t behave well it depends on their friends and how they’ve been brought up.

Agree (& I say this as a mum of girls, no sons). I have heard that both DC and Alleyn’s dealt with the situation firmly and have retained measures to address such awful behaviour.

Anonymousmum98 · 02/03/2025 10:07

I wanted to add on here too as I think there are some people who go back to everyone’s invited and Dulwich being the first school mentioned but when you look at the list of schools included pretty much every secondary school is there and Alleyns hasn’t been immune from poor behaviour too. My take is that at school you can get children who don’t behave well it depends on their friends and how they’ve been brought up.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 02/03/2025 07:06

@AlbertinaRoad this is brilliant feedback thank you and fab to hear they do mix with clubs and get to know other kids aswell on the year and not just their form. Is it ever a struggle to find space in a club? The clubs must be busy with all the boys so assume quite large numbers attend this.

how is the pastoral care at DC at the moment? Lots of people I still talk to refer to DC and the bad rep they have with girls. Do you find Jags etc avoid the Dc boys?

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AlbertinaRoad · 01/03/2025 23:37

Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:06

@AlbertinaRoad he absolutely loves both of them and after the offer days it is a super hard one to decide.

one thing I have heard about Dulwich is it is big enough to find something that you like and will find your tribe with things you enjoy. But the large number of boys also scare me. Do they actually get to know everyone in the year or is it mostly your form class?

Definitely he knows people from outside his own form. Clubs and interests mean you meet boys from other forms. Plus house activities. In the lower school which they are in for year 7 & 8 they are in their lower school bubble. It really doesn't feel that big. My son went there from a 2 form state primary, so about 60 kids in his year up to 140 kids. He loved it. I definitely noticed his friendship group changed from year 7 to year 8 too, as he found his confidence. It's a lot to take on in year 7; new building, new teachers , new subjects, new kids, a while new way of doing school. All I can say is he is very happy there and wanted to counter to argument that it's only for sporty, posh boys. My son is neither of those things

SamPoodle123 · 01/03/2025 22:41

Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:13

@SamPoodle123 how is your decision making going? We declined Emanuel yesterday so only Alleyn’s and DC in the mix now.

good luck to you too! I am sure our boys would be happy at any school as all brilliant schools.

Thanks. We ended up getting an offer to Harrodian on Friday and declined that....but still have not made decisions on the others. I feel like LU makes most sense. Dh does not agree. Wish we just agreed and felt confident with it.

Good luck to you as well!

Hellolondonfriends · 01/03/2025 22:32

@Twinklestoes198 final decision was based on coed! DS is not sporty, very into maths/computers, and generally quirky/creative.

Both schools are great but for us it came down to coed.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:23

@Hellolondonfriends can’t remember if I asked you this before but is your Ds sporty or, musical or drama or mix of all?

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Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:22

@Hellolondonfriends congrats with the decision! Absolutely brilliant! Must be such a relief! What was the final straw that made you decide Alleyn’s over DC? Sport drama or coed? I must say I was very impressed after offering day and all the kids showing around and current pupils seemed sooo lovely

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Hellolondonfriends · 01/03/2025 22:13

@Twinklestoes198 Alleyn's! Excited and happy the decision has been made. :)

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:13

@SamPoodle123 how is your decision making going? We declined Emanuel yesterday so only Alleyn’s and DC in the mix now.

good luck to you too! I am sure our boys would be happy at any school as all brilliant schools.

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SamPoodle123 · 01/03/2025 22:09

Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:08

@Hellolondonfriends did you decide on Alleyn’s? Ds absolutely loved the offer holder day! I’m leaning towards Alleyn’s too but then next day DC! Need to make a decision tomorrow

Good luck on making the decision! We are in the same boat and hoping to feel confident by tomorrow or Monday. 😅

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:08

@Hellolondonfriends did you decide on Alleyn’s? Ds absolutely loved the offer holder day! I’m leaning towards Alleyn’s too but then next day DC! Need to make a decision tomorrow

OP posts:
Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 01/03/2025 22:06

@AlbertinaRoad he absolutely loves both of them and after the offer days it is a super hard one to decide.

one thing I have heard about Dulwich is it is big enough to find something that you like and will find your tribe with things you enjoy. But the large number of boys also scare me. Do they actually get to know everyone in the year or is it mostly your form class?

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AlbertinaRoad · 28/02/2025 11:57

The coed issue was a thing for us too but went for Dulwich a few years ago and haven't regretted it. It's such a lovely school. What does your son think? Does he have a preference? Because that's really important. Mine was actually really keen to not go to a mixed school 🤦🏻‍♀️ I think because he was quite small and felt intimidated by the much more mature girls in his year!? Difficult to get an honest answer from him on that point! But he loves Dulwich. He's not sporty in the slightest and found a real love for drama at the school having never done it before. He's very happy. They mix with girls from Jags but I wish it was more. It ramps up in the 6th form and they do mixed lessons with girls then for enrichment studies

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 27/02/2025 16:58

@11plusinLondon brilliant thank you. Yes this is what I received on email
aswell but was wondering if there was anything extra that was sent via post. Great to know they didn’t send anything by post.

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11plusinLondon · 27/02/2025 15:31

I don’t think Alleyn’s sent anything by post. We got the letter with the offer (inc scholarship info) and the acceptance form by email, so just the two documents.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 27/02/2025 14:42

@Hellolondonfriends good luck with the decision. The coed factor is a massive decision factor which is pulling me to.

quick one, we still haven’t received the postal
offer from Alleyn’s and only the email.
is there any different information that was sent compared to the email offers?

thanks!

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Hellolondonfriends · 27/02/2025 13:30

@Twinklestoes198 Still leaning Alleyn's for it being co-ed, but haven't finalised yet.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 27/02/2025 11:02

@Hellolondonfriends have you had the taster day yet? We are going tomorrow so hopefully will know by the end of tomorrow. What is making you clean more towards Alleyn’s? Such a hard choice as they both a brilliant and think Ds will be happy at either.

had anyone asked at the taster day about the new venture?

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tennissquare · 26/02/2025 20:48

@Hellolondonfriends , I wouldn't worry about the venture with Cognita. I'm sure the parents at Brighton College didn't notice when Cognita did the same to create Brighton College Prep Kensington in SW7.

Hellolondonfriends · 26/02/2025 20:28

@Twinklestoes198 leaning Alleyn's but hoping the expansion doesn't change things too much. Wish I could PM you! 😂

tennissquare · 26/02/2025 20:03

@Twinklestoes198 no the new schools are a partnership with Cognita to re-brand the current North Bridge House schools.

Original poster
Twinklestoes198 · 26/02/2025 19:50

@Hellolondonfriends which one are you leaning towards? Went to the Dulwich offer holding day today and DS really liked all
the activities on offer. @Charlotte120221 thisnis exactly what I saw today, there is something for everyone to like. It’s a big school but looks like there is something for everyone.

Will make a decision this weekend after Alleyn’s offer day.

is Alleyn’s opening two new campuses ie will be like Thomas with different sites?

OP posts:
Charlotte120221 · 26/02/2025 14:02

I don't think the Alleyns news has any bearing on the decision in hand here personally. The new schools won't affect what's happening in the original school

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