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Original poster

Newstead Grammar? Eltham? St Dunstan's (scholarship) or Alleyn's?

33 replies

Acoustic · 03/03/2025 20:57

Hi all,

My DD has got offers from all these schools. She is a very diligent personality and loves her sport and music, quiet girl but very observant. Not hugely academic but is bright!
We can't decide between Eltham and St Dunstan's with a scholarship. We visited all the schools. Alleyn's was great but feel like she maybe in a pressurised environment. Eltham, we were impressed with, a lot, very diverse and very good sport. Newstead is very academic and and majority students are Asian but is free! St Dunstan's is a good option as she has scholarship but feels a little mediocre and not as diverse.
If anyone can give any thoughts with any personal experiences to this to help us decide, will really appreciate it. We do need to make a decision by Wednesday mid day this week!

Thanks in advance
Tan

OP posts:
LostMySocks · 03/03/2025 22:06

I live in Orpington. So many of the Newstead girls have been heavily tutored and some struggle once they are there. If you have just done a year of gap filling & technique then your daughter may find keeping up easier than expected for a super selective

Original poster
Acoustic · 03/03/2025 22:03

TickingAlongNicely · 03/03/2025 21:54

Can you comfortably afford the private schools, even with annual fee increases, for the next five years?

That's why St Dunstan's with a scholarship is topping on the leaderboard. Eltham will make us tight but is in a league of its own! We will be able to afford St Dunstan's comfortably but is it worth it to give a mediocre school, no idea how the teachers/support etc is. Dont know anyone who has had experience of the school. They all put on a show when you visit them and say lots of positive things to sell the schools

OP posts:
Original poster
Acoustic · 03/03/2025 21:59

Stopsnowing · 03/03/2025 21:52

There is a lot to be said for free. Also Newstead is all girls whereas the others are mixed. That is something to consider.

Yes, less inclined towards an all girls school

OP posts:
Original poster
Acoustic · 03/03/2025 21:56

Thank you for your help @TurmericTurmerictolly

OP posts:
Original poster
Acoustic · 03/03/2025 21:56

That's what I am worried about at Newstead, her not feeling confident enough compared to other girls plus it's a girls school which has its pros and cons. Eltham we don't have scholarship so big dent in the budget (we are not loaded, are professionals just about to afford pvt school). St Dunstan's we have heard, its a very upcoming school, very easy for us to get to (15 mins on the train). Alleyn's is also not too bad for us as we have a train that can get her there. We are in Beckenham. But agree similar pressurised environment and have heard they expect them to just get on with it!

OP posts:
TickingAlongNicely · 03/03/2025 21:54

Can you comfortably afford the private schools, even with annual fee increases, for the next five years?

Stopsnowing · 03/03/2025 21:52

There is a lot to be said for free. Also Newstead is all girls whereas the others are mixed. That is something to consider.

Turmerictolly · 03/03/2025 21:05

Newstead is a super selective so, if she's not super bright, how will she feel about being the middle to bottom of the pack? Eltham and St Dunstans nice schools, Eltham is in a nicer area and probably has the edge in terms of reputation. Alleyns is the bigger name and is also more selective and competitive. I'd look at the journey time too.