Godolphin and Latymer or West London Free School Secondary

Of course

@Marie44

I have two in selective private in this area. Plenty of my DDs friends ended up in G&L after 11+. Some, who didn’t manage to get into better schools went to WLFS.
So - there is that. It is going to be a different, less academic cohort. With less opportunities.

Recently - one of good friends moved her DD from WLFS to mid-level private school. Not so much for academics, but to get better support - pastoral and otherwise.

For me, it’s all about the peer group—selectivity is the real deal-breaker. There’s such a massive risk with a bright DD being stuck in a non-selective set; they just end up feeling isolated or totally switching off because they aren’t being stretched. Whether the school is state or private is less of a priority. The main thing is finding that academic bubble where they can actually thrive and be happy. Of course, an academically strong girl can still do well in a non-selective school like WLFS, but it’s a much bigger gamble for her development than being in a selective environment as in G&L. @Marie44

That implies to me that a student already attending the secondary with 5s in GCSE English Language and Math and five 6s overall will have priority over an external applicant with straight 9s. Is that not your experience?

Nope. Not my experience. Plenty of the WLFS kids bomb GCSEs and don't go onto the sixth form, many also leave out of choice because they want a new experience outside of the WLFS one. Remember, some of those kids have been in the WLFS family since primary school and it gets a bit insular. They want a new environment that's not associated with WLFS. That's a very common reason for the kids who breeze through GCSEs, obtaining 9s, not to stay on at WLFS Sixth Form. They just want a new experience, nothing more, nothing less. So anyone from the outside should not at all be deterred from applying.
Also, the secondary can be a bit hardcore, emotionally, and many kids burn out. It's not got great pastoral care and that adds to it. The Sixth Form is a different and much better story.

@DorisTheFinkasaurus

yes of course she'll definitely have the same chance of getting a placement at the sixth form as those who are already attending the secondary.

From their sixth form admissions arrangements:

c. Minimum Entry Requirements are Grade 5 in English Language and Mathematics, and five Grade 6s overall....

d. All students in the current Year 11 at the West London Free School who meet the Minimum Entry Requirements... will be given first preference to continue into the Sixth Form if they wish to do so....

e. Any remaining places will be filled by external applicants to the Sixth Form; final numbers will vary depending on the combination of courses, availability of spaces and the number of internal Year 11 students who decide to continue at the West London Free School....

That implies to me that a student already attending the secondary with 5s in GCSE English Language and Math and five 6s overall will have priority over an external applicant with straight 9s. Is that not your experience?

For now, think we will just keep them in their schools. They are happy there and no reason to move. Although maybe a chance dd would want to go coed, but doubt it as she loves G&L. DS is also very happy at his school. Of course you never know later down the line so we keep an open mind for both kids. But not sure if DS could change anyway bc LU dropping GCSEs.

Hi OP, yes of course she'll definitely have the same chance of getting a placement at the sixth form as those who are already attending the secondary. In my own experience, I have found the sixth form to be fairly evenly split down the middle. About half of the sixth form pupils come from other schools and it's a great sixth form for those who have been in private education. The teaching standards at the sixth form are high, but it's a very nurturing environment. Mr. Tamizian is an amazing, amazing teacher (I believe he's the head of the sixth form now) and Mr. Bacchi-Andreoli runs the art department and is, again, an incredible art teacher. I regrettably can't speak too highly of the secondary itself (it's got it's great and not so great aspects), but the sixth form deserves heaps of praise. It really is consistently excellent.

G&L all the way. In my own personal experience (having had sons and a daughter at WLFS primary and secondary), I would absolutely have chosen a school like G&L if I had that opportunity in front of me. WLFS secondary is not nearly as good a school as it used to be (I've had kids attending the secondary since its inception with my youngest starting this past September and leaving by November- I've known that school and its staff for a long time).

The WLFS Sixth Form is a different story- excellent sixth form! In a class by itself, really. It's a sixth form I would chose over a private one all day long.

@Marie44 we had a similar dilemma with the other options including a grammar school. If affordability wasn't an issue I would take G&L at a heartbeat. We chose the independent school and haven't looked back.

@Marie44, if you have a bursary offer, of course you must take this opportunity for your dd - the school want her. The bursary won’t be reallocated this year, if you don’t take it.

Yes, one at G&L and one at LU. Both had good state options, but I felt secondary private would suit them better. I wanted them with a more academic crowd and to be challenged. They went to a very good state primary and enjoyed it very much, but it did not challenge them enough. I don't know about WLFS so hopefully someone comes along who can better advise.

If anything, I would do the opposite. G&L prepares them very well for the GCSE's and I doubt state schools would do the same....so going to G&L prior to state would ensure higher GCSE scores instead of state and swapping.

G&L is a lovely school, and not as completive or pressured as, say, SPGS.
As to where your daughter would be happier - it's impossible to say, as no one has a crystal ball. And in any school, no matter how supportive, etc - there will be happy and unhappy kids.

Facilities, sports and other opportunities do make a huge difference on kids day-to-day school experience, and hence, their happiness there.
And, even though GCSEs, A-levels and uni admissions seem far away for you - the time will fly really fast, and it'll be here before you know it.

School with better funding will give your kid the best preparation for her future life. Period.

Also - being with other smart kids would also help her develop in a different way than being in a mixed ability school with a lot less resources.

That said - you can also save money and go state, and then move at GSCEs, or even A-levels.

We’re no longer in London and loving the pressure cooker release ;). DD’s BF from london days is at GL and probably a bit on the outside of groups. The mum puts it down to the difference in wealth but honestly this girl has always been slightly socially awkward and horribly competitive with others so I suspect that’s more the cause of things. Loves the school and all the opportunities there though. There are some things in life you can’t control- and wether your child will be happy for certain is not one of them, however having had a child in both state and independent I would plump for independent every time!