Alleyns school - anyone with experience of?

Thank you all for your experiences.

My daughter has just left Alleyns post a levels. We were very happy with her experience there

regarding the comment on diversity there is a huge push and I understand a big expansion in bursaries and a soft quota for state school primaries. They constantly have diversity programmes and push hard on black history week and other initiatives around pride etc.

All the Dulwich schools are excellent in different ways, but I will say in terms of creativity (and I feel I can say this with over 30 years as a professional creative, my husband as well) I was slightly put off by this within the school for these reasons. 1. The school isn't diverse and that limits creative thinking. 2. The arts departments were to shiny for me. I think you need to be able to make something out of nothing. You don't need shiny theatres at that age. It's unrealistic. The facilities are better than some Olivier award winning theatres. My DS did get a place with an academic scholarship, but he wanted to try for a music scholarship. At the time he had only completed grade 3/4 on his instruments because we didn't really push him to do grades, we wanted him to be creative with his music because he was passionate and very good. Allyens was the only school that wouldn't hear him play for consideration because of his grade level. Every other school did and offered him music scholarships. That is shortsighted on the creative front, especially if you are getting kids from the state sector who may not have had the same opportunity to pay for lessons and exams. My DS didn't want to go there after that. I know it's a good school, we have friends with kids there, but It's just something to think about.

If you have a place for sixth form (starting next week?) then you are already on the hook for at least one term’s fees- so this is v late to still be dithering?

but yes, start a new thread.

Hi @Xtrawberryvibes you will get more replies if you start a new discussion in Secondary Education, as this is an old thread.

If they are both top notch academically then pick whichever you think your child will be happier at, and enjoy the lessons more, as that’s likely to make the difference. Nice problem to have!

Hi
My son got place in Alleyns for Sixth form.
He also got place in Wilsons Grammar school South London.
Commuting wise both good. Can someone please advise academic wise as both are top notch hence a bit confused.

Any suggestions please on academics.

Thanks

I was there in early 80s/Derek Fenner. Alleyn's was for 'lively' kids who were not square enough for DC; DC intake was judged on 'oxbridge potential'. Glad to hear tradition is alive and well in townley road - we had the happiest time of our lives & many also got into oxbridge in spite of the parties! If you and your kids are boring - avoid.

Hi
I'm a sixth former at Alleyn's, not a mum so don't know what I'm doing on mumsnet, but wanted to give an opinion from someone who actually goes to the school. I've been here since year 1 and absolutely love it, can't see myself anywhere else, and no, I am not blonde nor particularly outgoing (more quiet and serious.) I agree that it's not particularly ethnically diverse, and everyone is aware of it, but comparing my year to the current year 7s, this has improved hugely.
You can work out for yourself that it is academically excellent, and by the time I arrived in sixth form I genuinely enjoyed learning for the sake of it, rather than for exams, and so do most students. I think that's one of the best things about Alleyn's- I have always felt really prepared for my exams, but in lessons I don't feel as though everything is geared towards them-there is time to relax and have fun as we are taught. Another thing that I think is really important is that the vast majority of teachers are more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure a pupil fulfills their potential, for example if you ask something outside the syllabus they will happily explain or discuss it.
There are loads of opportunities in almost every field you can think of, from chess club to water polo, and most people get quite involved.
Yes it's a bit weird that we have a Costa, but we all love it, so do the teachers, and to be honest so would your child! It doesn't feel like a business within the school, more of a small extension of the dining room that is smart enough to fit with the theater and does extra good drinks :) and it's cheaper than real Costa
The atmosphere is really good, everyone seems happy most of the time, I've never really heard about any bullying, and pupils in general are very willing to get to know each other. I really do feel my confidence has grown a lot during my time at Alleyn's.
Obviously I have no experience of JAGS, but I get the feeling that Alleyn's is a lot less bitchy! Although probably because it's co-ed.
Also UCAS preparation is very good- get loads of support.
I know it sounds like I'm being paid to advertise the school/am the headmaster in disguise but I promise I'm not!!

I agree with Dulwichproudmum. Went to an open day there this year and was shocked about how homogenously "blonde" it all was - in this day and age, I found it very bizarre indeed. Not for us on that count.

I have had childen at a number of Dulwich schools, and currently have one at Alleyns. It is generally a happy school, but there is real pressure to look good there. In fact, as one friend put it, "I didn't accept a place for my daughter at Alleyns because she wasn't good looking enough." I think there is some truth to this point; there is an inordinate number of tall, thin, blonde gorgeous girls there and if you don't have at least two of those asssets, you might feel out-of-place. Moreover, the children there are frequently very outgoing, and certainly in the Lower School, there seems to be a bias against the quieter and more serious children -- less so further up the school when you need those types for good exam results! I think the mixed status also seems to inhibit the boys and girls there from certain activities; there are simply less clubs and activities there than at JAGS and DC.

All the local Foundation Schools are really strong, but Alleyns has had a huge amount of popularity partly because it is currently the hardest to get into, but I am not certain that it has earned that popularity in terms of what it is offering for these elite students. Oxbridge entry, the number of clubs and activities, the intellectual stretching of students beyond exam preparation -- these facets haven't really matched JAGS and DC for the level of students they have.

The ethnic mix is incredibly poor and I think the school is starting to try and do something about it. Parents often say that it is more natural to go to school with boys and girls, but at least most boys and girls develop a natural curiousity about the opposite sex. Being comfortable with people from different cultures and backgrounds doesn't come as naturally and really only comes with exposure. The very white and upper middle-class families which make up the bulk of the Alleyns community is too homogeneous for modern day London or the global world we live in, and I am glad that Alleyns has said they will be working to change the balance.

How does Alleyn's compare to DCPS. DS has an option for both. Quite confused at the moment any info would by useful...

I went to Alleyns (left 7 and a half years ago so obviously dying to know who CareerFriendlynameChange is!) and really enjoyed my time there. My brother went to Dulwich College and in comparison Alleyns was a much friendlier, more "artsy" place. I was a very short, glasses wearing, very spotty little book worm (turned out ok in the end!) and no one ever said a cruel word to me. I never saw a single incident of bullying in the 7 years I was there whereas it was a daily occurance at nearby DC and JAGS.

With regards to the ethnic diversity issue I would look at Dulwich College and JAGS, they both have much more mixed student populations and I believe this is largely due to them being single sex schools. I never noticed, nor did any of my non-caucasian friends mention, any discrimination from staff or pupils at Alleyns (compared to the teacher at DC who when an incredibly bright Chinese boy got a question wrong joked that there was "a chink in his armour" (complete with geddit eyebrow raise). My brother walked out of that lesson.)

This is an interesting one because my son is black and absolutely loved the school.

We've visited there twice now and on both occasions, he was besotted. Indeed, my only draw back was the lack of ethnic diversity. I mean, there just wasn't any. On both occasions, I think I spotted four black kids in total. Neither my son or his Dad however, are remotely bothered. I tend to think more long term and worry about children being a bit mean or him losing site of his culture. It was beginning to prove to be a bit of a problem in a small all white pre-prep school he went to in North London.

My only consolation is that the school attracts mainly the creative types, who by their very nature, are not usually concerned or bothered about race. I personally preferred City of London Boys not because of the single sex issue, but because like Alleyns, the kids were spirited and there was a fabulous atmosphere, with a broader ethnic mix - a bit more representative of London. I just can't get Alleyns out of his head!

Ah. Makes sense. Yes, the others I had seen were boys only.

It is less ethnically diverse than many of the other local independents because it's co-ed and many parents from various ethnic minority backgrounds are keen to choose single-sex schools for both their sons and especially daughters. So you have fewer non-white applicants which leads to fewer non-white families choosing to go there as their children would be in a minority ...

The new head gave a talk at dd's school prize giving last year and was very impressive

Just having been to an open afternoon, I was stunned to see how little ethnic diversity there was. Certainly, other South/Central London independent schools (Westminster, City, Whitgift, for eg) truly represented the ethnic melting pot that is London.

Anyone know why this is? Do they actively discourate or - dare I ask - discriminate against non-white ethnicities? Or does it - and for what reason - not attract other ethnicities?

And I was then also surprised to see in the good school guide that the school was supposed to be socially and ethnically diverse. (Perhaps I was unlucky and just didn't see it, but I was there for 2 hours doing a tour on a school day and I spotted just one black kid.)

Be a little careful about setting your hopes on Alleyns. There is a real numbers problem, and so they do not always take the best and brightest - which for many is seen as a good thing as it leads to a wider ability range and a more relaxed school which allows self esteem to be built through accomplishment in areas other than academics.

It is mixed so only half the number of places for girls. Then they have a number coming up from the prep and are pretty generous to siblings. It is not unknown for children to have Alleyns as first choice but with a fall back of: JAGs, Dulwich or Westminster!

Impressions we have are as well as doing well by quieter children, it is good with the more feisty, who might be pushing boundaries at a more trad school. We know a number of people who really love it.

I suspect it helps if, as well as being up to scratch on the entrance test, a child has something extra/interesting to offer, be it sport, drama, art or music. Worth noting that they offer a number of (generous) scholarships for these.

New Head next year, currently Deputy Head from Westminster, so presumably the academics wont slip.

Just found this!

I presently work at Alleyn's (have taught for 15 years now) and love the place. Friendly, happy pupils, with great facilities for everything. New head is expected to push forward changes on the academic side, which should mean a greater striving for excellence, as he doubtless wants to use the headship as a springboard to aim for the top at Westminster/Eton after a few years.

Yes, it does have a disproportionate number of loveys, but then Dulwich as a whole is a bit like that (don't live there myself, obviously, on teaching salary!) The only things I'd criticise about it are:

(a) the tendency to go starry-eyed and accept applications from slebs with not very academically wondrous children - but then they often offer other skills, and the school has a history of excellence in music and theatre anyway.

(b) the sibling-friendly policy that means a brilliant dc1 is followed by a succession of the academically-challenged (but then, I suppose, it serves to show the place's willingness to embrace the least-able in the name of inclusivity). Ditto the virtually automatic entry of Junior School pupils into Senior School. In a Year 7 class, the less able are often 'homegrown' - but this doesn't really matter, as there is fresh intake of really clever children too.

(c) the lack of any policy about walking on one side of the corridor at lesson changeover.

One thing I do know and love, though, is that we always have plenty of shy pupils in years 7 and 8 - but all our sixth-formers are confident, kind, and articulate. (They always apologise profusely and dust me down!) Something good goes on here!

My own dd goes to Alleyn's - despite getting offers from JAGS and St Dunstan's (boasting mum moment ). I was sorely tempted by the reputation for academic excellence that JAGS has, and by the wonderful warmth of the St Dunstan's teachers, but I have found Alleyn's a perfect mix of the two.
God, I'm going to barf in a minute, I sound so bloody loyal. I'm only in it for the paycheck and long hols, actually. Can't stand the place.

I agree about the Costa, but the children love it and it has helped them build an amazing theatre ...
You should definitely visit. Where else are you considering?

Has recently done better than JAGs and DC in league tables. Have a couple of friends who have taught/currently teach there and have found the atmosphere quite intense - not so much in terms of academic but social expectations iyswim. And these are people who've taught at places like NLCS and St Pauls Boys so must be saying something!

MTC it was something really kind of ridiculous. Loved the headteacher, but of course he is moving on. I had trouble with the Costa on site. Just kept thinking, this is a business, not a school. Couldn't really get past it. I know I am actually a rabid leftie! But I think their results are actually pretty excellent if you look at the stage 5 2009 figures. Not sure why someone above thought they were not?

Would suggest you go and see it. We had always thought it was one of the likely options for DD, but having visited we have changed our minds. Nothing beats an on-the-ground inspection!

They actually do pretty well if you look at the league tables, but very hard to get into so they should do well! Definitely not as diverse as JAGS or DC but warmer and friendlier than them and less 'hothouse' than JAGS (I have personal experience of all three). New headmaster starting this year who was deputy head or something at Westminster so expectations are high.