I agree with what sylvm says about Owens. DD was ill, from on going allergy problems, chronic pain, a bit like ME) our personal experience was there is NO pastoral support. and it was up to me to arrange when to take her in, arrange for work to be collected etc. I wrote many times asking for support, the response was she's very bright she'll catch up. The attitude is very much, you are here because you are bright, if you don't get it first time round - tough!
DD became depressed about missing school and struggled to go in, but I would have to fetch her an hour later as she had fallen asleep or had fainted with weakness.
She'd met up for a dinner with a group of girls from the High school and one day a couple of weeks lsater she said, I want to move school, I know where I should be. Luckily SAHS had a place becoming available. The head said we took her at 7 and we took her at 11, you turned us down twice, this is your last chance!
DD joined and never looked back. She is glad she went to Owens, as she saw another side of life that has given her a balanced view of people and life, but she's so happy she moved (her words)
The worse thing I did was leave DS there for another year, he had never been particularly happy there, mild bullying, older boys threatening and taking lunch money. He would also get 80% and be bottom of the class. the teachers also said ask your sister to help you, she's done this before!
He spent one whole term outside a classroom for one subject as he refused to apologise to a teacher for stating his own opinion on something he strongly believed in, which was the opposite views of the teachers.
I made him wait until the end of year 8, but he also was much happier at a single sex school.
I met some parents who thought I was mad to move DD from Owens and pay for SAHS, but different schools suit different children.
Owens is truly an excellent school, I was a governor there for 2 years, so got to know how it worked. It is very much a North London school, there are some very streetwise children there, who can be quite ruthless to fellow pupils.
We have no regrets, only that education ended up costing a small fortune as we had not planned for fees, so they had to come out of earned income, so we had to find nearly £2000 a month for the next 6 years!