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Original poster

Private boys/mixed secondaries SW London

50 replies

FenwickFan · 27/02/2018 20:50

I am trying to think ahead and writing down a list of schools for DS in SW London.

So far I have:

10+
City of London Boys
Trinity
Whitgift
King's
Alleyns

11+
City
Trinity
Whitgift
King's
St Paul's (deferred)
Latimer Upper
Hampton
Dulwich
Alleyns
Harrodian

Have I missed anything? I am looking for an academic school, accessible from a Clapham area.

OP posts:
sandybayley · 27/02/2018 21:14

You should add both Kingston Grammar and Emanuel to your list. Emanuel would be the really obvious choice if you're in Clapham.

Original poster
FenwickFan · 27/02/2018 21:21

Thank you Sandy! I am not very keen on Emmanuel due to streaming. Will add Kingston Grammar to my list.

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itschilly · 27/02/2018 22:35

OP- am interested to know what you mean by the streaming at Emanuel?

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 00:24

Itschilly, I've heard people jokingly calling Emanuel "the most expensive comprehensive in London". Apparently they use same system as a comprehensive school to stream kids. I am not a fan, so won't be considering Emanuel for my children.

OP posts:
LarkDescending · 28/02/2018 00:36

Westminster? Just as accessible from Clapham as many of your others.

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 01:18

Lark, i know only one boy that got to Westminster and he is very bright, I don't think DS is that kind of child. I don't think he'll pass St Paul's either, just was going to give it a try anyway.

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Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 01:19

*Got into

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LarkDescending · 28/02/2018 08:12

No problem - just mentioned it as it seemed to fit your criteria of academic and geographically accessible Smile

fleurdelacourt · 28/02/2018 08:45

OP - I think there is only one way to stream children? What is different about the way comprehensive schools do it?

FWIW I don't think Alleyns has a 10+ entry - like DC and Jags it would only really admit kids at that age if someone leaves?

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 08:52

Fleur, you are right! Will take it off 10+ list. My concerns regarding Emanuel - to get into the top stream your child should be good at both English and Maths, so an amazing mathematician will still be going to a lower ability class if his English is not his strongest subject. Also Emanuel's results are not that impressive despite their selection and hefty fees. I don't think it's value for money compared to City/Trinity and other cheaper schools in the area.

OP posts:
Needmoresleep · 28/02/2018 09:12

A couple of comments:

  1. Emanuels recent results reflect their selectivity a decade ago. It is much harder to get a place now.
  1. Harrodian is co-ed and relatively small. A lovely school for the right child. However though it might be perceived as less academic than your other choices it is too small and too sought after to work as a reliable fallback. There is a real shortage of boys places, and obviously I cannot judge whether your DS will need a fall back. But if so you might look at Ibstock, Weatherby Senior, Kew College, St Bens etc.
jellycat1 · 28/02/2018 09:33

I've heard similar about Emanuel. Have you looked at Kew House? New but very good I believe. Same owners as Kew Green Prep etc.
How old is your son OP?

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 09:37

Needmoresleep, this is so helpful! I am aiming for an academic school for DS, but unlike his older siblings he is very unreliable in his performance and I can't honestly predict how well/terrible he is going to do on the exam day. So I need some good back ups.

We had some disastrous music exams due to his nerves, so I am dreading the actual selective exams and especially the interviews :(

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Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 09:39

Thank you jellycat, he is in year 4, so I need to start preparing him for the exams.

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sirfredfredgeorge · 28/02/2018 13:48

to get into the top stream your child should be good at both English and Maths, so an amazing mathematician will still be going to a lower ability class if his English is not his strongest subject

That is indeed a very poor system, it's not a system I have ever heard a comprehensive doing though, in fact it was the big advantage in the comprehensive I went to, that you got different peers who truly excelled in their interested subject yet had such weaknesses in others that they couldn't make it in a selective school.

itschilly · 28/02/2018 14:39

I was at an Emanuel open day this morning and they said in Y7 they are only set for Maths.

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 15:03

Itschilly, I might be wrong and it's the opposite, they stream them according to their maths results, not english. I remember hearing about streaming years ago from other parents when looking for a school for my eldest DD and asking somebody at Emanuel's open day and it was confirmed that there is indeed some streaming going on. Admittedly it was years ago, but this info really put me off. Which is a shame because it's our local school and would be ideal otherwise.

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Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 15:09

Also, knowing you can get much better education for the same price makes me very uncomfortable and feels like a waste of money. No offence to parents with children at Emanuel, I k own many rate the school highly and their kids are enjoying studying there. My older DC are both attending highly selective academic schools in London, I will feel bad sending their youngest DB to a less academic school.

On the other hand, he is very sensitive and suffers from panic attacks, so I don't want to be too pushy with him either.

OP posts:
jeanne16 · 28/02/2018 15:11

Emanuel do not stream. They set by subjec

penona · 28/02/2018 15:12

I was at Emanuel this morning too, they said they stream just for maths in year 7 and 8, but it's quite broad.
Then more streaming from year 9 onwards, as I believe many of the schools on your list do, from what I have seen at the open days.
Our local state comprehensive school streams for everything from the beginning of Year 7, using maths scores for maths and english scores for all other subjects (scores based on exams taken in the summer of year 6)

jeanne16 · 28/02/2018 15:16

They set by subject. I think the streaming you are talking about is done at schools like Graveney. Pupils in the top steam will be in the top stream for all subjects. Similarly for pupils in the middle and lower streams. It works for pupils who have the same ability in all subjects but works less well for those who have spiked ability.

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 15:20

I am not aware of any streaming in two different schools that DD1 and DS1 are attending at the moment. If you look at Emanuel's results, they are not that different to some comps in the area, at least the difference does not warrant an expense of 18k x 7 fees at the exit point. But as I said it's my personal opinion, I am sure it must be a good school as it is so popular.

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penona · 28/02/2018 15:20

Jeanne you are correct sorry - I am muddling up streaming and setting! Quite different things!

jeanne16 · 28/02/2018 15:29

All private schools set for Maths and most for other subjects too. My friend’s son was in set 8 out of 9 maths sets at St Paul’s.

Original poster
FenwickFan · 28/02/2018 15:31

Jeanne, I am not against setting, I am against streaming. Things might have changed since 2012 when I last visited, but there was definitely some streaming going on.

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