Private boys/mixed secondaries SW London

[FenwickFan]

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.

I suspect your Emanuel info is a bit out of date - I know lots of people in the last few years who have accepted places there rather than at 'more academic' schools mainly because they think their children will be happier there and therefore probably do better in the long run. I haven't filled in the acceptance form yet but I am pretty sure we will and we also have offers from a few other schools that on paper get higher A's and A stars but I think my DC will be FAR happier at Emanuel. A colleagues son got an academic scholarship to Hampton last year but didn't get a scholarship to Emanuel- I think they all look for different things and suit different children.

FYI Hampton also has a 10+ exam for 11+ entry...

Itschilly, it is so hard to choose the right school!

Thank you Petra, this is very helpful!

Indeed it is and I have to go through it all again in a couple of years with a very bright but 'quirky' boy and I have absolutely no idea where might suit him! Seemed much more obvious with DC1 so am hoping it might become clearer for the next one as he gets older!

Itschilly, good luck! I am in the same boat with my youngest.

Emanuel doesn't really stream, though they have two slightly faster based classes (based in entrance exam) and three standard ones in year 7, but the differences are really slight and then it's all adjusted in year 9 (with new intake) and pupils move between the streams without difficulty.

And aside from that, they use sets from year 8 onwards for core subjects.

Caveat: that might all change under the new head. OP has made up her mind about this school, I'm noting this for other readers. I would urge them to go and see the school, rather than rely on an old reputation from 2012.

BTW, just like all other private schools it's top set pupils come out with strings of A*/A. But because of its inclusive sibling policy (they only have to achieve a bare pass on the he entrance exam, as do sport, drama,art and music scholars). This means they have a wider range of ability at entrance than some other private schools. Though the bare pass mark has risen a fair bit in recent years, and some siblings have not received offers, so I expect in about 3-5 years time, the greater selectivity will have fed through to results.

KGS also has a 10+ deferred entry

Ummm
But you are choosing some of the most difficult schools in London. And if ds is not so good at english how do you know he will get in anyway. Sometimes good to have a back up bit of course you know your sons ability.
And as for league tables they simply reflect the admissions policy. Siblings need a lower mark to get in. Put Alleynes 11+ Cohort into Emanuel and in 7 years they’ll get a peak in results.

They set for only maths 1st then other subjects down the line.
Lastly the new head is ex kcs so he knows the good and bad of a highly selective school. I wouldnt be surprised if in 7 years time results arent on par with some of the schools youve mentioned.

I don’t remember fee’s being much higher than others.

Anothernewt. As you say, greater selectivity feeds through to better results. You are quite right of course, though what does this say about the ‘added value’ of any of these schools ? The top schools get the best results by merely cherry picking the best pupils.

‘The top schools get the best results by merely cherry picking the best pupils.’

Exaclty, look at Wilsons Grammar. Super selective. Beats all the londom private schools bar say kcs, st pauls and even then its only a % or so. Tiffins girls I think only 2nd to st pauls girls.

Wherearemymarbles, I never said DS was weak in English, it was just an example about streaming. I am worried about him getting nervous and having a meltdown during the exam/interview. He is in top sets for both Maths and English, his tutor is very happy with him too, so no worries about his academic ability.

My older DC are both attending schools that are on the list in my OP, I know it's not a walk in the park to get into these schools, especially for a nervous child who is lacking confidence.

I think it's about looking at what sort of school experience would be best for your Dad. And if you can afford private schools (whether by paying or securing a bursary) that expands your choices.

I don't think there will be much difference in grades, regardless of which school your DC go to. But what their years at that secondary will be like could vary quite a bit. From the nuts and bolts of what their day will be like (inc travel time) through co-curricular opportunities, to that intangible 'feel' of a place.

Oh - and OP, if Emanuel approach to streaming/setting is a show stopper, you might want to cross Dulwich off your list. They have a top stream of one ot two classes - the scholars and the best mathematicians on entrance exams (very like Emanuel)

OP, Im just curious why a boy who is in top sets for both Maths and English has a tutor??? Are you trying to squeeze him into schools that aren't a natural fit? Will he be happy there once he gets in? And will you continue to tutor him through secondary school as well?

I also have a child at a top selective London school. Which was very good at identifying and weeding out tutored children. The ones who did get through are now struggling (or in some cases, struggled inititally and then clearly got a tutor again). Poor kids.

Sugar Rush, every child that is among for a top school in my son's class has a tutor. There is exactly one year left till 10+ exam, we just started after Christmas. Don't worry, I know everything there is to know about admissions/tutored children etc. Went through it twice before with the older ones. I was just looking for advice because I was thinking maybe I missed some great schools in the area. It was easier with the older kids, we were confident they'll pass and just applied for the top ones of our choice.

And no, it's a common mistake thinking that schools can weed out tutored children. I k own many many tutored kids (including mine) who got several offers and scholarships.

Sorry, cooking and trying to type at the same time.

Well you sound super confident (if not super full of yourself and DC’s abilities)

Maybe your sons anxiety is down to the demands you place on him academically - dump the tutor and get someone to help with his MH.

Wow! Wherearemymarbles, please don't be rude about DS, you don't know him or me, this is really uncalled for.

Most comps set, rather than stream.

And the reason for the "most expensive comprehensive in London" chat is because Emanuel used to take a broader range of abilities, so , in actual fact, yes, more like a comp - and nothing wrong with that. The results then reflect a broader intake. It doesn't mean the education on offer is less good. The vast majority of competent schools (at whatever level and in whatever sector) simply reflect the ability of the intake.

But that phrase (the most expensive comprehensive in London) reflects exactly the competitive snobbery that some parents fall for when choosing a school.

Good luck, anyway!

(P.S NOT an Emanuel parent )

The super selectives like St Paul's, Westminster, Kings wimbledon, City are very hard to get into, requiring academic child plus lots of preparation.
All the others - even those considered easy to get into - are no longer so easy simply due to the sheer NUMBERS!

All teh ones mentioned above are fine, you could add Epsom College, St John's Leatherhead, Danes Hill, Box Hill etc to your list as clapham out to surrey is doable.

I didn't get a great feel for Emmanuel, i have to be honest. But i do know people who are very happy there, so worth looking if you can walk! do not underestimate the journey time.

Could someone please explain to me the difference between setting and streaming?
I think Reeds hasn't been mentioned as a possible fall-back.

Streaming is where you allocate pupils to classes based on academic performance, and then they have all,their lessons together.

Setting is where they are allocated to classes for specific subjects, somyou couid her set 1 science, set 2 maths, set 2 English, set 3 MFL.

You can combine the systems (stream for most subjects, set for some) or you could set for some and have mixed ability for others.

Thanks meditrina for your prompt reply and explanation. Very helpful.

Hi, consider The Cedars in South Croydon, independent boys school. Very small and we are super happy with it and importantly our yr7 son is very happy too. A few boys commute from Clapham too I believe.
Good luck with your search! X