Differences between GDST schools

[vuren]

Anyone know anything about Sutton High school and how hard it is to get in compared to other GDST schools? Also how does it compare to Epsom college and what are the interviews like?

Sutton High will be easier to get in then Wimbledon High or Putney High as a lot of high ability girls go to grammar schools in Sutton. Epsom College is somewhere in between academically but a different type of school (co-ed and boarding).

There is a massive fees difference from age 14, the 2 schools aren't really comparable.

Sorry I'm referring to Sutton v Epsom

And to state the obvious Epsom is coed. Also suits slightly less academic and more all round pupils, although most academic do achieve.

I think Epsom gets about 75 or 77% A*-A at GCSE so hardly less academic...

Wow; thank you SO much. This is really helpful. I am subscribing to the Good School Guide but it's always SO valuable to have the Mums' views and experiences.
Can I ask if anyone knows about Croydon High School and how that compares. ?
Also anything about interviews?
Thanks again for such quick replies.. wonderful Mumsnet!

Within the SWLondon GDST schools i'd say this is the list in order of difficulty.
Wim High
Putney High
Surbiton High (not actually a GDST school but everyone assumes)
Sutton High

I don't know about Croydon but i do know Clapham and Streatham also less selective than wim/putney.

Epsom is a diff beast.
Epensive, boarding, co-ed.
like comparing apples and oranges.

Don't worry about the interviews, for age 11 entry to Epsom its a casual chat with a teacher or year head weeks before the exams. SHS don't interview.

SHS is Surbiton High School not Sutton.

Croydon High is selective but Wimbledon and Putney are the most selective of any of the GDST schools across the country because of their areas, catchment,numbers applying. Croydon is very friendly, lovely grounds, wide ethnic mix and very good pastoral care. Sutton's head is leaving but I think in terms of entrance is similar to Croydon. I know people who work at Croydon. What year group are you looking at? Can ask for you.

Croydon High is very academic. Alongside Wimbledon High and Putney High, they’re amongst the most academic in the country. Sutton is on the academic side of things but not one of those top top schools.

In terms of preparing for the interview, you could just get a specialist tutor.

Also, it’s no insider information. It’s all widely published. Just have a look at school websites for starters + go to open days or book tours to get a feel for places.

Thanks SO much for all this information. Of course websites and open days help but there is nothing like Mums whose daughters are in the school already. So thank you Flying Archer for your offer of help. So it's entry into year 7 I'm interested in.

Croydon High totally changed their entrance exam set up last year. It was all done on computer, rather than the usual maths, English type exams. They do interview, but not sure what form that takes these days.

The school has an open day in October, so I would suggest you visit if you're interested.

Croydon High is a long way below Putney & Wimbledon in any league table and it is misleading to group it together with those highest scoring GDST schools. It is well towards the bottom (especially for London) rather than P&W which sit at the very top! That said it is obviously a good local school and bright students can do very well there. You can’t go far wrong with a GDST.

I should clarify I meant it is towards the bottom of the GDST schools, not a general league table of course.

Just from a non scientific group survey of a group of 12 state school kids who applied to some of these schools this year:-
all 12 got sutton
6 got surbiton
1 got wimbledon
no one got putney.

kids will do well at all thsee schools but in terms of getting in.....

Croydon High is n82 indie in the country for GCSEs compared to Wimbledon High at 15 and Putney at 22. So behind them but still a very academic school.

Just another thought OP. While Sutton High gets 55% A-A so less than other schools it is still very good and caters for high ability girls working towards straight A and Oxbridge applications. A school like that can also be an excellent choice for a very able girl as it might be better for her self confidence than being surrounded by girls who are all super smart in which case she might feel average.
And don't forget to look at all the other aspects when choosing a school, e.g. ethos, extra-curricular activities, distance from home etc.

If you’re thinking about Y7 applications for an able child, you’d probably have WHS and / or PHS as stretch, and then Sutton High and / or Surbiton High as a back up. It depends exactly where you live and how long a commute you’re prepared to consider for your dd - I know girls going from Wimbledon as far out as Guildford High, and further into London to the Hammersmith schools or CLSG.

Our experience this year was that WHS threw up slightly odd results as it relies heavily on VR and NVR, while the others (including Tiffin, now) either don’t use them or use them in combination with maths and english exams. Sutton High, for example, has online CAT testing (which is sort of VR and NVR, but with other bits as well) then maths and english exams and an interview.

Yes, commutes can be pretty long... There's something to be said for going to school locally and saving 7-10h a week to do extra-curricular stuff, studying or even socialising or resting rather than spending time on a bus/train.

Go as local as possible and don't get into the bullshit of it all.
Many good schools around. good luck.