Private, State Comp or Grammar in London?

[wineandolives5]

I'm just applying for schools for DS who is going into Year 6. We live in West London and have narrowed it down to Kew House, Ibstock, Latymer, St Paul's and KCS. We are going to look at Tiffin next week at the open evening. I'm just wondering if anyone had any update opinions on these schools. We are also in a catchment of a good secondary. Has anyone regretted going private, not going to the state comp or going to Tiffin? Just trying to get my head around the next steps as we might not apply to them all!

Also going to Tiffin next week so can't advise on that but also have a Y5 DS and have been through it all before with other DC.
The only thing I'd say about the schools you've listed is that having visited all of them and knowing kids at all of them I don't think that a boy that suits Kew House would suit St Pauls and KCS for example - although I do know boys who applied to both. They are so different- and not just academically. Kew seems to be super hard to get into for boys as well as so many siblings and guaranteed places from their linked prep.

Thanks for your reply nearlytheholidays. I guess I’m just trying to get a broad spread of schools because I don’t know where he will get in!! I guess Kew House is more local?

Totally get the applying to lots of places! Definitely did with older DC. Have you also looked at others- eg KGS, Hampton, Reeds etc.

Thanks! No I haven’t heard of Reeds thanks I’ll take a look. Hampton is a bit far from us. Preferred Latymer and Ibstock to KGS and again it’s a bit further. Also, scared of my ds doing too many exams! Any current parents with views?

If you post in secondary school section you may get more answers - rather than just me!

Well, generally speaking independent schools with have several times the funding of any state school so their class size is often half and they have much much better extra curricular provision and much better resources and facilities.

State schools do the best they can with the funding available. Super selective grammars like Tiffin attract the creme de la creme of the highest ability pupils. They have excellent value added scores and do as much as possible in terms of extra curricular provision. However, your typical grammar receives about £1500/term per pupil so there's only so much (or so little) they can do compared to indies.

Local comps will actually have more funding then grammars but the money goes towards SEN and pupil premium students (that's what it's there for). If it's a genuine comp (no fudging of admission criteria), then it'll have a very wide cross-section of the society there. Somewhat less if it's a fake 'comp' (fudged admisssions).

So it just really boils down to what sort of environment you want your DC to be at school and whether you're willing/able to pay for private education.

OP- did you go to Tiffin yesterday? What did you think?

Hi! It was hard to see everything as it was so busy but it seems quite a cramped site for that many boys. I guess it’s free so that is a huge bonus! What did u think?

I liked it more that I thought I would and was surprised at the amount of outside space they had but I have looked at a lot of girls's schools which are often lacking in it! DS liked it and I could see him there far more than Ibstock for example which left me totally underwhelmed despite the manicured lawns and flower arrangements! Will probably give it a go even though it's a very long shot! We went late and stayed late so it wasn't too busy when we looked around!

Yes it definitely seems like it’s worth a shot! Results are similar to Ibstock which concerns me as isn’t it meant to be more selective?

Super selective grammars get thousands and thousands of applicants. I don't think any indie ever gets quite as many.

Have you been on the elevenplus forum? Have you been tutoring? I think it's important to know which are your reach, safe and insurance schools. All the schools you've listed are vastly over subscribed.

Yes we are tutoring. Not a lot. 1 hour a week. Surely it gets so many applicants because it is free? Only 7% of the population choose and can afford private. That leaves 93%. It costs nothing to do the tests so why not try? No point not trying imo if we are doing other entrance exams. I’m just wondering why the results aren’t better? Any Tiffin parents on?

The results are amazing. But there's only so much you can do with 30 children in the lesson so the top indies do achieve slightly higher than state schools.

But I’m presuming they don’t have 30 in a class in GCSE and A level classes?

I’d be surprised if they don’t unless it’s the bottom set or a subject with fewer students taking it.

But I don’t have experience of Tiffin so just guessing based on the grammars that I do know.

From the good schools guide on Tiffin- Class sizes (average of 30 to end of year 9 dropping to 24 in GCSE years and 16 in the sixth form)

In your demographic op:

£200k income - independent
£100k income - grammar
Other - comp

I cannot speak highly enough of KCS but DS left in 2013. Alpha boy - rpund peg in round hole. Plenty oc gentler boys were v mis.

Ibstock know parents who are v happy. Also St Johns.

Tiffin is fab for science/maths wasn't 15 yrs ago for lib arts.

Great thanks for all the info ladies! I didn’t think you could have 30 in an A level class. I went to a good comp and we had 16 max. Many years ago though! Not sure how to link but OhtheRoses what do you mean about KCS and gentler boys were mis?

Do the rounds of Autumn open days and make sure you speak with current children who are there - not just older children - see if there are some Year 7's, 8's or 9's rather then well trained sixth formers - ask the children lots of questions- you'll get honest answers.
Try to attend Head's address and get a feel for how the ethos and style.
If they do small school tours on a working day then I'd definitely go to those - particularly for any on the short list!
It's not always about the position in League tables or number of A*s all the kids achieve - all that really tells you is how selective a school is at 11+. Not all will thrive in a pressured environment. Happy children will do well and bright children who are happy will achieve their potential almost anywhere.
If you are looking at coed and Kew house etc - have you thought of Radnor House in Twickenham - not sure where you are but it's easy enough to get there on public transport. My DC is there and very happy...

To quote @OhTheRoses

£200k income - independent
£100k income - grammar
Other - comp

And the rest! We are in the bracket that should theoretically be paying for private schools but thank god we got lucky with a state school as it would be tight to go private even on that income!

And remember you need to save money for their uni days, assuming they have them, too!

I attest I may be slightly out of date but it depends on other outgoings. We funded two together from 2010 to 2013 and it was about £38k net incl trips and misc. I guess that's gone up. We did one 8 to 18 and the other 13 to 18 + a repeat year. But only had a three yr overlap.

Yep uni is £7kish on accommodation and 9,250 on fees if you pay them plus spends of course. So still about 20k net for an extra three years each and then you fund the Masters or the law conversion ...........