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Original poster

Recommendations for 13+ day schools

57 replies

LondonerByDay · 05/10/2021 21:23

We are in the last stretch of applying to 13+ schools and so far have applied mainly to the boarding schools. DS' cat score came in at 134 so the school suggested we look at a few London day schools as well. I am not keen on the pushy, super-academic top 3 day schools and have so far applied to:
Dulwich College
Sevenoaks

Location is not a constraint. We are keen to find a school that suits an academic boy, but not too pushy. Somewhere that creates happy, liberal boys. There should be at least 3-4 teams for football as well!

Any schools in and around London we can look at?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Snowjive2 · 05/10/2021 21:30

Whitgift

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 05/10/2021 21:41

@Snowjive2

Whitgift
Thank you. I need to explore Whitgift and Trinity a bit more.
OP posts:
LIZS · 05/10/2021 21:43

Epsom?

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 05/10/2021 21:48

@LIZS Is Epsom reasonably academic? DS has a tendency to 'take it easy' if he is not constantly challenged..

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/10/2021 21:50

Epsom caters for a wider range than some but is academically challenging.

PenguindreamsofDraco · 06/10/2021 08:45

I'm not sure anyone would call DC "liberal' Grin

KittenKong · 06/10/2021 08:45

Cls?

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 06/10/2021 11:56

@PenguindreamsofDraco I know, but all parents I've spoken to (from all walks of life) are absolutely happy with DC!

OP posts:
thing47 · 06/10/2021 15:23

Merchant Taylors?

Quite academic but also a bit quirky, or at least accommodating of boys who are Grin

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 06/10/2021 16:03

Thank you @thing47 it wasn’t on my radar.

OP posts:
Legoninjago1 · 06/10/2021 21:27

Hampton perhaps

Snowjive2 · 06/10/2021 21:40

Just to follow up, Whitgift is highly diverse, in part because it has a very generous bursary system. After DS2 did 9 years at a very pale SW London prep, this was a breath of fresh air for us.
Academically it covers a wider range than some London boys’ schools but our son and his friends are now all at Oxbridge, US universities or top UK redbricks.
Football is still a major sport, with 4-5 teams in each year, although the new head seems keener on keeping boys in school than travelling to away fixtures…shame.

Soma · 07/10/2021 08:39

@LondonerByDay , have you looked at UCS in Hampstead?

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 09:17

@Soma I’ve heard it’s academically very selective - is it considered pushy?

OP posts:
Soma · 07/10/2021 09:53

@LondonerByDay , not particularly pushy, but that depends of what you are comparing it to.
Highgate offer football, I don't suppose their legendary drugs problem is any worse than most schools in North London. Many DC go there and avoid the drugs.
If you're looking for a more comprehensive academic profile then Mill Hill or Emanuel might suit your DS. Emanuel has become more difficult to get into at 11, but not sure about 13+.

Soma · 07/10/2021 09:54

@LondonerByDay forgot to ask, which schools have your prep school suggested?

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 10:03

@Soma They weren’t much help tbh, they said we can pick any school we like as his cat score is high. But that’s not the point is it! And it’s too late now to attend open days so we will have to go in blind somewhat and then visit the schools over time..

Highgate not for us, will look into UCS and Emmanuel.

OP posts:
Soma · 07/10/2021 10:08

@LondonerByDay that's not particularly helpful. A friend's son is loving Westminster, but he's a rower. Not sure about football.

Know a few that turned down Highgate for a number of reasons. Which boarding schools are you interested in. There are few on here that are knowledgeable about boarding.

HonorHiding · 07/10/2021 10:51

Is he currently in Y6? UCS is discontinuing 13+ entry after the 2022 intake (as is Highgate).

Emanuel doesn’t have a 13+ entry point.

HonorHiding · 07/10/2021 10:57

Westminster has always offered football (+ not rugby).

HonorHiding · 07/10/2021 10:58

No football at Merchant Taylors when we looked at it.

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 11:07

@HonorHiding

No football at Merchant Taylors when we looked at it.
Oh really, that’s useful to know
OP posts:
Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 11:09

@HonorHiding

Is he currently in Y6? UCS is discontinuing 13+ entry after the 2022 intake (as is Highgate).

Emanuel doesn’t have a 13+ entry point.

Oh okay! So both are out then. Yes currently Y6 so we can only look at those with 13+ entry AND application window open.
OP posts:
Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 11:10

[quote Soma]@LondonerByDay that's not particularly helpful. A friend's son is loving Westminster, but he's a rower. Not sure about football.

Know a few that turned down Highgate for a number of reasons. Which boarding schools are you interested in. There are few on here that are knowledgeable about boarding.[/quote]
We have finished visiting and applying to all the boarding schools - most have closed their application window by now, so only looking at day schools at the moment. If I can add one more to DC and Sevenoaks that would be great!

OP posts:
KittenKong · 07/10/2021 11:13

Don’t forget the type of child. Some schools may be more authoritarian, traditional, or strict, or even laid back - usually I have found the school will suggest a destination one based on the right ‘fit’.