Wimbledon High vs Godolphin&Latymer

[ContinentalMum]

DD has been offered places at WH & G+L, and we have to decide this week. Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has made this decision or knows girls at both and how they compare. On all objective criteria they are evenly matched, the only real difference we can identify is that G+L does IB rather additional to A levels, tho' that is a long wasy off so not sure whether that should sway us either way.
DD can't decide which one she wants, keeps changing her mind. Travelwise WH is 20 min and G+L is 45 min.

If there's that little in it I'd definitely go for 20mins travel time - will make quite a big impact on quality of life. (WHS is my alma mater, but expect it's changed loads since then)

snorkle - dd doesn't mind the travel, but that's our major concern.
westendgirl - thanks for that. I am leaning towards G+L because it seems to be more rounded. Also they do work in local primary schools, volunteer work and work experiences abroad. But am a bit worried about the girls being snobbish. dd is very grounded (we don't have loads of money) and I'd like her to stay that way. Won't be able to compete with size of house or exotic holidays.

I went to G+L but suspect it has changed loads since I was there ... at the time it was a real mix (it had just gone private from voluntary aided) with some very wealthy girls and loads from 'ordinary' families - I loved it

one of my friends has a dd at Wimbledon High - she and her friends seem v sorted and grounded - WH seems slightly more provincial in feel than G+L which could either be a plus or a minus depending on your point of view!

I guess what it boils down to is that if GL would be around the corner there would be no question. But as it stands it would involve tube/tube or tube/bus, whereas WH would be long walk or short bus ride. Anybody has kids travelling on public transport? DDs only concern at the moment is that an art project might get squashed

re kids being snobbish, dd attends palmers green high school, grandparents fund this and we dont have much cash. dd has £20 a month plus £15 phone credit a month it seems to work. she is aware of the difference but it is representitive of society people on varying salaries. the parents are lovely actually it is the skint ones that feel the need to over compensate that can be rude.

good luck choosing

does ayone have any advice for getting ds to the level required for latymer he is only 5 but feel we probably should at least start encouraging him to say the alphabet.

it seems so many apply so any tips appreciated

We live equidistant between the 2 and I'm sure will be mulling this over in the future! One of our lovely babysitters was at G&L and is a very pleasant, mature, grounded young lady.

Do you have other DCs? One of the things that will slightly affect our choice for DD as well as the pure travel time aspect is where our DS ends up - if he is at KCW, for instance, WH or PH are going to be more attractive.

I believe there is an interesting question as to whether Latymer going mixed is going to affect G&L.

We have another DD but she's only at nursery now, so makes no difference, we wouldn't do all girls for her until secondary.

Thanks for that. DD is definitely the quiet type, but confident and determined.
Just had a meeting with the head of her prep, who recommended GL for her. Also said that GL is socially and culturally more diverse than WH. I guess you're right about the travelling, we just have to get used to the idea.

I travelled about an hour to school in Hammersmith and an hour back each day at that age (SPGS). It was fine and I got used to it really quickly. I liked being able to sit and read on the bus/tube, actually. It was a nice quiet time in my day. And as time went on, the fact that the BOYS went on the bus, too, became a major reward!

Had lots of friends at WH when I was at school. Like my GPDST school, it's brilliant academically but I don't rate it highly for arts/drama/sport etc.

WH also, like my school, stopped people taking exams if they were likely to drag down the pass rate .

G&L girls more savvy, but I'd say WHS girls not far behind.. but in terms of snobbishness there's equal amounts at both...

I'd say your WHS teen more likely to be hanging out on Wimbledon Common and in Surrey at the weekends and your G&L in central London..

If your DD is likely to get involved in lots of after school activities I'd go for the shorter pick up any time!

Really appreciate all the input. Have in the end decided on GL. Was what DD wanted. We are aware that in a few years time, when she's squashed on the bus on her way home, she might change her mind and blame us
GL responded really quickly, asking which, if any, music lessons she would like to take, inviting her for a day with the other new pupils . . . so we have a very good gutt feeling.

Hey,

I know this may be a little late but I was searching for entrance exam papers online and I came across several mumsnet threads about secondary schools and as I, and most of my yeargroup, absolutely ADORED Godolphin and Latymer I thought it would be important to let all of you know. It may not produce the same insane Oxbridge entry results as St Pauls Girls but it has phenomenal pastoral care and gets all girls into really good universities: girls who at other schools would never achieve those sorts of successes. It does get about 17% of the year into Oxbridge, about 5% into Ivy League Schools (that is to say only 5% go to US universities and all go to Ivy League Schools!) and the rest go to Bristol, Edinburgh, Durham, Nottingham, Manchester, UCL, LSE or Leeds. It was very sociable and friendly, in a way that I didn't find more high pressurised schools like SGPS and yet got better results than schools like Francis Holland. I can really tell that someone went there as it gives you self assurance but not overconfidence and it definitely does not make you always need to prove that you are academic (unlike SGPS...). I really, really loved it and I think most girls you'll meet from there would agree, unlike at many other London girls schools.

Also it came top in the country for IB, has incredible school trips (Sinai desert anyone?!), great facilities (e.g. hockey pitch onsite) and brilliant teachers.

I really cannot reiterate how much I loved it. Also if your daughter is thinking of leaving in 6th form, I would urge her to stay as I think it makes a big difference having teachers who have known you since you were 11 writing your references rather than people who have only seen one year's worth of work from you...

Anyway, thought I'd just let you know that.

Bye,

Beebs88

Hi there,
We are in an exactly same position in 2021. Needing to choose between WHS (18mins walk) and G&L (tube travel around 50mins door to door).
@ContinentalMum - 13yrs later, do you think the choice was worth the travel?

As a mother of kids at a secondary school - I’d say that traveling for almost 2 hours every day is too much.
And I don’t think the difference between these schools justifies it.
Yes, on paper G&L has slightly better stats, but WHS is a great school with an impressive HM, at least by my recollection of a couple of years ago.
And a bright girl would do just as well there.
While having a much more manageable life - and time for homework, school sports and leisure. And you won’t have to worry about her taking a tube in rush hour and walking home in darkness. (Assuming life goes back to how it used to be)
Plus don’t forget - kids start getting a social life as they become teenagers. She’ll have a lot of local friends at WHS. While her friends at G&L may live on the other side of London - and that would be quite tough logistically.

Thanks @MMmomDD. That’s a great perspective to get.

Can I also check if having an IB option along side A-levels should have any impact on the above analysis? I am afraid I don’t really know enough about these, but understand just 2-3 schools have the IB option in London. Thanks

IB is only relevant for the two last years of school. And who even knows how the exam system would evolve following these past few years of pandemic chaos.
So - no, I’d not make the choice on IB option given the logistics you described.

Also - there is some mobility at A-levels and kids do change schools. Girls, for eg some from G&L and SPGS, go to Westminster, that started admitting girls for A-levels. Etc.
So - if in the future, IB becomes something she really wants to do - she can then pick a school that offers it. But by then she’ll be a lot older and mature. And the trip to/from London would be a lot more manageable.

I would say that 50 minutes travel is ok for secondary school in general but a choice between a 15 minutes walk and a 50 minute journey for schools that are not that different is an easier choice to make! Agree with the poster above in that lots of WHS girls live locally and at G&L they are more spread and can live up in North London which will be a long way from you.
If you were set on IB she could always move at sixth form to KCS?

@SustyMum. Us too. We are in sw18...struggling bwtn seemingly better academic results of G&L vs local.

Many thanks @MMmomDD and @sw15sw15. Very sensible approaches.
@Cal10 - feel your dilemma, but think we are leaning towards the local option.

Definitely the more local option. And very true about what one poster says about G&L girls and friends across London. G&L is also more likely to draw in the 'Made in Chelsea' set.

Really interesting thread. The op's dd must be about 24 now. I hope it all went well