Progressive, liberal secondary London

[Schoolsearchhh]

Perhaps looking for something too good to be true! DS is in year 5, and I’m looking for a progressive private secondary.

Schools that are:
-kind, nuturing
-fun
-day schools - not boarding
-good academics but no hot housing whatsoever
-not “shamey” or carrot and stick
-non uniform

Any suggestions? We live in centralish London, could commute, could move to another part of London.

The only one that springs to mind is Bedales, which can be attended as a day pupil (but which you will probably find extends in practice to flexi/weekly boarding)

I can't think of other non-uniform schools (except SPGS, which is of course no good to you), and I'm not sure you'll find the rest of what you're looking for in the state sector without significant compromise

King Alfred? though I'm not sure how strong it is academically, but it certainly seems quite liberal and laid back.

Depends what you mean by not hot housey? A lot of that comes from the parents I think? Both mine are at academically selective schools but they have fun etc and don't feel particularly pressured. Some of their friends do but that is more down to their personalities I think.
Harrodian doesn't have uniform but it's a marmite school.

I think high academic pressure is what I mean by hot housey. (You’ve failed if you haven’t… no break time if you don’t… type thing.) I want there to be more to school than just academic success because there’s more to life than academic success.

I like King Alfred’s, I did a secondary tour last year, but I know it’s very hard to get a place in year 7 so not sure we’d get one.

I don’t like the ethos of boarding, so Beadales would be out for me.

I had to look SPGS up! But yes, a girls’ school is no good!

@Schoolsearchhh have you looked at Queen's Gate?
Queens's Gate School | (queensgate.org.uk)

St Chris in Letchworth. No uniform or bells, non selective, teachers called by first names, vegetarian. Small school and very nurturing.
Lots of kids travel in from North London.
My DS was very happy there. But he left 5 years ago and there's been a new Head, not sure if it's changed much. Worth a look.

Check out Liberty Woodland School in Morden. They do IB rather than GCSE/A-levels, and are very much focused on a holistic education rather than the exam hamster wheel. They have an incredible site in Morden Hall Park, I highly recommend a visit.

Hello. I'm looking for the same schools you were considering! Did you manage to find a good school where the child is happy? If yes, could you share the information?