CLSG, JAGS, Blackheath High… which school?

[UK2024]

Hi all,

My daughter got offer from those 3 schools. And we really dont know which one to go for. I know they are so different schools but all of them has + and -‘s.

CLSG - by public transport she needs to travel about 50-55 mins twice a day. I don’t know if we have school bus option - I will find out. Best exam results. 95% awarded 7-9 (A-A*)

JAGS - She can travel by school bus around 7:30 in Blackheath. Great facilities. 88% awarded 7-9 (A-A*)

Blackheath High - 7mins away - she has also 60% discount for this school. Not selective like others so that effects exam results but we like the school (her big sister used to go to Blackheath High).
75% awarded 7-9 (A-A*)

which school would you pick?

CLGS is in the city there is no green space like JAGS but both schools are great. Definitely they have different feel. Nobody can say they are bad schools. They are one of the best girls schools in UK.
I also like Blackheath.. My daughter is in Blackheath and my son is in Colfes. We didn’t try 11+ Dulwich Colleges and chose the easy commute/local schools (we live in Lee). We asked my daughter if she wants to move Colfes Seniors (so she can be in same school with her brother) but she loves Blackheath… and she never wanted to move. She is so happy and doing great with- out stress and pressure so we glad she is there. She sometimes stays at school until 6 to do her homework with friends in Study Club - I am sure she wouldn’t do that if she was in CLGS or JAGS. Or sometimes she stays for fixture until 5:30. Basically its depends what you want but I am sure your daughter will do great in all of them so why would you make your life harder? Also, %60 off from school fees is so good - even if you can afford it still good amount for saving for her future. Good luck x

@UK2024 , there is a similar thread already in the secondary education section.

@Clara82 you are right - thank you for the feedback.
@tennissquare I will check - thanks for letting me know.

Nope. wouldn't ever pay for Blackheath High personally. Really small campus. No sports ground on site. Small school and not great results.

A 60% scholarship is unheard of - shows how desperate they are to attract an academic girl.....

My youngest is at BH. We turned down Jags plus scholarships at eltham college and Colfe's. Reasons were mainly an easier commute and she just felt she'd be happier in a smaller school.

Very happy with academic standards so far. Homework is demanding without being too much, and the marking is rigorous and always very considered. She feels sufficiently challenged but relaxed enough to take part in lots of clubs and societies, and seeing her friends and reading the books she enjoys etc.

As you say, it's not as selective so, across the board, they won't get the results of the other schools. But an A* pupil should get the same results at any decent school, without having all the added stress that comes with the expectation of success and being a small fish in a big pond (I managed 4 As at A level and to get to Oxford from a regular comprehensive that did nowhere near as well).

PP may be correct about sporting facilities, obviously BH doesn't compete with the others, but it depends on how important this is to your child and whether you think she'll have time to make the most of those opportunities if she has a long commute either side. Youngest plays 2 sports outside of school and has plenty of time to keep them up, with her school day not being as protracted.

Ps we live in Maze Hill (by Greenwich Park) and her friends at CLSG take the train I believe from N Greenwich. Her friends at JAGS/ Alleyns are on the school bus at about 7.05

@Charlotte120221 competition is very high in CLGS as there are applicants from South, East North and West London. We also seen lots of girls who applied to JAGS on assessment day from West and North London. Because JAGS has super good school bus service and there 2 more academic schools near it so some parents try to move that area if their children has an offer these schools. Also my daughter has an offer with 40 discount from Colfes and %50 Eltham College but we don’t consider them as we want single sex. So you cant really compare these school with local GDST schools

easy commute to school is a dream, eapecially for young girls and their parents. no stress, no pressure. I know 1 family who moved their child to Dulwich College from Colfes for better facilities and exam results. End of the day their son doesn’t want to do any after school or before school club. Blackheath is lovely school, results are good too. There is no bad press about the school online which is so important. I go for Blackheath in your case. If you want more and more sport or push your child academic performance hire professional 1:1 teacher - JAGS school fees and transport fees will be about £25000 annually. - if you hire 1:1 teacher for £30-40 pound EVERY DAY its about £10,000-12000… you still save money:)

75% awarded 7-9 (A-A) - *
This result is good enough for a bright child to flourish. 2 hours journey on the school bus or public transport for secondary pupil must be tiring. I live near Blackheath High School, I always liked behaviours of Blackheath girls. You can always move for the 6th form but in secondary stage I believe it is advantage for children to attend local schools - to have more time for clubs, extracurriculars, study, homeworks and playtime etc… for mental health Blackheath High.

I live in Eltham.
I don’t know about the CLGS.
JAGS is great school. One of the best single sex school in SE for sure (academically). But that doesn’t mean its the right place for every girl. Some children likes to be top of their class, some likes competitive and pushy / academic environment.
What do you prefer for your daughter? I know few girls who feels so under pressure in JAGS.
I know two girls who is in Blackheath High - both happy talented girls.

I am fan of GDST schools. Our daughter moved one of GDST school to another without doing any assessment. Also please check
https://www.gdst.net/about-us/the-gdst-difference/