Lyceum v. Gatehouse school. Pros and cons?!?

[bumblebee82]

Hi there,

I am in the process of reviewing schools for my DS, and have whittled it down to two, the Lyceum or the Gatehouse! I'm just looking for advice from anyone who has kids at either of these schools, or know anyone with kids that attend!? There's only so much you can get from websites, prospectus' and visits. I did a search on here, and it seems the last few posts on these schools are between 2004-2006, so maybe there's new info out there to be heard!

Also, does anyone leave there kids at school till 5pm or whenever they finish work? I feel like that would be far too long a day... I work in the city, so I could easily pick my ds from school (the Lyceum is around the corner from me) but I don't want him to wait that long! What do most parents do when it comes to hometime for their kids? I think Gatehouse offer a drop off service, but that shouldn't be a reason that I choose Gatehouse over Lyceum!? I'm leaning toward the lyceum because I like their values and how they focus more on academics from upper junior. Not that Gatehouse doesn't... oh I dont know!

I'm a new mum... not very experienced at all! Any advice is highly appreciated

My DD is at the Lyceum. She loves it, I am very pleased with it. My DD stays for afterschool till after 5 each day (it's open till 5.45). It doesn't bother her at all, and she has been doing so since day 1. (but she did full days at nursery)
There is a discussion about it on the thread called Dallington (sorry, don't know how to link) in this topic if you haven't already found it.

Happy to discuss off line, if you contact me.

Thanks very much mum2lawyer! Glad to hear your DD is happy there. I would've thought that the little ones tire out by 5pm, but I must be underestimating their energy! I'll be going to the next open day, so I can check it out more then, and once I go to the Gatehouse open day, I will make a decision. Or maybe just register them for both just in case!?

The threads here on the Lyceum are all pretty much positive, but I've searched the forum for anyone with kids at the Gatehouse school... but can't find any many relevant threads! Except for one which doesn't speak too highly of it. But then again the thread was posted a few years ago, and I think the headteacher has changed since then. It was supposedly too old fashioned! I hope any mums out there with kids at the Gatehouse can shed a little light on the situation there now with the new head teacher?!?

I suspect my DD is a little robust (!) - it's all her dad's fault! The waiting list for the Lyceum can be quite long - suggest putting her down if you can and withdrawing if you are looking for a nursery/reception place. Don't worry if you're low on the list, London turnover seems quite high.
Good luck!

I am down for Gatehouse also and thinking of Lyceum but their website is appalling. Headmistress is the same FYI at Gatehouse.

You can visit Gatehouse whenever you like, you do not have to wait for an open day.

There are a couple of threads about the Gatehouse on the tower hamlets local bit of this site. Having looked at a few schools I have decided to send my dd to the Gatehouse next year. I went round the school and thought it looked great for little ones (and the headmistress seemed very impressive)although at the moment I am planning to move dd when she is about 7 or 8.

I thought that the Lyceum had redone their website? You might find the thread Lyceum v Charterhouse more useful.
Sam

I found charterhouse square very limited, I was unimpressed with it. I hadn't heard of the Lyceum but did look at the website yesterday and it was really awful, interesting considering it is so expensive.

I went to a St Paul's Cathedral School open day a few months ago. The school looked really lovely, I would send dd there if I could afford it. If money is not a consideration, I would recommend having a look.

The Lyceum is a very good school, in my opinion, that genuinely caters for and brings out the best in children of a wide range of abilities. We moved there from another local prep some years ago and our experience was very positive. Our DD moved on to a good indie secondary school last year. My advice would be: don't let the website put you off - go and look at the school and talk to the headteachers.