LEH or Kingston Grammar???

[Heatseekingmiss]

Never thought my dd would get offers from both, but she has... Am torn as like different aspects of both schools. KGS seems much more friendly and dare I say it 'fun' , while I am worried LEH is a bit ultra-competitive on all fronts. On other hand, it's not on a roundabout Any current parents able to enlighten me?? All thoughts appreciated.

My Dd is in Y7 - KGS and she is really enjoying it and loving it. It seems to me that KGS have an academic approach but also kids get to do, what they consider, very interesting things. My DD loves it, music department is amazing, sport is very good, and a number of clubs that hey can do is overwhelming. I don't have any experience with LEH (it was too far for us), so can't really comment.

Thanx nada29, that's the thing: I think both are excellent schools with lots of extra-curricular stuff, and both equidistant from us! I suppose the big diff is co-ed as opposed to all-girls. Once again, I see pros and cons for both... Aaaargh!

I went to LEH (so a bit out of date!) and I thought it was great. Lots of clubs for sporty girls-gym, netball, lacrosse, swimming and rowing etc, all to a very high standard. Also drama, music and volunteering clubs if not sporty. I found it friendly and fun as well as academic. Only real negative is if you're towards the bottom academically as I think it can be a bit disheartening and also I had a couple of poor teachers where I think students only got good grades because they were bright (but I guess you get a few in every school)! There are some links with Hampton boys school, some opportunities for mixing! I believe LEH is higher up the rankings than kgs for grades. I also knew people at kgs and they seemed happy and successful also.

Thanks Vijac, I have been swaying towards LEH... but then spent long afternoon in town with said 10 year-old, who drove me mad with lots of eye-rolling and general pre-teen wise-cracking. Made me wonder if boys in class might actually be a good thing, to take these smarty-pants girls down a peg or two and relieve potential bitchiness?!?!?

Hmmm not sure! You may be right. There was some girly bitching when I was there bit never among my friends. I think the grounds and environment are nicer in LEH that kgs just off a main road. Don't know if you have a preference and long time off but LEH sixth form is casual dress and kgs business dress. I believe all girls schools do make for more confident young ladies bit then again that may not be what you want .

Thanks for your thoughts: a confident young lady is just what I would like to end up with!! And I much prefer casual dress for 6th form. Think I've ruled out KGS, but if you have two minutes, please let me know your opinion of Claremont, as dd also has a scholarship there and that is her favourite (I am not sure academic enough)...

No idea on that one. It rings a bell but honestly don't think I've ever met anyone who went there. I was a rower at school and pretty sure Claremont don't row but that's all I know. Good luck, I'm sure they're all great schools, LEH and KGS certainly are. Actually what i like about both is that they are all about achievement not being posh and snobby in the way that some private girls schools are.

I have friends with children at Claremont who are very happy there. But it isn't academic, even my friends would admit that. It's a pretty, privileged school for happy, privileged children. The teens I know from there are absolutely lovely, but if you want your child to develop drive and have her native talents stretched by her peers, that's not the place to be. If you want her to have a chilled, happy memory of school, it's worth considering.