Waiting to see if DS gets in at 4+ at Alleyns or UCS

[couldbeanything]

DS made it to second round at UCS..now can't thing about anything else. Any opinion on which school better for him? He is academic..eg. already reading etc..but worried about the pollution.

We would need to move for either school.

I don't have first hand experience of either school (although a friend's son goes to UCS). If you type in both schools into here, it tells you that Alleyn's has 37.3 g/m3 of NO2 (legal but still high) while UCS has 36.5. This search engine is from 2017 so it is possible that the levels have moved a bit (and NO2 is not the only form of air pollution around).

Realistically, if your child will have any commute to school, they will be exposed to a level of pollution in the car / tube / bus to and from school that exceeds whatever hit they get at school (if you get the bus, sit upstairs if you can).

What I meant to say was that, before focussing on the pollution levels within the school (bearing in mind that the children will be set back from the road), consider the journey they will have to school. Having a longish drive in heavy traffic will expose a child to high levels of pollution, regardless of the school.

@CruCru, thanks very much for responding.. and appreciate the pollution stats.. the problem with the stats is that the UCS Preprep is different location and 'just off' the Finchley road.. artery road to M1 motorway..
Also appreciate the tip about buses.. didn't know better to be upstairs.

We would have to move in the locality for either school...my ds loves to scoot to school and i don't think UCS have a place to put the scoot...i know small thing..
Here are the points on UCS.. if you can't be bothered to read..i understand ;)
UCS pre-prep

• small, Reception to Year2.. 'almost' automatic entry to UCS Prep..
• kids taken to prep and high school for activities
• boys only (not sure..but may work better for DS) +v. Academic focus.. would suit DS as he very academic and much ahead of his peers at the preprep he attends atm .. and plays silly when he's bored and gets desperate to distract kids NEGATIVES

• pollution, feels much worse than statistic, also school

next door to petrol station

• lunch not provided..
• clubs on different site can make travel awkward
• very sensitive ds.. and not sure boys only best..i know contradictory to what i just said above..i just don't know

Would be really good to hear from parents with really sensitive boys who are not very confident.. whether a co-ed is better or boys schools..i know generalising..but opinions would be really valued

I'd say in terms of facilities, Alleyn's is so much nicer. If you really have no preference between Dulwich and Hampstead, I'd go with Alleyn's for that reason alone. Alleyn's is amazing for sports. Rents / house prices are lower in Dulwich as well, Hampstead is expensive.

And lunch not provided at UCS? That would be a deal breaker for me. Just imagine preparing a lunch box for three years!

I am sure UCS is a fantastic school, if you live in that area, but if you are neutral in terms of area, I'd go with Alleyn's.

Your 4 year old can read already?

We considered Alleyn's for DD, but didnt apply and went with James Allen. I hear back today about her 4+ assessment. Not feeling optimistic now

Hi couldbeanything, I'm happy to read and respond. I hope that someone else comes along though as I don't have first hand experience of either school you mention.

An almost automatic entry to UCS prep does make this an attractive option. Do you know whether the entry to UCS senior is also almost automatic? Not having to fret over the 11+ would be a big bonus.

Stuff like travel to and from the Prep and senior school for activities sounds daunting but the staff at the school will be experienced in managing it. My daughter used to do gymnastics at the Talacre and we saw lots of pre prep and prep school children using the games fields there. If your child goes to school in centralish London, there is a good chance that they will have to do some travel for facilities.

I don't have a strong opinion on whether single sex or mixed is better. My own children go to a mixed sex school but may go to single sex schools when it is time to move to senior school. Someone else will have an opinion on this.

Lunch not being provided - is this all the way through or is it only in the pre prep? Having to provide a lunchbox every day is quite annoying but people all over the world do it. For the right school I would put up with it.

Re the pollution. I don't mean to sound dismissive on this - it is important that our children are breathing clean air. However, there are limits on what the school can do about it, other than move to another site. If a school is in a place that you believe to be very polluted then it is not the right school for you. Please don't pick a school and then go on and on about air pollution once you get there.

I don't know much about Alleyn's - it is far from where I live but I've heard people say nice things about it. Which school do you think you prefer?

Academics at school are important but are not the only thing. Pick a school that suits your family - your children are at school a long time so it is important that they (and you) are happy there.

Thanks for all replies - Much Much appreciated!
@sanam2019, I am leaning towards Alleyns too - but is much more competitive to get in - will find out tomorrow as letters going out today 1st Class.

@ CruCru - thanks again :) I think UCS have an 'almost' entry to Senior, but to be honest, not certain.
Alleyns do have an 'almost' automatic policy to Senior School.

You are right regarding the pollution and thanks for bringing me in on that worry. I lost my first son to cancer, but it wasn't leukaemia - a tumour so I guess I should put pollution into perspective - I could always move out of London if I was really worried I guess - easier said than done though I might add - but really thank you as it has been bothering me and your reply helps me to focus a bit more

Making the lunch not too much of an issue, but I think it's nice to experience school lunches. I haven't viewed the UCS Prep School, but I am assuming the school provides lunch as much bigger school.

@SlothHouse. The 4+ school assessments don't look at reading skills, they do not expect kids to read...They look for ability of 3/4 year olds based on Early Years Foundation Stage (reading is not expected) , social skills and a willingness to learn. I don't think any 4+ assessments test reading - and best wishes with a place for your DD.

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I hope that you get the school you want - good luck for tomorrow.

@CruCru - Thanks..he would have been 9...God bless his little soul.

@CruCru - will let you how it goes

Gosh, a year older than my son. Yes, please let me know how it goes.

Haven't heard back from James Allen Pre-prep for 4+ outcome today like they said we would. Is that a bad sign?

I think posting offers today..so hang on in there.. check on JAGS website

You're right. They've been sent out today, so hopefully will get something in the post next week.

My DS didn't get offered a place for Alleyns..really disappointing..I just don't know how to work on getting him to understand that he needs to answer questions when he knows the answer!

He tends to look at the other children and then copies their behaviour.

Did you get the letter from Alleyn's in the post? Our post arrived today but nothing from Alleyn's.

Ah, I’m sorry to hear that.

Hello, my DS got waitlisted at UCS. Do you know anyone who got accepted and if so when the deadline to accept was? Are they calling waitlisters now? Fingers crossed.

@couldbeanything UCS transfer to senior is automatic at 11. The only ones that have left in the last few years have been due to relocations outside London/outside UK