Alleyns vs Jags for Primary

[SouthLondonMommy]

Hi all,

We are in the process of applying to both these schools and I was hoping parents at either could answer some questions in case we are lucky enough to be offered a place as we'll only have a week to accept / decide without ever having visited either school because of COVID.

1. How good are both schools at stretching the most able?

Our DD is getting a lot of individual tuition at her terrific preschool and can already read books fluently and is manipulating numbers to 100, adding and subtracting double digit numbers, and at the end of this term has started practicing writing in sentences.

1. How pressurised is JAGs? The prep-head assures they've done a lot to address the previous hothouse reputation by reducing homework and emphasising co-curricular success. However, the school has a reputation for managing girls out including after they've gotten into the senior school. Do the girls' mental health seem impacted this?

1. JAGs has a reputation for being more diverse but honestly as I walk by both in the mornings, neither seem particularly diverse. Our DD is mixed race. About what portion of the school is BAME roughly? What about teaching staff / the senior leadership team? Do both schools feel inclusive?

TIA

Name changed for this in case it identifies me and therefore, my kids.

I have a child at both:

• DC1 at JAGS since reception
• DC2 at Alleyn’s since Y3

Neither very pressured and my DCs are bright but not exceptional.
Based on school reports I would say DC1 is above average but not top 10% in the class and DC2 is prob top 10% but is to be expected as they had passed the 7+.

Neither school is remotely pressured. More homework from Alleyn’s than JAGS at comparable stages but not hard homework, just required a degree of parental input e.g. making a poster.
Apart from mental arithmetic and spelling tests, the pupils seem to be largely unaware that they are being tested or assessed.

Parents don’t seem very competitive and I think that comes with the security that all children have a place at their respective senior schools. Yes, if your child is struggling to keep up with the work then there maybe a conversation in Y5 to suggest that they may continue to struggle in the senior school - fair enough, who wants their child losing confidence and struggling with work? Works in the interest of the school, too, of course.
I don’t know of anyone who has been managed out but not saying it doesn’t happen.

All pupils sit the 11+ but not to gain a place in the senior school but to allow them to have a shot at the academic scholarships and to assess/stream for Y7.

Your DD sounds streets ahead of her preschool peers. Boredom is probably more of a concern, rather than pressure. Yes, they will stretch individuals but it won’t be much fun to be taught separately from her peers for several lessons.
They have move the odd child up a year but they need to be socially mature for this.

HTH. Happy to answer any other questions.

Re: diversity - we are non-white. JAGS is very diverse. Alleyn’s is less so but is improving.
No issues at all between peers - they are so used to different ethnicities co-existing that I genuinely don’t think they notice skin colour anymore than they would eye or hair colour.

That's great to hear. It sounds like they take a flexible approach depending on the individual child.

Its also good to hear both schools are very inclusive!

Just in case others are interested in the diversity, I had a look at the class photos:

• JAGS: just under half were non-white/mixed race
• Alleyn’s: about a third

These are reasonably representative esp for JAGS. Diversity at Alleyn’s is increasing so maybe not be representative of older year groups but I know a few mixed-raced children and they/their parents seem happy with the school.

DC1 is now in JAGS senior school and I am not sure about the mix but it appears broadly similar.

1/3rd is fairly significant. Looking at the old children as I walk by it doesn't seem nearly that high but like you say, that's probably a historic point rather than the current situation.

Interested... @SouthLondonMommy which did you go for in the end?