Non-selective(less academic schools) in central London

[Heyladies7]

Hey everyone ! I have a 15 year old daughter(turning 16) who is currently in year 11, getting ready for sixth form. However, she has been really struggling due to COVID-19 (cancellation of GCSE exams), lockdown, as well as her mental health not being very stable. She’s had a very tough year and has therefore not produced the best work nor grades. I know she is very capable but she’s in a position where she can’t get into any ‘common schools’ in central London. She has declared that she will not repeat the year and her current school is not going to accept her for sixth form. I am aware that it is already very late in the year to apply to schools, but I am desperate to find a non selective/less academic school near central London where she can be accepted a place for sixth form later in the year. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.

DLD College will very much likely accept her, near Waterloo station and Westminster Bridge.

Last time I dealt with them was a few years ago. But they accepted students mid year even. Also had a few students who were mentally fragile, but were very much coping and thriving - seemed very accepted by peers and teachers. Teachers were mostly from oxbridge and red brick and very understanding of students.

They tended to have smaller classes too and usually make it in the top 100 for the leagues tables. I am not a fan of alpha plus group, but I cannot deny them this.

All the best for your DD.

@Mummy195 Thank you so much for your quick response ! I will definitely check it out.

I still want my daughter to be in an environment where she can make good friends. I just had a little read of the general facts about the school and am aware that it’s also a boarding school.

Does the school do an okay job of integrating the children well? Would still like her to have some local friends so she can feel stability.

Thank you for your help - really appreciated.

More House, St James senior? North Bridge house although North London.
DLD and other sixth form colleges are great although to excel at them you also need to be self-motivated otherwise they can often become somewhere kids go when they 'can't be bothered' although this very often isn't the case. Have a look at fine arts college too. I was about to say it has a druggie reputation but then again most schools/colleges of that age do!!

@Heyladies7

I guess it would be a good idea to look at other schools suggested too.

I have not been much in touch with DLD for a long time. And it looks like a lot has changed. Back around 5yrs ago there was a different headteacher and they had just moved to their current location with their own boarding house.

Back then, most of the boarders were around 60% International Foundation and learning English students. So not really the ones from your DD classes. Infact, most of the GCSE, A Levels, BTech etc. students were non boarding - and I would have pegged this to be around 75% of the whole student body. Also, most of the foreign students from this group would also make sure they did not board, and would choose to live in the one of the Ubenest places instead. As a college, they did not operate like normal boarding schools and it was more mature like a university, no uniform, no houses (they have 'bubbles' now) and no usual boarding school traditions. There was no prep then, but I believe they have it now.

I do remember a couple of students getting caught with weed, and they were expelled either from school or boarding house immediately. Did not hear about harder drugs. I assume your DS will stay at your home. Was not aware things have moved on to them having a reputation of druggie school.

I must say, though that they are located right next to Urbanest, which has older uni students who may not be a good influence. To top it, some of the DLD students choose to live there.

fme, your DD should have lots of friends locally. Some of the students were part of circles in Chelsea and other Central London schools back then. But, as a college, they will not have the sheltered life of normal schools, as this is a very liberal school in terms of their social life.

But fme, she should get the pastoral support etc. in terms of academic school life.

Hi, we have just applied to DLD and the process is seamless. My daughter, who is from a high achieving girl's boarding school, also struggled during the pandemic. They seem accommodating and friendly. I also looked at Ashbourne but I found that it lacked common areas like a cafeteria, which I feel is essential for meeting peers, etc. We are local so I too am interested that my daughter meet peers and have a social life.

@sc1571 Hello, thank you for your response.. My daughter is also currently attending a high achieving school where she weekly boards. My only concern with DLD is that my daughter has always attended international schools where the kids would always move back and forth between countries. I really want her to feel settled and have a stable group of friends.

It’s so great to hear that other families are in similar situations - it’s been a tough year for everyone. Would your daughter also be entering sixth form?

Sorry not “great to hear” but definitely reassuring. :) @sc1571

@heyladies7, it's sixth form though, they'll all be off to uni after. I would expect them all to stay for the two years and then they will go where they will go as in any other school. Even all the international students who join DLD from Asia and co (maybe less this year!) will be going there with the purpose of getting into UK universities, so I would expect it to be as stable as anywhere else for those age groups.

Yes, she will be and will be doing stem subjects.

Hello, I did a search for DLD College as my DD is going there for 6th form in September and am glad to find this thread. @Heyladies7 you've accidentally posted it in Primary Education rather than Secondary. You might want to ask MNHQ to move it to increase your chances of responses.

We live in London so DD won't be boarding but I can see that some of the info @Mummy195 has given is outdated or inaccurate. All international students if boarding are not allowed to live in the UrbanNest accommodation which is in the same building. The boarding accommodation is by UrbanNest too but is specifically separate and controlled by DLD College.

It won the Independent Schools of the Year Boarding School of the Year Award 2020 (co-jointly with Elstree School), as well as a special judge's prize for student experience. Both of these awards recognise the pastoral care at DLD College which is a good sign.

DD didn't apply for other sixth forms, she wanted DLD College for various reasons including that she really liked that a lot of the student population is international. They're boarding in central London so hopefully it will be easy hopefully for the boarders and day students to hang out, especially around Southbank where DLD is. But she also likes that there will be a lot of UK students, and students the same age group doing a variety of courses. Some A Levels like her, others BTEC, and the international 16+ students during a international course to prepare them for University in the UK.

What about Albemarle College? Independent sixth form college in Marylebone. Not sure what their entry criteria is but has the benefit of everyone is new there as it’s purely sixth form only.

There's also Thames Christian School (Thames Christian College) which is moving from its Battersea location to adjacent to Clapham Junction. It seems to have upped the academic emphasis somewhat over the years but might still be an option.

Happy to chat about Thames, we have a child there who is thriving. The new building is the icing on the cake really, as we were already very happy with the academics etc. it seems to produce well rounded confident kids who go on to do well. It will be interesting to see how it grows into its new space.

Thames won't have a sixth form in time for the OP's daughter though (apologies for even suggesting a non-starter!).

A friend's daughter was in a position similar to yours and was treated very kindly at Collingham College in South Ken.

I would recommend More House School in Knightsbridge. Very nurturing and happy.

Hi, could I know which school your child went to in the end heyladies7? It's a bit late so I don't know if you see this, but it'd be great to know as my child is in the exact same situation as yours. Thank you.

Looking for some clarity. Has anyone got any experience of Albermarle sixth form college in London. Any good with dyslexia?? Also Amy clue about the other students? Would someone who had become quite shy recently fit in ??? Help !!!!

@Verybusy123 you have replied to a thread from 2021. It would be best if you start your own thread, mentioning the specific school you're interested in. Otherwise, people might reply to the original thread without seeing yours.

Also, this is the Primary Education forum, and you have mentioned a sixth form college. I would suggest you choose a more appropriate forum - perhaps Secondary Education or Education or Further Education or Higher Education?