Bute/NLCS/City/Latymer

[dunelmkaren]

Hi all,

Could any parents who can kindly share their experience of bute house, NLCS, City Junior and Latymer prep?

We are based in Hammersmith and our DD is more keen on bute and NLCS, as she said the teachers are the lost encouraging and kind.

We are not keen on using the coach service but will have to use it for NLCS or city. We still have a younger sister who is still in a local nursery.

It is the decision week and we are still struggling. Many thanks.

Thanks for the reply.
We would have accepted NLCS if we were living closer to it. The campus is so beautiful and we can focus more on the younger sister without 11+ for the elder one. Some said it is not a pushy school but some said it is highly pressurised. Seems like a well structured school but not sure how much it can inspire passion for learning.
City is also very attractive. Feels like kids are more down to earth in a diverse environment. Academically equally strong as NLCS in recent years. The new campus is a concern though, as there is a risk that it may not be ready by Sept 2022.
Bute is in walking distance from us but it is not an all through school. It is the only school which did not follow up with us after the interview. Not sure how well the communication would be, as we heard they just want to you to trust them and don’t ask them any questions.
Latymer prep is not bad as well although the upper school is more appealing. The prep seems a bit small though. It is more nurturing but feel a bit less competitive than the schools above.
There are different pros and cons on each which makes it so hard to compare. Although if we don’t move then Bute and City may be more attracting for us.
Thanks for reading.

Honestly you would be crazy to choose a school that requires travel when you have the walking distance option of Bute! Life is not just about the school itself, but your DD will have local friends and life will be much richer and easier as a result. She also won’t spend her childhood with two hours in a coach every day.

Changing at 11 is actually quite good for girls.

I write as someone who moved across London after one term of my DD attending school 45 mins away, so I know of what I speak. She was grey with exhaustion. To give her a life, we had to move.

Well done to your DD those are amazing options.

Oh and Bute have access to the playing fields etc - much better than City in that respect.

If your DD has all these options ( well done!)

Bute would be my choice. Yes, you still have to deal with 11+ but you'll have a clearer idea what will suit. If your DD is sailing through these schools at 7+, can't imagine she will struggle with your best choice at 11, especially coming out of Bute which has an excellent rep with all senior schools.

Thanks all for sharing the insight.
That helps to strengthen our preference towards Bute.
Yes, the commuting is really a concern as we can do a lot everyday in that two hours. Moving is not an easy decision for us.
Only worry is that our little one will be doing 7+ the same time as the elder one doing 11+. Not sure we can give them both enough time and support.
Anyone has experience with bute supporting their DD doing 11+? So far we have heard mixed reviews on the level of support. Some said you should give more structured work at home and some said you just have to trust the school.

The kind of senior schools you will be looking at will require you to declare tutoring. Frankly no child at Bute needs tutoring, and that which happens is more of a reflection of parental anxiety and aspirations than any genuine need. I would say relax totally about the 11+. Bute will be good at telling you where would suit your DD and provided you agree with their advice, and don’t try and get her in somewhere she shouldn’t be aspiring to (and with that set at this age she won’t have a problem) she will be fine with what happens at school.

We did 7+ and 11+ together last year. Not as bad as you thought. It has created a lovely learning environment and healthy competition at home. (Otherwise one work one play would not be fair)

Your other option is taking NLCS and move house. And apply one year later at 4+ for your younger DD. NLCS is extremely difficult to get at 7+ but at 4+ you got a much better chance as she is a sibling.

Have you missed the sibling policy entry at 4+ for your youngest at Bute?

@WorkingItOutAsIGo, thanks for the reply, it gave me more confidence on bute, and yes we prefer spending time on music and sports than tutoring. We also just homeschooled our DD for 7+.

@7plus11plus, thanks for mentioning the option. We did consider moving but it is a big sacrifice to uproot everything. May I ask how you managed your time on both children for 7+ and 11+? Could you manage without extra help from your partner or a tutor?

@Babalugats, we were misled by Bute’s website. We though once we have a 7+ offer, our little would automatically get a 4+ place under the sibling policy. Unfortunately the registrar told us that because we didn’t register our little one in the ballot, she can only be put on the sibling waiting list. That registration condition was not mentioned anyway on their website. But I guess it is not worth arguing with the registrar. Hence we now have to plan for 7+ for the little one despite we have a 7+ offer from the elder one already.

[quote SmallSmallFlower]@WorkingItOutAsIGo, thanks for the reply, it gave me more confidence on bute, and yes we prefer spending time on music and sports than tutoring. We also just homeschooled our DD for 7+.

@7plus11plus, thanks for mentioning the option. We did consider moving but it is a big sacrifice to uproot everything. May I ask how you managed your time on both children for 7+ and 11+? Could you manage without extra help from your partner or a tutor?

@Babalugats, we were misled by Bute’s website. We though once we have a 7+ offer, our little would automatically get a 4+ place under the sibling policy. Unfortunately the registrar told us that because we didn’t register our little one in the ballot, she can only be put on the sibling waiting list. That registration condition was not mentioned anyway on their website. But I guess it is not worth arguing with the registrar. Hence we now have to plan for 7+ for the little one despite we have a 7+ offer from the elder one already. [/quote]
I think you're being too hard on yourself. You did amazing home tutoring your DD to roll in that list of schools at 7+, which I think is actually harder than 11+ as many more parents are optimistic their DD is above average when their younger.

I think you'll manage fine, I would be tempted to apply to only local for the little one 7+ to places that you REALLY can see yourself taking her, so maybe just Bute, LU, City?

of course your eldest destination comes into play, there's every chance she'll end up with her classmates in SPGS or GL , LU and stay local.

Just keep doing what you doing, most parents would LOVE to have your problems!!

NLCS and City is a very long trek from Hammersmith for primary. It’s tiring, and limiting to extra curriculars and social activities. I knew someone in the area who did it for a few years in primary age and then they moved at 11+ back to one of the Big3 secondaries in the area.

Between Bute and Latymer - I’d decide based on your daughter.
My elder, for eg was a quiet and sensitive kid at 7+. She would not have done well in a more busier and louder mixed environment.
Bute gave her the time to grow up and mature in a academic but girl-focused place. And by 11+ she was mature and robust.

My younger one would have been fine in a mixed school, but we got lucky with the siblings waiting list. Our timing, like yours didn’t work out to get an automatic place as they draw the lottery quite early.

If you think your daughter can do well in all girls and mixed - then if about 11+ and whether you think you want to give her a chance at SPGS and G&L.
Bute does well preparing kids for 11+ and roughly a half of the class end up with offers at the three Hammersmith secondaries. Most of those girls are the ones who come at 7+.

It’s not an easy decision, but it’s not a bad place to be choosing among those great schools.
Congratulation

@Babalugats, hope we can do it as well next time round. :)

@MMmomDD, thanks for the reply, very good point raised. Our elder one prefers a quiet environment and would thrive in a girl school like yours. This is also why we would prefer bute than Latymer.
How was your experience with bute in terms of communication and feedback?

We will finalise our decision today or tomorrow, so we can release places in the other three schools to other families.

There is a new headmistress, as you know.
I have been through a few HM changes over the years with my kids primary schooling in different schools. And inevitably - there are some changes here and there. Under MrsL - there were refurbishments, upgrades to IT/computing and drama studio.

The new HM started with a survey of the current parents and so far seems to be doing well. I think communication with parents has been flagged and I am sure she’ll be looking at it. Generally, there is a strong Board, so no HM can do anything that will not be in line with the school ethos or history/reputation.

As you are starting in Y3 - by the time you get to 11+ - the new HM will have several years of experience with the school and the process.

As to feedback - it’s a tricky one. It depends on what you expectations are, or maybe where you are coming from. When my kids just started - I found it difficult to gauge how they are doing, as I am used to a different system, with marks/(grades) used regularly, so it was much more transparent.
Here in the U.K. it’s not this way. So - you sort of need to adjust to the way feedback here is given. Plus, you also need to both trust the school, but with a certain degree of keeping an eye on your kid. Less in the middle primary, more in the upper years.

At Bute - they do assess kids often, and move them around support/enrichment groups as needed. Unless there a real issue - you aren’t likely to hear about it most of the time. And they don’t let you know how your child is doing Vs the rest of the cohort until it gets closer to 11+. You also don’t get told their CATS scores until later.
They school doesn’t feel competitive - an it’s largely due to this approach.

My kids had largely a good time in the school. It wasn’t perfect, as I don’t think perfect is possible, but it gave them a good grounding and matured them in a way that prepared them for secondary.

@MMmomDD
Thanks for replying in detail, very informative indeed. We believe in the the school ethos and cannot wait for our DD to further develop her passion and character there.
It is actually not so different from our DD’s current state school, we hardly have too much feedback at all.
It feels like we are taking a leap of faith into this new chapter of our DD’s life.

Good luck!
These decisions in/about primary schools seem big and difficult.
And then you wake up one day and your kid is choosing exams and universities….😵‍💫

My daughter is year 6 at Bute and has been there since reception. If you live in Hammersmith I can't imagine why would you wouldn't consider taking the place at Bute. It's a great school and will nurture your daughter and allow her to reach her potential. The commute for city or NCLS is crazy for primary life.

Also I wouldn't stress too much about the place for the younger sibling. People usually end up getting a place as inevitably there are always a few leavers here and there.

@MMmomDD
Thanks! Looking forward to this new stage of our DD’s life. Can’t even imagine the day thinking of what degree and university she will go to.
@DilettanteMum
It is great to hear from you and your experience with bute. Agree that one hour commute is a bit much at this age.
Regarding the younger one, we hope she could get an occasional place. Otherwise, we will just have to go through 7+ with her.

have you made a decision? I am on the NLCS 7+ waiting list and am desperate to hear some good news, ?I have rung every day and my daughter doesn't have any other offers. I am sure you know how stressed I am, it seems time is going so slowly and I will have nowhere to go.

@saintrockz
We have already let NLCS know that we are not getting the 7+ place this September.
Good luck to you and your DD.

Hi, my daughter will be doing 7+ Bute interview next week. Would you'll kindly share your DD and your 7+ Bute interview experience please. Thank you in advance.

Hi, I hope your daughter made it to Bute. My daughter has been called for an interview as well at Bute, and I was wondering if you could share any insight into what the interview is like. Someone mentioned that math questions might be involved, but the website says it’s more of an informal chat.

@dunelmkaren

Main thing is that she goes in in a good mood, not stressed, etc. They’ll probably not ask her to do maths problems - unless they’ll want to check something specific based on her assessment. They’ll probably talk about things she likes to do/ is interested in/ her fav subject or book/ may ask what she wants to do when she grows up.
They may probe re tutoring - i presume they still make you sign something saying you don’t, or explain why if you do.

You can have het bring her favourite book, or toy, or smth she made and is proud of - can give her comfort, break ice.

Mine had no idea she was assessed at the interview - I just told her they wanted to chat with her. I think they had her read a story and talked about it. And talked about her current school at the time - that she loved.

They then also chatted with me - trying to see if i am a tiger-style mom. And did ask about DD not knowing it was an assessment.

I explained that I didn’t want to stress her out and it was completely acceptable.

Good luck.

Many many thanks!! I really appreciated your response!!

Both my daughters said Bute interview was very relaxed. Both had to read a book and discussed, They were asked about their current school and activities they did in school and outside school. Also is a good idea to keep few questions in mind to ask as they often ask ‘anything you would like to ask me’

parent chat - informal chat. Might be good isea during the chat to mention you agree with the school non-competitive ethos and ‘each girl runs their own race’. I also got asked whatmy daughter liked most during the assessment (biscuit and hot chocolate).

good luck !! All fhe best