Advice on Withington Girls

[Bridgewater7]

Our DD has received an offer from Withington for Y7 Sept 2026 start.

She is a bright girl, although she had been prepping with a tutor for another school which does not achieve anywhere near the same results as WGS (GCSE & A Levels) approx 4 months before the exams she only practiced for Withington 1 week before. So she’s smart! I was surprised that by past paper 4, she was correctly answering the GCSE style questions. I had actually told her that I wasn’t expecting her to answer correctly but just wanted her to have a go. Even if it that meant writing or even drawing the question out in a way she understood.

However, my concern is that although she is very bright she places an awful amount of pressure on herself.

I’d be grateful if any parents have girls at the school what has been your experience?

we also have the additional issue of distance. We are looking at almost a 1.5 hour journey each way by coach. I would have to drive 30 mins to another town to catch the school bus. There is the option of the train but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with her travelling alone.

whilst she wants Withington on account of the academics (she believes she will not receive the same education at our second choice school) she is also very worried about how she will manage with all the travelling.

No current experience but following with interest. We have a Withington offer too, plus two more that have extras with them. No tutoring here but my DD is in a prep so they did a lot of work there and she’s naturally very bright. My DD has a preference for another school but we are doing the tour on Friday so she can make her decision.

I have an older one who gets the bus (to a different school) at 7.30 each morning from a stop that is 15 minutes drive away and for what it’s worth, I think that commute would be exhausting for her. And before/after school clubs would compound that. I am a strong believer that bright children with the right parental support/values will fulfil their potential at any decent school.

I think WGS is the best value for money girls school in the UK

WGS is very high pressured. It doesn’t suit everyone. That said, that kind of commute is a lot, especially if you have a solid offer elsewhere. What about extra curricular activities etc…

The problem is the offer from our second choice is not comparable academically. Only approx 35% students achieving 7-9 in GCSEs.

I could potentially get on the train with DD in the mornings but it’s the evenings which would be difficult.

its such a difficult decision as we would be giving up a fantastic school in terms of academic attainment.

that being said our second choice does provide fantastic extra curricular opportunities but I think DD would have to fight for academic support and guidance. I also agree that bright children or even hard working children are able to achieve wherever they go so long as they have the right support at home and group of friends.

I also have to take into account that I have two younger children who I would have to make arrangements for as neither set of in laws lives close by

Also in terms of extra curriculars WGS offer a later bus service and pick up. But given that we live on the other side of Manchester we just can’t get around the travel issue.

it might help if you said what your second choice is so people know what you're comparing it to. Academic results on paper aren't everything.
Also, you really should have factored things like the travel in before allowing her to sit the exam! You also need to bear in mind how she's going to get home if she stays for after school activities - is there a coach that leaves later to accommodate these or would she be going into Manchester for the train at 5pm? (sorry cross posted re. bus!)

Although it's a great school I do think a high pressure school coupled with a child who heaps pressure on themselves is a risky choice. She might thrive... but it does sound like a recipe for high anxiety and stress. Coupled with the journey, which will add to tiredness and eat into downtime, I'd be wary. Academics aren't everything, she needs to be happy too.

Our second choice is Bolton School

I have to say I know there are a great deal of pros with Bolton but academically I worry

We had looked into travel! Also lots of children sit exams for schools which they have no intention of going to. I think at the very least it shows children what is out there, the calibre of students and opportunities

i'd say it sets them up for false hopes and shattered dreams but hey, you do you!
Also where are you getting your stats from, it's more like 60% getting grade 7-9 at GCSE and closer to 40% getting 8-9. Bear in mind that the kids doing GCSEs in 2024 and 2025 were the ones who missed a lot of their early secondary education due to lockdown so i think it's fair to expect results to dip a little for that cohort and it's widely accepted that the ones done on teacher assessment during lockdown resulted in higher scores than exams Results & Destinations | Bolton School
i think if you're bright you'll do well in a school that gets average academic results, it's the average / below average kids I'd be more worried about sending.

There’s absolutely no way I would put any child of mine through a journey of that length. That would be a hell of a commute for an adult; for a growing child it would be cruelty.

If you can afford it, could you move? Rent out your own home to rent in South Manchester?

If not, send your daughter to Bolton School and tutor to augment the academics.

Bolton is a good school and I’m sure they will stretch your daughter academically. I’d send her there personally - if you’re on the north side of Manchester. She’s more likely to make local friends.

What time would she be leaving home and getting home ?

for the train she would need to leave at 07:15 AM just to give her a bit of a window.

and home by 17:20 in the evening.

if she were to take the later shuttle from school to MCR Piccadilly (ie on account of extra curriculars) she would be home by 18:20

I was speaking to a friend who is a corporate lawyer and she said that to this day she’s always asked what secondary school she went to. And when she says Henrietta Barnet she instantly notices a change in people.

she’s one of the most down to earth people I know btw! And a fantastic mentor to more junior colleagues.

so idk…she is really encouraging DD to take Withington but recognises the challenges with travel. She’s actually against her travelling by train and suggested we move. But it’s not that easy to sell and move.

I’m going to try and pm you!

That isn't so bad. I was expecting you to say she'd have twelve hour days.

We made a similar decision (an hour's commute each way) for an academic school.

Its an unpopular opinion on here but I do not believe that bright kids achieve their potential in whatever school they attend as long as parent's are involved. Imo school success greatly depends on peers and the teaching environment.

I hear you op, although I would say outside the north London bubble I’m not sure everyone knows Henrietta Barnet! I think the best school here is the one where the child concerned will be happiest, because it’s that confidence and security that lead to attainment.

I don’t think either sound right tbh. The commute for Withington is too far and I wouldn’t pay for the other one. The results aren’t all that great for the money you’re spending. I work in a non-selective state school with very similar results so wouldn’t bother. Is there a third option?

To be fair, I might think twice about paying for Bolton school compared to if it was a state school! I’m guessing the Trafford grammars get better results but the commute would be even worse?

This is the problem. The results are not great at all. That being said we do know of both boys and girls who have performed very well. Eg one friend’s son scored straight 9s in his GSCEs last year.

I do think the children that get the most out of Bolton are the all rounders who are also very good academically led

I’m really surprised by the comments on this thread, when I was younger Bolton School was really highly regarded but things must have changed!

And no there isn’t a third option unfortunately. We live in a very affluent area but with terrible state options. Predominantly because everyone sends their children to Bolton School. If we all sent our children to the local state schools I am sure they would become highly sought after.

The commute to AGGS is worse. And there is the issue of catchment area even if you pass if I recall correctly.