Coombe Girls School, New Malden

[DancingHippoOnAcid]

DD due to start senior school Sep 11, so need to be making decisions and applications in next few months.

We are fairly close to CGS and neighbours have DDs there.

Would be grateful for any feedback from those with experience of the school - particularly how they are for high achievers.

Thanks in advance

bump

Anyone?

Thanks for your feedback, Giddy.

When was your last experience of CGS?

Yes they still do the streaming and straight from Y7 according to my neighbours.

Will ask neighbours for more info

My dd is going into yr 9 this September.
She was a "mixed ability" girl- but is now going into one of the higher teaching groups.
When she was in yr 7, there was the top stream (guy), 2 groups below (austen and wilson) and then 4 mixed groups.
I think this year there will be 2 top groups ie express stream.- you'd have to check the prospectus.

It is an excellent school- yes, there are disruptive girls, but not necessarily from the schools you'd imagine IYSWIM.
Issues are dealt with, and I have nothing but praise for Mrs C.
Is your dd at CHS or CC, OP?

Thanks for your input deaddei.

No, my DD is at LEH juniors at the moment. She enjoys it there but like many others we are feeling the pinch and seems silly not to look very hard at good local options. I have had nothing but good comments about CGS so far and now looking forward to taking DD to open day in September (I think it is then?)

Any views on what areas the school is particularly strong in, deaddei?

I agree that it is silly to pay when you have an outstanding school with LOCAL children on your doorstep.

I would say it seems to develop girls who are well rounded as opposed to "geeky"- excellent PE dept.

Sounding better and better, deaddei. My DD has lots of non academic interests - very sporty and seriously into drama/ singing.

Will definitely be at that open day.

I will see you there perhaps!!!

Maybe we will.

just follow the noise, that will be my DD!

No direct experience - but I recently met a CGS maths teacher. She was very motivated and proud of the school. I got the impression that CGS sees itself as an alternative to Tiffin and LEH.

Also, the head of CGS also runs Coombe Boys School. I assume this means a decent sized co-ed sixth form.

Thanks for the info jack.

Yes, my neighbour chose CGS over Tiffin for her very bright DD as she is very keen on the arts and did not feel Tiffin would offer her enough.

They are right to see themselves as a real alternative to LEH as my DD is there now, has a place at the senior school but we are very seriously thinking of moving her to CGS. A lot will depend on how DD reacts to it at the open day. She had a positive reaction to it when we talked about it a few months back.

Yes, I am getting more and more positive about CGS.

Not sure if the co-ed sixth form is a positive - may be too many distractions for my DD!

After all this, I really hope she will be able to get a place. We are pretty close (neighbours DDs cycle there). Any idea what the usual catchment area is?

I think most schools will give you an idea on catchment areas - based on previous years. Hopefully admissions aren't tied to feeder primary schools. All worth checking.

Many parents see co-ed 6th Forms as an advantage. Certainly many dd's do . To have one where the girls 'stay put' and the boys join them (which I think happens at CGS) seems a good option.

Certainly better than your dd wanting to move schools at 16. I believe LEH might loose a few this year to KCS!

Have found admissions details for last year. No indication of ties to feeder schools - admission on the usual, mainly siblings first then walking distance to school. So that looks good.

I see what you are saying about co-ed 6th form - it is good if the boys are the newcomers. I went to 6th form at a boys school and i never felt girls were taken very seriously there. Something LEH transferees to KCS should think about.

I am familiar with the drama department at CGS and it is fantastic, I'd love a job there!

That's great news, qumquat, that is right up DD's street.

Thanks for replying.

No feeder primary school to CGS.
It takes a broad range of girls from Coombe Hill, ChristChurch, St Paul's, Mount, Fernhill and others.