Urmston grammar v/s Withington girls grammar

[DRPJ]

The queston is basically private v/s public. My daughter has qualified for UGS and we live locally so she will definitely get in. We can afford to go private and I hear Withington girls is one of top schools in the country. Not sure if there will be significant difference and if the difference is worth the extra money. Advise please.

My daughter attends Withington Girls' School and she couldn't be happier. If your daughter is academically able she would thrive there - the girls are challenged in lessons, have a huge list of extracurricular activities to choose from and, because the school is relatively small, each and every girl is known and cared for by every member of staff. I suggest you visit them on one of the open days in November.

Withington is definitely one of the top schools in the country it competes with MGS, St Pauls, Westminster, North London Collegiate etc As are the norm, Bs an aberration, most pupils are bound for Oxbridge-standard courses whether at Oxbridge, LSE, UCL, ICL etc. It's very academically demanding -- not worth going if your daughter doesn't love studying and isn't going to thrive on the pressure. 6th form entry bar is a minimum 6 As/A*s at GCSE plus good refs plus good interview.

Even at 11, your daughter will prob need substantial tuition to get in -- the bar is higher than UGS or similar.

But do you think withington, although fantastic, but expensive, is better than a great grammar education when your child has passed for both?

Have you and your daughter visited both schools - not just the open day but also a tour during a normal school day? Both schools should be happy to arrange this (if they're not, that would say a lot in itself)

I say this because we had a somewhat similar choice between an excellent private school (not quite at the level of Withington but then not many are!) and an excellent grammar school - really not much between them results-wise. We were tending to the former mainly because of the wider range of extra-curricular activities, but after the tours DD was absolutely sold on the grammar - and so far, it seems to be suiting her down to the ground. It did also occur to us that while we could have afforded the private school, we can now afford more activities with her ourselves.

Welcome to Mumsnet.

I have reported this obnoxious post.

you definitely need to visit. Urmston has a good reputation, Withington has an outstanding reputation - but you need to choose the school that is right for your DD. Not always easy even after visiting but it might give you a feel? If not, ask again on here so Penga and other parents can share their experiences - I have no personal experience of either, know parents of children who attend both and think they are good schools, but probably very different schools so you do need to have a good look round.

Thanks all, your posts are much appreciated.
DD has also qualified for Altrincham girls grammar, which personally I think is a better choice than UGS, but not sure she will get in as we live in Urmston. In the meantime going to Withington girls to check out as advised. DD wants to go to UGS as thats where her mates are going, maybe the visit will change her mind!