what's Sutton grammar like?

[menagerie]

Just that really. Wondering whether my DS should aim for it as well as Tiffin. Feeling a bit unsure that Tiffin would suit him anyway, (on the slim chance that he did get in) and wondered if Sutton is more well-rounded and worth a shot.

Not assuming DS will waltz into either school btw, but a mum can dream...

Anyone on MN whose son goes to the school?

Only know what a local mum of boys told me, she felt Sutton was more accessible than Tiffin. Certainly easier to get in. I believe they actually have a sensible catchment area!

Her DS was going to go for the entrance test but moved away.

Sorry, don't know anyone with a son at the school.

Ex colleague of mine yeaches there.

10 applicants for every place.

teaches!

Don't think Sutton has any catchment area.. Its a different test to Tiffin. Tiffin is Verbal and Non Verbal reasoning. Sutton tests Maths, English and Verbal reasoning

Thanks. That's interesting Amazing - so it is more like a normal 11+ exam than the weird Tiffin automated exam... Didn't know that.

Does anyone have sons there or know someone who does? Are they happy? What's the workload? Going to visit, but can't beat first hand insider opinions.

Bump.
No one? I looked on 11+ forum and there too no one is talking about these schools. Do Sutton/Wallington parents take a vow of silence? Or perhaps the schools are figments of my fevered Surrey imagination, craving a state grammar school system when we don't really have one.

Thanks GiddyPickle, that's interesting. (Didn't know that about the academic pecking order.)

The school websites say it matters which order you put them, as if you get in to more than one then you'll be allocated the one on the top of the list. Not assuming DS will, but if he does sit them all, I'd like to make sure we put the right school first. Not that keen on Tiffin so far but only been there for the cattle market open day. It looked very hot housey - all work and no play.

A friend has her son at Sutton. It's friendly, and I think the parents are pretty good at organising get-togethers - that's very useful at a grammar secondary school, where it can all get quite distanced.

Nice things about it are that they have a proper philosophy teacher (if your son is into that) and it's in Sutton centre - a pretty good location for travel and sociability. I think they are linked with the Sutton GDST school for girl-welcome events.

I think they do all three sciences separately from the first, which is also (imo) a Good Thing.

Also just for info Wilson's & Wallington let you know before the schools application deadline if you have "passed" the test (still doesn't mean that you will definately get a place however) but Sutton doesn't.

Neighbour's son is there. She's very happy so presumably he is! Don't envy him the 20-min train ride to Sutton though - the kids must come from a huge area.

My son is starting there in September :) so no first hand experience yet.

(Menagerie - I've sent you a message)

Thanks everyone. They all sound like such good, happy schools from the little I've found out. Think the pressure is on a bit to get into one of them. Not keen on either of our closest comps and they're both oversubscribed anyway.

Notcitrus - 20 mins by train is pretty normal for where we are. Nearest school, an over subscribed and ordinary comp is 15 mins away, so a bit longer for a good school is fine.

Cristina, how exciting. Congratulations to him. Thanks for message - not had one before, so not sure how to pick it up! Will go and try and find out.

Btw - I don't think the pressure for the boys' schools is as bad as it seems, since quite a few are taking exams for lots of the schools, so it's not quite as bad as ten after every place ... . Definitely worth a punt!

That's a really good point, animula. Hadn't thought of that but if they're all sitting the same exams for three or four schools, it's higher than a 1 in 10 chance.

I am a single mum and I live with my only son in Clapham. He has just been offered a place at Sutton for Year 7 start in Sept 2012. Any idea what is the travel like for a boy of 11? I am worried the school is going to be too far to travel from Clapham Junction on a daily basis. Any experience/advise most welcome before this Friday when I need to accept the offer!

ClaphamMum - it looks as though it's about 30 mins by train with no changes? No personal experience of south London school travel, but my DS1 started coming home on the tube from school (St John's Wood - Highbury, changing at Green Park) in the summer term of Y6. A friend of his with a full time working single mum, so needs must, got the tube from Finsbury Park to St Paul's, changing at Holborn from the start of Y6 (CLSB, Old Grammar). Also, from Highbury, lots of kids get the train from Finsbury Park to Potters Bar for Dame Alice Owen. So I would say, unless you have a better school closer to home, go for it! It makes sense to take a few precautions, like not waving an iPhone around, wearing an inconspicuous waterproof over the top of the blazer etc., and you might want to do the route with him ahead of time.

Have a question on SGS environment. How does it compare with some other grammar/private schools in terms of – smartness of the boys, their polished speaking and general get up. Are they suave enough like the boys from some of the private schools? Do they become smart enough to make captivating public presentations?

There's the suave thing again