I moved to Latymer Upper for sixth form and left a couple of years ago. It was the best decision I could have made. I moved from a somewhat suburban school with middling GCSE results and little academic pressure. Admittedly, I first wanted to move to get out of a pretty stale all-girls school to something more exciting. I applied to Latymer, Alleyns and Godolphin. We looked at St Paul's and, although I have many friends who went there, thought it looked too pressured. My parents refused to let me look at Westminster because they believed that it was too expensive and they hadn't heard good things.
I chose Latymer from the three schools I applied to. The teaching is fantastic and the heads of year and headmaster have been very, very supportive, especially as I wasn't particularly happy in upper sixth (unrelated to school). I got very behind in work and wanted to drop one of the 4 A-Levels I elected to do. My parents and form tutor helped and supported me to get back on track and, although I was in no place to apply to university at the beginning of year 12, I am now at Cambridge. The school allowed me to come back for extra lunchtime classes during my gap year as if I was still a student.
I know that without their help and the excellent teaching, coupled with a stimulating environment, surrounded by very bright students, I would never have won a place.
(On another note - Cambridge seems to be more popular than Oxford at Latymer and from what I have seen, heard and know, is more relaxed socially, more liberal politically and more varied in activities than Oxford is. The west London cliques seem to simply shift to another city.)
The drama, music and art are all brilliant. There are lots of school events which students are always keen to go to. There is a very strong sense of community between the years and an awareness that you are lucky to be part of something very exciting.
I would say that Latymer attracts slightly more relaxed students and less flashy pupils than neighbouring W London schools (although I think the gap is narrowing quickly). They come from Hammersmith, Fulham and, increasingly, Notting Hill. Whereas Godolphin and St Paul's girls seem to frequently come from Kensington.
From my experience, the girls at St Paul's are slightly highly-strung, very skinny (ALL have been very food conscious), socially successful and well groomed. They seem to have a lot of free cash and loos parental reigns.
I am aware, however, that I have often encountered a similar 'type'. Many are very close friends.
I think going in at sixth form is quite different to 11+ entrance. The girls that can handle co-education that age need a tougher skin and they girls are very pretty. I think at sixth-form you need to be resilient and with a strong personality, but that isn't to say people who aren't won't shine.