CLSG vs JAGS

[Issiwissiletsgetbusy]

Agonising over which to choose- post 11+
both great schools- DD lives CLSG but going by tube at that age( I work f/t) so can't take her- vs coach service to JAGS and also got academic scholarship to jags- not huge money wise- bug huge to her in terms of achievement- would be v grateful for any advise on what feels like impossible decision- no real right or wrong!

Oooops- forgot to add we're in sw11

CLSG is quite a trek from SW11 isn't it? Whenever I have to go that way with work I think it's a total pain. I can't give any useful opinions as my DCs are much younger but I have both schools on my radar for DD in the future so interested in seeing what others say. I understand the buses to JAGS are good. In your situation I think I'd go with JAGs - if you are going to be doing drop offs at weekends/activities in the evenings etc the trip to Dulwich from SW11 is significantly easier than the CLSG trip.

Thanks for that-

I think in such a difficult decision exactly those practicalities (and the scholarship) are going to be deal makers- but so hard to turn down CLSG when such a lovely school and possibly more academic????? Though v little in it x

I definitely wouldn't worry about JAGs being any less academic than CLSG.

They are both great
She'll be doing this trip 10 times a week for 7 years, practicalities are so important.
Plus if she has an academic scholarship they'll keep a closer eye on her academically, go with JAGS

I don't think the academic scholarship makes any difference on academic progress in these schools. They are highly selective so many girls will be at a similar level academically, I wouldn't base my decision on the scholarship unless it is worth it financially.

I'd be swayed by the practicalities. They're still very young at 11/12 and having mum/dad more available makes a big difference.

JAGS gets great results from a very bright and keen intake, it may be ever so slightly behind COLSG, but it's not as if she'll be streets ahead of the rest of her classmates and getting bored/bullied for being a swot.

Go with the school she/you feel best about. All the girls at CLSG travel in by public transport from around London, and she'll be put in a class with other girls from her area. They grow up very quickly once they go into year 7, and the journey won't be a problem. Remember, she may be young now, but she'll still be at the school when she's 18. Don't feel the need to baby her, they cope.

Agree with laughaminute, the grow up really quickly and won't be 11 for very long. By the time they get to year 8 they have changed from children to adolescents who enjoy the independence.

JAGS is ahead of CLGS in the tables more years than the other way round.

Which school do you like best? Not just the journey, but the actual site and facilities? How important is space for sport? What co-curricular activities are on offer?

Ugh- all v sensible issues raised- I honestly can't choose between the 2 schools- her main sport is swimming (and both have a pool )- also hockey- which is more Jags - CLSG seems more netball?
I prob slightly prefer CLSG but Hags is more convenient- hard call! Appreciate comments- thanks x

If your daughter wants to play hockey then it is no contest. CLSG has amazing outdoor space for a school which is 5 minutes walk from the Bank of England but it's a postage stamp and especially so compared to what JAGS can offer - not a criticism of CLSG but just understandable fact.

Jags it is- thank you all so much

CLSG girls go elsewhere for competitions because the pool was built pre-metric and isn't regulation length. They do have a nice towel dryer so no whiffy swimming bags. Wishing your DD much success at Jags!

Good luck to you DD at JAGS

We are agonizing over JAGS vs Alleyn's, but I wouldn't agonize over JAGS vs CLSG (although it's very easy to say when you are not in those shoes!) if commute to JAGS was easier and you have an academic scholarship to JAGS (an honour and looks good on CV).

I simply do not see how CLSG is in any way better to justify the commute. Academically, CLSG and JAGS are identical (CLSG is #3 in Times league tables and JAGS #9), with some subjects JAGS outperforming City on GCSE a lot (e.g., History and Geography), similar in maths (82% A in City, 80% at JAGS), similar numbers to Oxbridge (12-15 depending on year), etc.

If anything, I'd probably say that JAGS is better because they achieve this with a slightly less selective intake - 800 applied to City this year vs ~480 to JAGS.

In terms of social mix/values they are similar - diverse, multicultural, etc. Don't know about City, but at JAGS 20% of kids are on bursaries.

JAGS has better grounds, fantastic language provision (Italian, Japanese, Russian taught) and a headmistress who is a know quantity whereas at City there is change which may well be fantastic but a bit of a risk (as with any change).

Plus JAGS has a bigger year group which at secondary is an advantage, in my view.

We, on the other hand, are agonizing over JAGS vs Alleyn's (academic scholarships at both) and, I think, it's a more difficult choice since JAGS and Alleyn's have a bigger gap academically AND you don't get as much diversity (both social spectrum and multicultural dimension) at Alleyn's, but we like the co-ed concept. Commute time, obviously, is not a factor since they are opposite each other.

With the Dulwich Foundation schools (all of which are usually in the top 100, so you're looking as very small differences anyhow), it's noticeable that it's always all-girls in highest place, co-ed second and all-boys third.

So I have often wondered if their results are a reflection of gender, rather than big differences in the academic level.

JAGS do a fair amount with Dulwich College, so there is some exposure to boys. But if your DD wants things like CCF, then the fully co-ed school is the one to go for.

Small point but City loses a lot of girls at 6th form to mixed sixth forms. This reduces their 6th form results but also raises the question Why do so many leave ?

Co-ed is the big draw at 6th form for the girls schools.

And the USP for CLSG is possibly the exact reason you may choose not to send your daughter there - it is a London school, rather than a local school. When all other things are equal, and CLSG is the academic equal of most schools in the country, some people will want to send their children to local schools, other will prefer a more metropolitan experience.

Both schools do consistently well academically and your dd would thrive in either place. A big advantage of CLSG is its location and close connections with City firms, which is invaluable for work experience and graduate opportunities later on.

Strangely, I have a dd facing exactly the same jags scholar v city ... Clgs does have bus services operated by private groups with many pickup points - for us the city bus departs 20 min later than the jags bus does. Also eventually the tube does become a conveniant option.. Clsg starts at 8:40 so there is scope for an activity in the am or more sleep time.. Clsg seems to produce an impressive number of doctors., mathematicians etc,,surpassinggs jags, spgs etc. ultimately, mine was totally enamoured by the buzz at the school (clsg).. It appears that 3 of us scholarship holders (out of 30) are having this dilemma.. My daughter felt the exam was a touch easy. However I must also say I was very impressed by the various activities jags girls are upto, and I liked the scholarship interview... Did you go to the cogs open day today... Very. Nice panel of girls

Sadly we're away this week so couldn't make the CLSG offer holders day- but I did enquire re the bus and they mentioned it's more for North London- we'd have to ravel from SW11 to Sloane sq to get the bus?!
No doubt girls and results impressive at both schools- interested to know what you choose Panchali1.

I agree with Panchali1 the year 8 girls at CLSG were delightful! Friendly, funny, bright I felt it was the right environment for my DD. There was a map showing where girls travel from and there were many travelling from SW and SE postcodes

Which did u go with in the end Irisha?
I was absolutely gutted to turn City down but I would've have regretted my decision either way- and regret of turning down jags was worse! Your succinct and pertinent overview comments really helped! Many many thanks xxxx

We went with Alleyn's in the end. DD wanted co-ed and this preference prevailed. Funnily enough, it does feel good to have made a decision and we are not looking back. Which probably means it was the right decision! We'll see.