Godolphin and Latymer vs Latymer Upper

[barbosska]

The time for accepting the offers is running out and having read the threads and spoken to parents around, we are still undecided on these two schools. DD likes LU, but is OK to go to GL too. Things I’ve heard about LU are rather scary: no pastoral care, children are burnt out by the time they reach A level, some of them took a year off school to rest, weaker and disruptive intake from Latymer Junior etc, drugs are also often mentioned, but apparently it is an issue at all school. Nevertheless, we like co-ed, as DD was on co-ed and likes it better that girls’ only, but this was when she was a child, and we are coming to teenage years soon.

Are there any parents from Latymer Upper on this thread or people with direct experience of it??? Please put my mind at rest. DD prefers the school, but for me it sounds a bigger risk that GL which many people say has a good pastoral care.

We still did not rule out SHHS completely too…

Thank you

@clickazee I was responding to a question I was asked directly on this board, and so I gave an honest answer of course from the perspective of DC. Years 7-8 were fine and even now DC does not want to move the school as she has an established group of friends.

Having said that, I do not want a person who asked me a question to be under illusion that all is great and fantastic at LU.

I did not even state my opinions, just facts.

I suppose the point of this board is to give a balanced view and then whoever asked the question can make their own decisions.

Hello,
I am in the same situation of having to choose between LU and GL. What makes things worse is that this year we did not get an opportunity to visit the schools.

Can people comment on their experience please? Opinions seem to vary a lot and it is really difficult to make a decision.

Anyone facing the same decision this year?

Many thanks.

I have a DS in Y7 at LU so didn't have the decision you have but have a DD in Y9 at a similar school to G&L.
Very happy so far although obviously hasn't been a normal year!
Not too much homework at all, probably about the same as his sister had in y7 and certainly less than some of his friends have had at other schools. Probably depends a bit on timetables/teachers etc. There will always be parents who think there's too much homework and others not enough!
It's a big school but most of the boys' school DS could have gone to were bigger so that wasn't an issue for us. He has time with his tutor group every day and the tutor is the first port of call for any issues. The teaching groups are different so they can meet more children that way. Both tutor and class groups seem to be 50/50 girls/boys.
Loads of children in DS's year seem to have or had one or more siblings (sometimes 3 or 4!) in the school so their parents must be happy with it!
LU and G&L probably have very similar demographics although when I looked round G&L for DD the parents looking round seemed to ooze wealth! Less so at LU although I know there is money sloshing around but also lots of kids on bursaries.
Know very happy and a couple of not so happy girls at G&L (like all schools).
We didn't apply for DD as I didn't like it for some reason when I looked around, so I'm not really totally impartial! Possibly partly because I'd been expecting to love it and I just didn't! Equally I wasn't particularly fussed about LU (didn't even look round for DD) and then I looked around and it just seemed really right for DS.
I guess it boils down to big Co-Ed v smaller all girls as location, fees etc don't really come into it.
Good luck- you probably can't really go wrong with either, although it's hard that you cant get a gut feel for a place.

Thanks @g02021, you got my point perfectly. Not being able to visit the schools and get that gut feeling that tells you whether your child (and you) fit in there or not makes things much more difficult.

The rumours about G&L are all about lots of money and a nurturing environment. For LU about being competitive and "rough". I don't want my daughter to live in a bubble but, at the same time, I don't want kids to get nasty and super competitive at this age.

I wouldn't worry about rumours. DS is unbelievably uncompetitive and the girls I know at G&L aren't uber wealthy! (although obviously can pay the fees so all relative..!). We had a meet up thing in the park before they started in September and there was a usual cross section of kids- loud, quiet, etc. Just normal 11 year olds really!
DS came from a state primary and quite fancied staying Co-Ed but he would have been fine at all boys as well. He does say the girls are a bit loud and excitable but he's used to it! No evidence of roughness!
Does your DD have a preference?

"From all these rumors, I can't take it no more" - Song by the Timex Social Club :)

Fees are high in these West London schools - there will be the uber rich, but it cannot be generalised.

~18% of LU students are on bursaries; ~10+% for G&L (+ ~12+% for SPGS).

Both LU and G&L are committed to increasing their bursary offers in the future – goal for LU is 25% by 2024. Both schools have histories of being state-affiliated schools for more than 2 decades (50’s to ‘70s) - before reverting back to being fully independent schools. Thus, the ethos of social inclusivity lives on in these two schools.

Of note, ATTAIN is a (teacher-led) programme started by LU in 2021 to support and assist children, who are behind in their studying because of the pandemic. BRIDGE was launched by G&L in (pre-pandemic) 2020 as an academic enrichment programme for nominated Year 5/6 state kids in the area. MENTOR JR is run by mostly (?) G&L 6th formers as a volunteering effort to offer primary school children free educational support and mentoring. (St Paul’s Partnerships have the Colet Mentoring/EasyA – initiated during the 1st lock down – for free help in Maths and Physics from 6th formers.)

You are both right that one should not listen to rumours and indeed I keep telling myself. However, when you have not experienced something but only heard other people's opinions then the images that form in your mind are influenced by them.

My daughter keeps changing her mind. It all feels more daunting to her right now as it is a big unknown and the fact that even I am unsure obviously unsettles her.

Sorry, I know this is definitively not the biggest worry the world has right now but it is adding uncertainty to uncertainty.

Thanks,

@malfrale Congratulations on your lovely offers!
We've been through this decision. Does your DD have a preference?

Given that location and fees are more or less the same, maybe ask your daughter:
with boys versus without boys
approx 180/year verus approx 120/year
blue versus red
wearing a coat versus jumper or black tracksuit
extra playing fields in Wood Lane versus onsite
Chromebook versus Apple iPad
male head versus female head
A levels versus A levels/ IB

Thanks @Addmelater3. My dd says, "I don't really care" when asked about those points so she changes her mind every time we gather a new piece of information about either school.

As I said, it doesn't help that we didn't see the schools and we don't know anyone who is going to these schools next year.

I might toss a coin

I've seen it on here before- toss a coin and if you're disappointed with the result there's your answer!
Probably a good thing you don't know anyone else going to either school as DCs can be swayed on where their friends are going.
If you do a bit of googling you can find lots of videos, magazines etc on all the schools. Sometimes that gives a good flavour.
Have there been offer holders virtual evenings etc?

I know a bit about both schools and there are happy children at both.

Bear in mind, the original OP is seven years old and most of these rumours are bollocks.

I'd say the crucial issue is co-ed versus single sex and that's an entirely subjective choice. I know very happy dc at both schools

It must be SO hard when you can't look round. Good luck

Academically, G&L is closer to SPGS than LU is. For me, the case for single sex education for girls is very strong, particularly in London, where they will be mixing and socialising with boys the whole time anyway. And they could always go to Westminster (or Winchester) for the 6th Form.

I have a daughter at each. Happy to answer any Qs if you want to messsge me. Both are happy!

@Summertime2 great to have first hand knowledge about both schools!

Which kind of girl do you think would thrive better in LU vs G&L?