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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

JAGS anyone have a daughter there??

44 replies

Condemned · 28/09/2014 20:41

Went to the open day and was surprised at the class sizes (28) the facilities were great and outstanding results but it felt a little snobby. I know it's very difficult to get a feel on one visit with probably a thousand others looking around, any inside knowledge would be greatly appreciated- thanks

OP posts:

notaworrierxxx · 21/09/2018 15:24

Yes, I have a daughter there. She came from a state primary, is on a bursary (as are many other girls in her year) It’s really diverse (unlike many other private schools in the area), the pastoral care is brilliant (I think the new head reacted to criticisms on this)
Bullying is pretty rare from what my daughter says, and when it happens it’s dealt with swiftly. Of course it’s full of very bright girls but my daughter hasn’t felt particularly pressured - she gets way less homework than her mates at local state schools, much less tests than her friends too! She’s made lovely friends there - not a single one I’d describe as snobby though to be fair she seems to have found the girls most like her there. She says there’s a little ‘cool’ rich set of girls who’ve come up from the junior school - but it’s a small group and they don’t bother anyone. She’s very happy and relaxed and is learning well. Very happy with it.

tinkerella1 · 26/09/2018 00:00

I have a DD at JAGS and she loves it. She's neither sporty or musical and it doesn't seem to matter. Yes she is organised and doesn't mind the homework. She just gets on. I don't think the volume differs very much across independent schools.
Pastorally it seem to be much better under the new head. The former head was kind of scary, but Sally-Anne is definitely not. She's very visible on parents evening so I've always felt I could pop over for a chat - but I've never had a reason to.....yet.
And as for the comments on 'not being thin enough". I'd say that kind of body shaming language comes from the girls own mother. You see what you want to see. But if you had been into the school and seen all its pupils you'd realise there's a diversity across all measures. My daughter has a great group of friends and she's really happy so I can't say anything bad about the place.

chick01 · 27/02/2019 12:19

Hi
I have posted on here (above a few years ago!!!!) re our experience of JAGS. My daughter is in Year 13 now. She got very good GCSE results and didn't want to even consider anywhere else for A levels. From her friends who went to other schools in the area in Year 7 many of them have changed schools for sixth form, which is interesting. JAGS did have a bit of a weeding out with a few girls encouraged to go elsewhere. (I can understand some people have differing opinions on this) only a few left for Westminster but most of the girls stayed on. Very few came in for sixth form but a number of the new ones actually left only after a couple of weeks. There is definitely stress in Year 13 and they have piled the work on recently especially when compared to the boys at DC. My opinion hasn't altered since my last posting. The home work issue never goes away but they do get to cope. My DD although really ready to go now to leave for uni (in a good way) has loved JAGS and the school has really made her into a conscientious, hard working and considerate 18 year old.

ALK1 · 26/12/2019 14:12

Can anyone tellme more about JAGS Sixth Form? What is it like, what are the pressure points, teaching abilities? Pastoral Care?

Trinnies · 08/03/2020 21:12

I go to Jags and I went to the Prep. Although practically everyone from the Prep gets in, I have never known anyone from the Prep to not be as good as external pupils. Jags is not snobby, I love it! No one swears or uses rude language, which is something I appreciate a lot. The pastoral care is great, there is a chaplain, 2 councillors, therapy dog, well being pod... You name it! You definitely don't have to be skinny! I have never come across anything like this in my whole time at JAGS. The homework is not too bad, depending on the Yr. Y7 and 8 is very stress free and gives you time to adjust. Tests are perceived as very important especially maths, but that just gives you more practice at both revising and coping under exam conditions. Jags is great! Also not everyone's parents are really rich, my parents struggle to send me there, but it is worth it.

uk2020 · 09/05/2020 19:11

Is it difficult to get into JAGS?

Stircrazyschoolmum · 10/05/2020 11:54

Trinnie I think it’s really nice that you wrote this and I’m glad you are enjoying your school experience. What do you think about having a new Head Mistress in September? Was the time for some transition activities before co-vid struck?

2020 JAGS is ‘easier’ to get into in the sense it’s single sex (which doesn’t appeal to all) and simple maths of twice as many places v applicants compared to co-Ed’s Alleyns or Emmanuel. That said, it’s highly academic and one of the top league tabled schools in the country so it’s entrance process is robust enough to ensure those who get in are able to keep up.

The first stage is the online VR/NVR so your DD needs to be practised in these skills.

Trinnies · 11/05/2020 15:46

Stircrazyschoolmum, we have not yet done any activities to do with the new headmistress yet. Alex Hutchinson is the new Head, and she sounded quite nice in the letter she wrote to the pupils. I know someone who goes to school where she is at the moment, and they really like her.

KingscoteStaff · 11/05/2020 17:14

DD met Alex Hutchinson when she visited, and was impressed. She also has friends at Woldingham who rate her.

She used to teach at JAGS, so she understands the ethos/atmos.

Stircrazyschoolmum · 13/05/2020 12:22

That’s really good to hear.. I think she’s going to be a great fit, what a challenging time to take over though!

WarmAndco3y · 13/10/2020 03:11

Does JAGS have a sibling policy?

uk2020 · 12/12/2020 06:45

May I know if it is automatic transfer from junior to senior school at JAGS?

WarmAndco3y · 12/12/2020 10:23

Transfer isn’t automatic, but they prepare them so well, that they can move to JAGS senior if they want to. So it kind of is

LondonGirl83 · 12/12/2020 13:55

@WARMANDCO3Y JAGs is really clear they don't have a sibling policy and sisters are known to not have gotten a place

@uk2020 ts not exactly automatic. As long as they are up to scratch they will transfer but if the prep-school doesn't think a girl is suitable for the senior school from about year 5 they'll let the parents know that they should start looking for alternatives. Over 90% of the girls do move to the senior school though

WarmAndco3y · 12/12/2020 14:49

@LondonGirl83, thanks. I just couldn’t find any information one way or another on JAGS website. I know there are lots of siblings, but I guess each one gets in on their own full merit. I have since heard that maybe they have an unwritten policy

As far as the juniors, I guess it’s like most schools that have a senior school where they let you know by year 5, if they think the senior school is appropriate for you. I was under the impression though, that those who are fine still have to sit the entrance exam and are more than well prepared for it. Unlike some schools where once you get the year 5 okay, it’s automatic entry.

LondonGirl83 · 12/12/2020 17:43

@WarmAndco3y the head teacher is very clear there is no sibling policy at all. She makes it very clear on open days and prepschool chats with prospective parents.

Its something she feels bad about as apparently one of her own children didn't get into a school as his siblings and has seen how upsetting it is first hand but its 100% the school policy and siblings do get rejected . For each child it is genuinely on merit.

The school really isn't shy about the fact that they manage girls out who can't keep up so its not the kind of school that lets in weaker pupils for any reason.

WarmAndco3y · 12/12/2020 19:19

Thanks @LondonGirl83
Helps one to manage expectations
Was this the same with the old head?

Stircrazyschoolmum · 13/12/2020 17:46

I went to a tour with the old head and can’t remember siblings gett8ng mentioned.. I was highly impressed with the girls that showed me around. They were bright and articulate but also funny and bubbling with personality.

I hear a lot about JAGS being a hothouse and rife with eating disorders and self harm. ‘My friends daughter etc etc’ Tbh, it really put me off and I visited the school expecting to hate it and really loved it! I wonder if they are as stringent on who they allocate places to because they don’t want girls to struggle or suffer MH problems? My sense was they wanted girls who needed a stretch and would thrive on it. I have 2 very different children and one certainly would have been miserable there.

Stircrazyschoolmum · 13/12/2020 17:50

As a follow on.. the girls I took the tour with said that a common reason for not proceeding to JAGS senior was a desire to switch to coed so some girls leave to go to alleyns (if offered) and similarly some alleyns juniors come to JAGs.

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