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Secondary education

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Original poster

Sutton Grammar, Wallington boys or Wilson's?

18 replies

MaeMobley · 26/10/2014 16:26

Hi, I am trying to rank these schools on our CAF form. I have no strong feelings about any of them & neither does DS. I would appreciate any views, opinions, experience.

OP posts:
tiggytape · 26/10/2014 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MaeMobley · 26/10/2014 20:22

Thanks Tiggitape. He is not sporty at all. He adores chess so I suppose Wilson's might rank higher.

OP posts:
GoodArvo · 26/10/2014 21:58

I agree with Tiggytape, if you don't have a preference I'd choose based on which has the easiest or quickest journey.

DS1 is in year 7 at Wilson's. He likes the school, but the travelling and the early mornings were a shock to him. He had a 5 minute walk to his primary school and now it takes about an hour to Wilson's. He's getting used to it and I think the travelling is worth it for such a good school, but he would much prefer a shorter journey.

Original poster
MaeMobley · 26/10/2014 22:17

GoodArvo, would you mind telling me how long does he travel? (as DS would be in a similar situation).

OP posts:
OpalQuartz · 26/10/2014 23:43

about an hour.

Fauve · 27/10/2014 00:05

Travelling distance is most relevant in Yr 7; it gets easier as they go up the school. Wilson's is a very big school; Sutton Grammar is smaller. Academically, they are said locally to rank as: Wilson's, then Sutton, then Wallington. In our family, we really, really rate the new head of Wilson's from personal experience. Wilson's is very good for maths, chess, drama, music; and they are good on diversity.

Notinaminutenow · 27/10/2014 08:41

Did you not get a feel for any of them when you visited? Didn't your son?

Last year my son took an instant dislike to Wallington: the flags, the dire Head's talk, the building, the "smug attitude" (his words).

He liked Wilsons - football, the chess, the English dept was particularly welcoming, the trips, friendly students.

I suppose if you have no strong feeling either way then travel and chess is a good a way as any to rank.

teddygirlonce · 27/10/2014 12:06

Just coming in to wave the flag for SGS.

Note that all the grammar schools will have excellent chess clubs. DS chose not to join the SGS one because he didn't think he'd ever have a chance of winning anything as it's the most popular club in the school.

Yes, we looked round Wallington three years ago and didn't like the smugness of some of the teachers. DS actually got a place there initially but was less than keen. He had just missed out on getting into SGS on the CAF 'round' due to our relative distance from the school (he scored the cut-off for admission but when there are a lot of boys with the same mark they rank by distance), but got in from the waiting list within a month of the Offers Day!

Personally think it's good to consider distance from the school. DS has a starightforward bus journey of about 20 - 40 mins depending on traffic etc...Had he gone to Wilson's it would have been at least double that. It's true that they soon adapt but particularly during the winter months (with evenings drawing in rapidly) if they have after-school clubs too, it means they're travelling entirely in the dark!

Think SGS will be due for a new Head in coming years (although not sure when) which will probably add some dynamism in much the same way as the two new ones at Wilson's and WCGS have achieved in very recent years.

Classicsgirl · 27/10/2014 14:01

Just to add that at wilsons the chess is both elite (the top teams are really good) but also inclusive as they put together six or more teams for competitions as well as inter-form events. Even my not -very -committed chess - playing son has represented the school on the fifth team quite a few times. We faced a similar dilemma as OP but are really pleased we went with Wilson's for our now year 9 son. It's an excellent school across the range of subjects - our worry was that SGS boys mainly did science and maths at A level whereas DS is more of a history and classics boy - and extra curricular is excellent. But I don't think you'll go far wrong with any of them.

Original poster
MaeMobley · 28/10/2014 13:57

Thank you. comments are very useful.

OP posts:
InASchoolsDilemma · 28/10/2014 16:03

We're in a similar position. I've heard lots of feedback that WCGS is very good at the pastoral side of things and that Wilson's is more of an academic hot house, so I guess it could depend on what sort of a boy your DS is.

I only know one child at any of the schools (he's at WCGS) and he is enjoying it immensely - he and his parents are so pleased they chose it.

The only other difference I know about is that WCGS is more into rugby than Wilson's apparently.

I don't know that much about SGS at all, but DS liked it when he saw it.

teddygirlonce · 28/10/2014 20:27

Think you need to go on 'gut instinct'.... We weren't overkeen on WCGS (although plenty are) but for us SGS seemed the 'best fit' for our DS from the off (when we went to look round the schools). It's not all about which one sits higher in the league table (because when push comes to shove there's really not much to choose twixt these schools) but which one would best suit your DS(s).

antimatter · 01/11/2014 02:34

My ds is in Wally Boys.
I am very happy with pastoral care there.
I am not sure what you mean by "teachers were smug"...
We haven't had any of that in over 3 years he's been there.
My son is an all rounder. His English, History and Art teachers are excellent (same teachers since y.7). I mention those subjects as they are his most favourite.

I think of all Sutton boys grammar schools Wally boys has best Art department.

They have new music teacher who is very good (I have also got experience of Wilsons head if music as my dd is in wally girls and they have joined a levels in music - he is indeed very good and she loves her time there).

Top 2 sets of maths classes take it a year early.My son isn't in one of them. School says many boys get A*in maths anyway in their GSCE'S and uptake of Maths at A level is well over 50%.

My son isn't sporty at all and doesn't feel worst for it. He contributes in Art, Music and English ( he won few competitions in those and contributed to house points that way).
School is very god at managing boys and keeping them on their toes.
As a parent I feel well informed and can see they are always innovating and also informing parents of changes happening to school.

montlieu · 16/10/2015 13:25

Hi MaeMobley, can I ask how you ranked those schools at the end ? did you send your son to any ?
thanks

Secretsquirrel11 · 09/06/2018 09:24

Hi
Please can you contact me if anyone can help with taking my DS to Wilson’s by car from Epsom catchment area from September 2018
Thanks

PettsWoodParadise · 10/06/2018 20:39

Are you really asking complete strangers on the internet to ferry your child about? Is public transport not an option?

Timeforatincture · 11/06/2018 15:54

Change trains at Sutton for Waddon. Walk from Waddon or get a bus.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 11/06/2018 17:12

Your son can get the 470 bus direct from Epsom town centre to Sutton - it takes about 40 minutes. No brainer...

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