I'm a weeny bit cross that there hasn't been a SW/W London Independent schools thread this yr.

[SonorousBip]

Every blinking year there is one - and I read, and nod, and note. Sometimes they go on for months and pages. But this year, when I'm actually doing it - pah, not a sausage.

If anyone wants to do a last minute SPGS/Latymer/Godolphin/ KGS/LEH/WHS/PHS thread, please do! (disclaimer - I'm not doing all of those.). But views welcome. Because I've got several days to form my final views

Yes, I think Dd would sum it up as "meh" as well. I believe they give out toy dolphins to people who sit the exam - let's just say, I'm going to be out buying one if that turns out to be an urban myth. They gave out v nice reusable bags at the open days which currently have some dirty wellies in.

Ibstock is in a weird public transport black hole for us, so have never looked round it.

KGS for us
Surbiton exam tomorrow
Good luck everyone

Have heard LEH is much better now with new head but just didn't fancy it for DD. WHS def better than PHS imo.

I'm pretty sure they give out dolphins together with pencils. Dd is yr9 & sat that consortium paper at St James as it's less chaotic. St James gives them hot chocolate in between the exams & they are all interviewed & parents meet the head too.

A friend told me today that many are transferring their affections from KGS to Ibstock as it had better results or is higher in rankings or something. Great news for us, KGS being our only choice, but I do enjoy the fickle nature of the game. It's almost more exciting than watching Downton

're G&L ime it's a more traditional school than some. The girls I know there are all very bright/academic types. Apparently it's very good for drama/art extra curricularly. If I was going down the single sex route it would have been no.1 choice for DD1.

Re the comment on WHS focusing on VR / NVR, and Dyslexia / Specific Learning Difficulties. It is true that the ability of pupils with Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties shows up more obviously in NVR / VR but behind the scenes all the schools know the signs , and are looking for signs of ability, imagination, lateral thinking etc. as well as accuracy / attainment in the entrance exams. Schools like LEH, Hampton, Westminster etc. find themselves with around 10% of pupils with SpLDs, although many are not diagnosed at the time they sit the entrance exam,. That is as it should be if they are really looking for potential and ability since 10% of the population have SpLDs at every level of ability. Of course if they are diagnosed they also get a full assessment of their ability level. I had two Dyslexic DDs go through the entrance exam process, one diagnosed, one not, at most of the schools mentioned. The diagnosed one had extra time everywhere but, strangely since they bang on about the support they give, Surbiton. They both were offered places everywhere.

I would not expect the WHS cohort to change too greatly, other than to filter out the very tutored applicants who might struggle, assuming they invest in properly developed and maintained VR / NVR tests that are not tutorable (unlike the Grammar School ones that they do not invest in making unpredictable).

Also hearing very good things about new LEH Head who hit the ground running in terms of changing the culture, within three hours of her getting her feet under the table on 1 September, stories of her going the extra mile to support girls, and acting to make sure it did not happen again, had emerged........

OK, Ibstock went well, apparently! She was offered a glass inkwell to discuss (or so she says - could have been something else entirely).

Now back to maths revision for JAGS...

I am an old dolphin and if anyone is considering it for one of their girls I would really encourage you to.

If I had girls it would have been my no 1 choice.

Great teachers and great school.

Kingscote, my impression of G&L is that it is very international, though perhaps more representative of K&C than perhaps areas further south/west. IB is a big draw for families thinking ahead to US or European University applications, and a nice option for all rounders. Single sex appears to give it the edge over LU for some, and so it probably has a higher proportion of Asians, Americans and East Europeans. It can also appeal to families not convinced that SPGS or LU will be nurturing enough for their child.

I think it is fair to say that G&L is more urban than Putney, which in turn is more urban than Wimbledon, and this would be the normal order of priority for girls from central London preps. That said results are within the same ball-park and fees at G&L are higher.

One of my friends, who does not have daughters at G&L, said the girls she knows there seem very happy (based on her various daughters' friends from their prep school). Being happy as a teen is very important (not that it isn't at any age).

Anyone see the telegraph article about WHS head being the twin sister of St Albans girls head? Very interesting - they have both got headships at the same time.
Knew of the WHS head from one of her previous schools and she is fab, a bit of a 'talker', but really passionate about girls' education.

Castles why on earth would anyone choose Ibstock over KGS? unless they like a stylish parental social life and fabulous flowers in Reception. Very odd. Sounds very like a Downton plot to me.......

Tee hee poisonwood, my sentiments exactly. I sound like the Dowager Countess herself!

Hi all - going to hang out here for a while too as I have one DD undertaking 4 sets these coming weeks, one down so far!

I'm checking it out as well. DD seems calm and fine...me? Not so much. Sigh.

Quick question for TheCrimsonQueen - in your experience, whilst G&L did not have their own swimming pool, did the girls still have access to competitive swimming? Some say they share LU's pool but others have said this is not true. I am considering moving DD from one indie school due to lack of sports focus and conscious not to move her to a worse scenario from Y7!

Thank you for any sports insights...both are on our list.

DD not applying for any of the schools mentioned (though we did visit some of them, and DH and I liked KGS best) but am popping in to wave at Castles, root for her dd, and for all the other children applying to schools at the moment.

We have one state option (RPA), and one indie (Kew House) which dd fell totally in love with, having not particularly warmed to the others. We gave her a choice out of the schools we liked and thought she would do well at. Interestingly, I think she's chosen well for her particular personality and preferred subjects - though I mourned for KGS, briefly, which she didn't choose to apply to - she's bright, but quirky and never seems to follow well trodden paths: will be interesting to see where that gets her in life

Hello Elibean! Thank you for the good wishes and the same for your DD. Can you believe we are at this stage already?!! DD1 sat her exam yesterday so now we are at the 'orrible waiting stage. Let me know how it all goes and hopefully we'll be meeting soon somewhere lovely, relieved it's all over …for another 3 years

G&L used to share the LU pool but two years ago didn't. The serious swimmers tend to train outside school, Chelsea & Westminster swimmers from all schools use the LU pool before school iirc. I can ask a friend with daughters at G&L where/if they swim now if you like or it could be a question for your dd to ask at her interview.

Hi went through all this last year with ds1 and about to start again with twins! Any questions on admissions process for KGS, Hampton, Ibstock or Latymer Upper - happy to help if I can? Son at Latymer now in Yr 7. Good luck to all!

Thank you Eastpoint, that's what I thought. DD swims for a local borough squad so I guess we'll keep this up and she can ask more at her interview about in-school swimming.

Minoula - I love the thought of LU as it's the only coed on our list and an environment she's thrive in but don't rate her chances of getting through. The only negative I've drawn so far is the food...high on DD's priority list but I think the challenge is large number of kids with such little time to eat! Hoping it's not so bad...

castles - did your dd do KGS yesterday? we are tomorrow! [fingers crossed i haven't got the days all wrong]

Well my son has only been in the canteen twice! He seems to hang out in the cafe in the Theatre Block for lunch where its hot chocolate and paninis all round, by the sound of it.

amidaiwish, yes she did! We are overseas and she had to sit it in time to get the papers back to the school by Thursday afternoon so they could be marked with everyone else's.

ah i see. hope she does well.