Emanuel versus Alleyn ? or KGS ? for academic sporty boy looking for co-ed

[montlieu]

Hello,
We are looking at Alleyn and Emanuel for our sporty, but also academic boy- as we are favouring co-ed. I am having slight doubts how good is the sport at Alleyn. can anyone with children there advise please ?
this is for Year 7 onwards.
my next one is about KGS. any feedback ?
thanks.

I have boys at emanuel - they love it, it's got a great sports dept but be warned it doesn't do football if thats where your sons passion lies. They're big on rugby cricket and rowing. Extra clubs include swimming, basket ball, fives tennis and cross country It's getting tougher each year to get in so is now more selective so for an academic boy they would be challenged I think. They have 5 forms per year 2 of which are slightly higher than the other 3! It's a really friendly school hope that helps

Sorry should have also added that there are acres of fields onsite which helps you get this at alleyns but not at KGS

Its worth considering what is more important, sporting excellence or participation. Some schols cquire strong sporting reputations for children to then discover that their only chance for a team place is if they are playing club sport outside school, and quite possibly, County sport as well. Other schools, often without the same reputation, are good at participation with lots of opportunities to represent the house or class, or try alternatives like fencing or climbing. These schoolss may actually produce more children who find their place and carry on with sport at University and beyond. FWIW I have heard that Alleyns are good at encouraging participation, and along with KGS, seem to put girls sport on a fairly equal footing with boys sport - something that does not always happen with the traditional rugby and rowing schools.

thank you very much for your comments and response. I like the angle of the participation as he is not "county" type.
any other thoughts ? thanks a lot.

I'd go along with needmoresleep. Coed schools have a smaller pool of boys to select their teams from so they are unlikely to be able to compete with the larger all boys schools who are selecting their teams from 200 or so boys, but at the same time, a larger proportion of boys get the chance to be in a team. Most of the coed schools fixtures seems to be against other coed schools to ensure an even match, so in terms of quantity of sports there will be plenty at Alleyns and Emmanuel. I also see the equal celebration of girls sport as being very positive. Alleyns plays football rather than rugby which is slightly unusual and does mean fixtures may be further afield, but it certainly plays hockey and cricket. I'd be surprised if your son didn't have the opportunity to play some form of sport at any of these schools on at least 5 days a week.

What sports does he want to play?

Alleyns don't play rugby and Emanuel don't play soccer.

In terms of sport on offer I think both pretty similar but I'm guessing the commute to one must be much easier unless you're in between the two?. If you like both I'd say go for the closest as long commutes For kids are a nightmare and it's nice to have their friends close by

Hi everyone ! he plays mostly cricket and football (his current school main sports) and hasn't had a proper go at rugby or rowing yet. we are walking distance to Emanuel. thanks !

bump

My ds played football mainly before and tag rugby ds has made it into squad possibly because he's generally sporty and enthusiastic - can only say my boys love it ! Equally though I loved alleyns when I looked there but quite a schlep!

I would sit exams for both and see what offers are forthcoming !

DS school played Alleyns at football today. Quality was good. But we could put out up to 5/6 teams and Alleyns only brought two - which implies to me not a high amount of participation / not inclusive.

Don't like KGS as their sports ground is separate. They lost their cricket head to KCS recently and he is very good. No proper sports hall and renting nets for winter nets at Hinchley Wood school is a bit rubbish I think.

Do think logistics too.

If you live near Emanuel then obviously easy to get there, and must be straightforward to Alleyns by bus too. But wouldn't the journey to Kingston be an utter embuggerance?

Have you looked at Harrodian?

Also how important is co-ed? Because if you have a sporty boy, then Dulwich has to be worth a look unless you are sure single-sex is a no-no.

Lots of posters on the Alleyns/Dulwich/Whitgift thread from last year (in Education) and the new one this year who have experience of these schools. Perhaps you could enquire there if this thread is not too active.