London Private Senior School For "Tim Nice But Dim"? / Where Do Average Kids Go?

[EmbroideryQueen]

Please help! I'm looking for a private Senior school for my DS within reach of central, north or possibly west London.

My DS will be moving school at 13+ and has various mild SEN which mean he usually gets CAT scores of 100 -110 and "may or may not just scrape through Common Entrance at 55%".

(Note, I'm not actually calling him or other DC like him dim as thread title suggests, just that I'm very aware that this is how he is thought of by many London schools.)

I'd love some suggestions for any Senior Schools looking for 55% CE or below in the right sort of area.

Thanks!

I heard Kew House had 600 applications for 80 places this year....but they do deliberately take a cross section of skills/abilities, so academic starriness is not a pre-requisite!

But its not in Chiswick. Its by Kew Bridge, next to Brentford Leisure Centre.

And I know you're not calling your ds dim, OP, but just as an aside...I hate that saying 'Tim nice but dim'

I can also recommend St Chris, Letchworth, where my DS is. A lot of kids come from North London on school bus or train. It is just a lovely school. A friend sent her dyslexic DS and he is thriving. It's non-selective but they do have some highly achieving kids who are not up for the more pressured atmosphere of other schools-they took their very high achieving other DS out of Habs as he was miserable but he loves St Chris.

Is this a genuine query? Who refers to their DC as nice but dim even in jest? How offensive to mums with children in these schools. I'm suspicious.

"Who refers to their DC as nice but dim even in jest?"

I suppose it's the same people who quote his other catchphrases? OK, it's not compulsory to like a specific comedian. But some characters do just stick.

I'm not British so l did not understand the reference to the tv character. Fair enough. I have two special needs children (55% CE would be a dream) and it's a constant struggle. Sense of humour can run a bit dry l'm afraid.

ContraryMe

I apologise if I caused offence. It is a genuine query and as Draylon says, it was used as short hand. I hope nobody with DC at these schools would think I was actually calling their DC dim.

Regarding being average, in London, "average is the new thick" thanks to the increasingly massive numbers of very capable DC from well resourced families competing for a small number of school places in the 'good schools' (both selective private ones and buying houses in catchment areas for state), plus the overall fantastic state school exam results compared to the rest of the country.

Thanks everyone.

I think I have been put off Harrodian & Emanuel due to their popularity.

St Dunstans I will investigate further.

Wetherby I'm very sceptical about the idea that initially it may not be that selective?? Firstly, due to location (assuming it's in Marylebone also?) secondly, because isn't the Prep used as a backup choice for the Westminster / St Pauls / Sussex House crowd?? Therefore some may just decide to stay on if they fail 13+ for Westminster & St Pauls?

St Benedicts, Ealing not heard of it, will investigate.

Aldenham Yes, it is definitly a very strong contender ThreeUnderThree33, especially due to the boarding sort of feel and the excellent bus routes. They were very helpful on the phone. Currently one of my favourites.

NBH ah, pity you've not heard anything good either SleepWhenIDie. I'm pretty sure it's off the list. Y on KA and structure.

St Chris', Letchworth will investigate. Great to hear about the good bus service, thanks.

EmbroideryQ, this has actually been a useful thread. I was just confused by the tv reference but accept that it was probably just me that didn't get it. Please continue to update us on the results of your investigations. I will be looking at this issue in a couple of years time.

'Average is the new thick' I like that contrary . I concur. I seem to be surrounded by hysterical mothers under the impression that if you can't get your DC's into a top 20 school in London then boarding is the only option . There are others, including numerous excellent state options. Our DC's can't all be geniuses and in not getting into these (admittedly in many respects amazing) schools they may just be escaping several years of intense pressure to perform and lots of time feeling inadequate. I'm sure you'll find the right place for your DS.

Apologies...that should have been for embroideryq

ContraryMe glad it's been useful. I'm surprised This topic isn't posted about more, I'd have thought there would be many parents in this situation? (But then MN does have a reputation for only having very bright or very SEN DC! Maybe that's fairly true!?)

Sleepwhenidie yes, London has gone a bit mad! It's so pressured for the children too - so many parents feel they have to get a tutor just to be in equal footing with everyone else who has a tutor. I can see in a few years that summer schools and Saturday morning tutoring clubs will be the norm. MN also seems to be filled with a disproportionately large number of people asking about that small handful of Schools, especially Preps.

Wetherby is a great option. Mixed ability but the overall profile at the moment is definitely average rather than high-achieving.

Almapudden

I wrote up thread:

"Wetherby I'm very sceptical about the idea that initially it may not be that selective?? Firstly, due to location (assuming it's in Marylebone also?) secondly, because isn't the Prep used as a backup choice for the Westminster / St Pauls / Sussex House crowd?? Therefore some may just decide to stay on if they fail 13+ for Westminster & St Pauls?"

Am I wrong about the above, do you think? If so, I wonder if it will only be a few years before it is as I describe?

I will google some of those other schools this eve and let you know what I think.

Another one that may be a weekly / flexi boarding option is St James in Ashford (Middlesex not Kent)

I wouldn't cross NBH off the list so quickly. It had teething problems a few years ago while absorbing the Royal School at short notice and launching Cannonbury while sharing a Head between two sites. I know some 'average' children who really enjoyed it and did much better than their parents ever expected.
You should see all the schools before deciding rather than rely on hearsay.

St James are closing their boarding section (it had minimal take-up) so that wouldn't be an option. Train journey from Clapham junction is excellent though - about 24 minutes and school is right by the station the other end. Definitely easier to get into that most and they have a broad range of academic abilities however their SEN and additional help for those that struggle is disappointing.

Red lemons
That's interesting - one of DS1's friends was looking at it as a flexi boarding option a while back but it looks like they will have to rethink.

I agree with @horsemadmom. I have a dc considering NBH and I believe their process has been the most 'human' of all schools - exam & interview on 1 day in a very relaxed setting. My ds received a letter a few days after the interview thanking him for coming - with references to specific things he said during the interview! Definitely made him feel like the interviewer was listening to him. Unfortunately I dont know much about the problems mentioned above so cant comment on them.

A consultant suggested both NBH & Wetherby to me as options for an average performing child ( I REFUSE to say 'dim') because both schools are in 'building' mode - in a few years they will get as selective as the other NW London senior schools because they can. The demand is there. So, both are worth a look now.

You might also be interested in this thread from autumn 2015

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/2490443-SW-London-Independents-where-do-the-bottom-80-end-up