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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

Emanuel school

27 replies

Fraught2016 · 15/02/2016 12:16

My DD has been offered a place for 2016 and we are trying to weigh up against a couple of nearer girls schools. I would love some feedback from any parents on how the find the school and what they like and don't like. Also interested in whether it's quite diversely terms of a colour and background. Asking as my DD is mixed race and this is important for her and some of girls schools I've seen have not been v diverse. Thanks so much

OP posts:

AnotherNewt · 15/02/2016 12:25

Will you be able to get to the offer-holders open day?

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 15/02/2016 13:30

It's not particularly racially diverse - but that's often the case with co-ed schools - certainly the nearest girls' schools like JAGS and SCHS have a much higher proportion of children with different ethnic backgrounds

SexTrainGlue · 15/02/2016 16:47

Do you mean ethnicity in terms of nationality/home language, or in terms of skin colour?

Original poster

Fraught2016 · 15/02/2016 18:23

In terms of skin colour...

OP posts:

Cleo1303 · 15/02/2016 18:48

My DD started at Emanuel last September and has loved it since day one. It's quite clear that the children who join in with the various events/clubs on offer will settle and have much more fun than those who don't. My DD joined the chapel choir and does drama and debating. She enjoys the sport too. Homework is less of an issue for those who come from prep schools, rather than state primaries, because the prep school children tend to be used to getting quite a lot of homework. The children need to organise their homework across the week in order not to have too much on one particular night.

The majority of children are white, but not necessarily white English even though they might appear to be. My daughter's class of 24 has European, Oriental, Latin-American and several dual-nationality children of all sorts of combinations. I don't know about the make up of all the Year 7 classes but they all seem to be pretty mixed up to me. All the children I have come across have been polite and well-spoken although I gather some of the boys need a bit of time to settle down! The 12 girls in my daughter's class all seem to get along very well. I've heard quite a lot about bitchiness at some of the all-girls schools but never heard of this at Emanuel either from my daughter or from friends who have older children at the school. I honestly don't think the children care about skin colour. If a child is friendly, kind and fun they should have a great time at Emanuel.

jeanne16 · 16/02/2016 07:43

My son is at Emanuel and his best friend is Asian. Other than that, I can't say I've really noticed. There seem to be more ordinary families there, as in professional middle classes living in ordinary, but admittedly expensive, terraced houses. Schools like KCS and SPS are now full of children of the very wealthy, mainly foreign.

AnotherNewt · 16/02/2016 07:53

As you have now specified skin tone, rather than 'background and colour' then perhaps Emanuel will not be for you. Emanuel is majority white. Even though it's very much minority white with two parents born British.

As Cleo1303 says, oodles of different nationalities/backgrounds/cultures/home languages. But still white, so not what you're after.

If you are looking for diversity based specifically on skin tone, rather than background/heritage/nationality/language/ethnicity, I'm not too sure which private schools to recommend.

lottiebear69 · 16/02/2016 08:46

I have 2 Dc at the school - class is diverse in nationality as others say defiantly Asian German Serbian in one sons class but as others mention predominantly white I guess. My children liked the school from day 1 as its friendly and not too pushy, there's rules but it's not lead by a stick! As a parent I like that other parents are in the main like us working hard and not super rich / snooty! Teachers are great at communicating quickly with you and they dont get bussed out for sport as its all there on site with additional sports fields on a3. I also like that mainly kids from a 2 mile radius so easy for them to arrange to hang out rather than get a school coach where your friends could be 10 miles away making it tricky during holidays to hook up without parental involvement. Homework seems slightly light to me but sure that will increase it started much heavier so may have been parent comments. Kids happy with it! Boys and girls seem to mix if they want to! Hope that helps

Tunis92 · 16/02/2016 10:44

If I knew how to pm you Lottiebear I would! Thank you for all of your input on the school - hugely useful as I have no friends with DC there. Are the additional fields used frequently? How does transport work for that? My DS is into his rugby and I had liked the idea of all on site fields, but realise lovely though they are, there isn't enough when multiple years are playing..

lottiebear69 · 16/02/2016 11:39

Hi Tunis most rugby at least for lower school is carried out at school - all training which if in a or b team is Monday and weds after school on the school fields or Wandsworth common (right next door) they have rugby all afternoon Friday which is a games lesson again on site. This changes at Easter to cricket I think. Home games have generally been at school except 1 which was at blagdons (a3) they were taken on bus it's 30 mins away. School bus is arranged for all away fixtures (free) and parents can travel independently to watch which they encourage. Hope that helps

SquirmOfEels · 16/02/2016 11:46

Not all sport is on site.

It's only the girls who are bussed, because hockey is offsite.

jeanne16 · 16/02/2016 11:54

Also for rowing they catch the train from Clapham Junction to Barnes Bridge. It is very straight forward.

Tunis92 · 16/02/2016 12:37

Thanks again.

Original poster

Fraught2016 · 16/02/2016 13:38

Thanks to all for all your input and tips. Most appreciated!

OP posts:

tempo · 16/02/2016 13:43

Fraught, my ds is at Emanuel. Diverse mix of friends, many from mixed nationaltiies (British + other), although as Noitsnot says not very racially diverse. But to be honest I don't think you will find that being an issue. It is such a friendly down to earth school, and pastoral care is great so any issues get dealt with pretty swiftly should they arise. So much extra curricular stuff to get involved in too. And academically seems to be constantly on the up.
Tunis, if your son is into rugby Emanuel is a great school to go to. My ds was playing 3 times a week + matches last year! Also plays cricket & fives.
Squirm, I think you are wrong about it being only girls who are bussed. My ds has played rugby & cricket and been bussed from school to all Saturday matches, even to the pitches at Blagdons on the A3.

SquirmOfEels · 16/02/2016 16:03

My mistake. I wasn't referring to fixtures, and should have stated that more clearly. I mean being bussed for timetabled games lessons within the ordinary school day.

(And I didn't include rowing, because I thought it would be obvious that schools without a water frontage have to travel).

MumWithKisa · 16/02/2016 19:57

Dont know it personally but have 2 great friends whose kids go there and they love it and have found it easy to fit in etc etc. One family are mixed race and they don't feel they stand out, they felt the same as you before they started.

Cleo1303 · 16/02/2016 20:59

I don't know if you have seen the new videos on the site? One of the little girls speaking there is mixed race. She was at my DD's prep but left to go to Emanuel in Hill Form. When she joined Hill Form it was a complete mix of nationalities as it is throughout the school. In my daughter's class three out of 12 girls have brown or light brown skin but they don't choose their friends on that basis.

It occurred to me that you might think your daughter would be the "odd one out" or at some kind of disadvantage, but it's really not like that. You could always ask the school to ask one of the parents of a mixed race child to call you. Just a thought.

I wanted my daughter to go to a co-ed school and you have mentioned that you also have offers at girls schools. Which would she, and you, prefer?

I meant to say also, Huge Congratulations to your daughter. The academic bar has been raised at Emanuel since last year so getting an offer is a great achievement.

SummerMonths · 21/02/2016 07:56

Can I join this thread to ask how hard it is to get into Emanuel? My DD is Y5 at a good but not amazing state primary. She is bright and enthusiastic but not exceptional. I feel like every west London private secondary is either aimed at completely exceptional children or just rich sloaney types. I'm hoping Emanuel might be a possibility for DD. Is it easier to gain a place than at places like Godolphin, Latymer upper and the GDST schools?

AnotherNewt · 21/02/2016 08:40

The first thing you need to know is that Emanuel guillotines its registrations list, and as the schools is increasingly popular (as an active first choice, not just the fallback it was several years ago) the lists are closing earlier each year. The list for 11+ entry 2017 has already closed (last year for 2016 it closed in March/April, the previous for 2015 ie the current year 7 it closed in July, but before that it didn't close until about October/November if at all).

So if you think you might be interested, register.

The 10+ entry has doubled in size (from 20ish to 40ish ie 1 to two forms), which has led to a reduction in available places at 11+.

It has a very generous sibling policy. Siblings only have to reach the basic pass mark, and can even have a resist. It offers a lot of scholarships (art, drama, music, sport) and those chosen for awards only need to pass as well.

Knock on effect is that the remaining places for first DC into the school are fewer in number, and the competitive pass mark needed to be towards the top of that group is rising. The school does however say it attaches importance to the interview (every candidate is interviewed, which is one of the reasons they say they have to guillotine the list) and are looking for pupils who bring something to the life of the school rather than just the ability to pass exams well. Not quite sure what this means in practice!

Go and have a look. The open days are a bit of a scrum, but you should get some feel for what the school is like.

SummerMonths · 21/02/2016 09:46

Oh no! If 2017 entry is closed then I have missed he boat as DD is in Y5 now and will start secondary in Sept 2017. Can't believe I missed out already. I swear London private schools are designed to only benefit those in the know.

Original poster

Fraught2016 · 21/02/2016 09:48

Thanks so much all for your comments and answers. Really reassuring. Yes my DD is not worried about not being accepted or baking friends or anything like that at all- is just a desire not to be the only one... Sounds like there is indeed enough mix and we will be going to have another look too before deciding. And I am very proud of her for getting a place and feel very grateful as it's been quite a nerve racking business as I know had been for all!

OP posts:

Original poster

Fraught2016 · 21/02/2016 09:52

Summermonrhs it would be worth checking with registrar as I know they went over cut off this year and some will decide to withdraw as well. I felt same as you and it's definitely worth not putting all eggs in the godolphins- I think they really so take only the ones who score highest in the exams....

OP posts:

AnotherNewt · 21/02/2016 10:05

You can go a waiting list to register. It's essentially same process, but they don't charge you the registration fee unless they can accept the registration.

And I suppose it's worth making a general exhortation to anyone who is registered for Emanuel who decides this isn't the school for them for any reason, that it is worth withdrawing the registration as soon as you decide.

It goes over numbers because families with DC in the school already who intend to put down siblings don't necessarily keep tabs on how the list is growing. Emanuel accepts siblings onto the list even if it takes them over numbers.

SummerMonths - have you been lurking on the SW London girls school thread? What is being said about admissions this year might help you decide about other schools to apply for next round. Most schools do not guillotine, so you'll still have plenty to think about.

(But do keep an eye on that, info will be on the admissions page of he schools' websites. The numbers applying this year might mean other schools start to consider it if they believe their candidate numbers have reached saturation point).

SexTrainGlue · 04/10/2016 19:51

Fraught2016

If it's not too identifying, I was wondering where you chose for your DD in the end. And if it is living up to expectations so far?

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