Emanuel v Wimbledon High

[anothercantthinkofanothername]

Late offer from Waiting List now means we are trying to decide between these 2 sch

Presence or absence of boys is the biggest difference.

What sorts of things are important in a school for your DD?

Stupid iPad!
We are trying to decide between these 2 schools having decided to definitely take Emanuel as WHS have now gone to waitlist (for quite a few it appears) and now don't know what to do!

DD totally loves Emanuel and I think she'd be happy and do well there. DH is hung up on WHS being a 'better' school due to results and the fact he loves the head!

Similar journey, similar fees. Main difference would appear to be coed and more pressure at WHS, if we ignore the SW London schools hierarchy!

I am keener on Emanuel but everyone seems to love WHS so I suppose I am looking for the downsides to WHS!

Ultimately I want DD to be happy and enjoy school as I think this will make her want to do better academically.
Having been back to look at various other schools in the last week Emanuel felt so spacious as well. They just seemed to have room to breathe! It's annoying that we haven't been able to visit WHS again but I remember it felt cramped and everyone seemed glued to laptops.

Ignore league tables. That is not a good basis in which to make the decision.

Go with the child. We didn't feel WHS was a pressure cooker though. But can say the same about KCS. Wherever you feel your child will be happiest is the key.

If your DD wants to go to Emanuel, I think it would be wrong to try to push her into WHS.

Given the new head, and the way the entrance standard has risen considerably at Emanuel of late, I doubt there is really much academic difference between the schools (and certainly not between the top sets at each school).

She'll be fine at either. Which is why I think backing the one where she can see herself (IYSWIM) might be the best deciding factor here.

Both great schools, but only one person will actually be attending. Your DD should really have the final say IMO - she needs to be happy at the school and league tables won't help you there!

Thanks all- DD will have the final say! She seems to be more open to WHS than she was so we shall see!

Everyone I speak to raves about WHS and the head there is very dynamic. My daughter has chosen it over other schools she was offered and is starting in September. It took us ages to make a decision though so I feel your pain!

I agree - forget the league tables! IMHO, co ed versus girls only is really the only question as both schools are great in their own right. Both heads are great, the space at Emanuel is amazing for a London school. Emanuel will only get better. I know plenty of children that didn't get offered there this year! Will your DD prefer girls only or a mixed environment? Where will she most likely thrive??

And others will all have their own individual reasons for choosing schools based on a variety of things - their experience of school, the personality of their DC etc only you will know, so trust your instincts. I fully believe that children will end up with the same grades in each of these schools (we are so lucky in this area), so it's which one they will enjoy more and suit them the best.

Your DD has done well to get offers at both - I agree with PPs that the school at which she feels most comfortable/happy is your best choice and the environment in which she is likely to achieve her best possible results - remember that league tables also reflect the ability of intake to a certain extent. WHS has always been more 'selective' than Emmanuel, so it would be a concern if their students DIDN'T achieve higher in the league tables.
I agree with your DH that the Head at WHS is fantastic, though!
Does she have a particular skill/interest that you feel one school would support better than the other?

Also, be wary of choosing a school solely because of the head. Heads move! The head at Emanuel has just joined. JL at Wimbledon has been there for c3years, I think. Hearsay (and it is based on nothing other than this, albeit from parents with DDs at the school) is that she'll be looking for her next move within a couple of years. So, go for the entire package and not just the head, although of course a consideration. Best of luck with your choice!

Thanks all- I thought the same about JL leaving but I did wonder whether she'll see her big building project through..actually that puts me off slightly as it's not a big site at whs anyway, let alone with building work as well.
No nearer to a decision but DD quite open to WHS now. I think she'll be happy at both so it's up to her.
I loved WHS when I first looked at it and was fairly indifferent to Emanuel but when you think your child is going somewhere you get more invested in it which is now why I like Emanuel so much I think - she did well and got a few other offers so we had already whittled it down to E. I preferred another of her offers so had really come round to convincing myself why E was best.

She also has a WL offer from another GDST school but I am much less keen on it for her. There would have been no dilemma had that one come through.

She likes drama which E very good at but also likes the more 'girly' type things like gymnastics, dance etc although no great talent in either!

Think we may pull it out of a hat! I will be happy wherever she goes. She has a younger brother so trying not to think about sibling policies!

Oh no. An even bigger decision - turning down a school with a sibling policy at a school that will inevitably get even harder to get into!! I don't envy you. Good luck!

I heard that the new head at Emanuel is keen to introduce various other sports, such as football for boys and gymnastics for girls in the near future. If this is true, then it would be quite a big attraction point for the families in our area.

They definitely mentioned football last week at the offers holder meeting. Someone asked about gymnastics I think and they mentioned that they do it a bit in PE but didn't say they'd be doing more.
Anyway we've made our decision and all are happy so I'm trying not to think about the one we've turned down too much!

I agree Audrey01, it will make the school (even) more attractive to families who head to other schools due to the lack of football. A very smart move, IMO, by the new head. No good for us now, but for DC2 in a few years...

You've probably made your mind up but if it was me I would go for Emmanuel

1. sibling policy is a massive benefit
2. building work at WHS / space at emmanuel
3. don't base it on head teacher, they leave !
4. i prefer coed, but that is me..

nocamping- we have made our mind up- WHS!
DD very excited and I'm as sure as we can be that it's the right decision- who knows?!
KGS was my favourite for a long time and there's no space there so we got over the space issue!
Yes- sibling policy! But touch wood DS should be OK when it comes to the 11+ (famous last words!). And also new Emanuel head said the sibling policy would likely get tougher in terms of pass mark anyway.
Head teacher- DH is very keen on her, me less so so not overly worried about that. He really liked the Emanuel head as well.
Anyway- all happy here and glad to have a decision made. Thank God...

well done!

and sorry my post wasn't very helpful

No- it was helpful!! All the things we've been considering!!