St Paul's boys/ Kings Wimbledon A level results

[Knowledge111]

Hi
DS will come up for the 11+ in a couple of years and I am collating some info to educate myself. I've seen the A levels for a few schools and KCS is a neutral choice ( should he make it) due to their new system of 11+. Their A level results seem to be lower than 2017 too? Please could anyone share any data they have for St Paul boys from this year ? Thanks!

I couldn't agree more, whenwillthesummerend. The obsession with league tables fades as you get closer to the 11+ and start looking around the schools. Been there! We went to see probably 10-12 schools over 2 years and although pretty stressful at the time, it was invaluable. We didn't apply to the 'top' school (s) in the end as we just couldn't see DS there (I went to see one twice, trying to make myself like it, but no!). even though we always thought we would because of their standing in the table. DS is bright and will do just as well academically at any of the schools at top'ish end of the tables. It's the fit and the feeling you get from the school (both us and DS) that's important in the end, well it was to us anyway!

@cakeisalwaystheanswer - what you say makes me happy. Ultimately I want a school which is supportive of my DS if/when he needs it - even if it means a dip in the league tables.

We all know that these league tables should be taken with a pinch of salt anyway as lots of schools don't participate and there is a lot of gaming the system amongst others. Looking at the table below where are the two St Pauls Schools?

Also to the poster who mentioned Kings College Maths School it's flawed to compare a specialist Maths school with a sixth form offering a range of subjects unless you isolate out the subjects that both offer.

Cake. What you have said does confirm my views that the ‘value add’ of some of these ‘so called’ top schools is questionable. If the results all depend on how clever the boys are in how a particular year, then what is the school doing and why are we paying these vast fees?

The fact is, if you have a clever and motivated DC, they can do well in any decent school.

Only the government A level tables include everyone and are completely accurate. Tables like the one quoted up thread are usually wrong e.g. QE's drops from 5th place to outside the top 50!

And absolutely clever and well-motivated DCs will do well anywhere. As I said earlier there are DCs in every school who slogged for 2 years in the school library to get top A level results. There are just a lot less at non-selective schools.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=all-england&for=16to18&orderby=ks5.0.TALLPPE_ALEV_1618&orderdir=asc&datatype=integer&sortpolicy=inversepolicy

Exactly! A friend's DD got 4 A* A'levels at a state comprehensive in an area surrounded by some of the countries top selective indies.

Country's

cakeisalwaystheanswer I have now become concerned too because of your response: as a parent I do view results as a benchmark ( even though not the main one) when I choose a school for DS. In any case the school itself publishes and advertises that they are top school so then is that not by looking at results too? I am less worried about how a particular cohort would be because not all of them can be the same but what I do worry about is getting a skewed perspective. Given that KCS has recently changed it's 11+ process and takes in around 60 to 70 from the 11+ ( not the junior school) alone, it does make one wonder..

amidreamimg Well said, that is exactly my viewpoint and this thread has been quite a revelation in itself. Being quite new to the UK and having moved from a country that is quite relaxed about education , I did wonder why the fierce competition for places. Children who are motivated, bright will do well anywhere as all of you say and as far as social skills, sports etc there are always opportunities to be found if the child is keen. And I believe that if not at 11, there will be children who hit the learning curve perhaps a bit later.

Also KCS were not the top independent in the country last year anyway!
According to the official government league table linked to above they were!

From the King's College London Maths School admissions policy:
Academic Progression
Applicants are requested to note that KCLMS is a selective school which cultivates a special academic environment. The school expects all students to attain A*, A and B grades in their A2 examinations. Students who are not on track for such grades will not meet the progression criteria to move from year 12 to year 13.

King's College London Maths School only admit 70 students per year group - 7 students (10%) didn't complete the course last year. The Academic Exclusions Policy and interventions make for interesting reading;
www.kcl.ac.uk/mathsschool/about/policies.aspx

Knowledge - I'm not sure what you expect from a school but I don't think Kings is for you. Good luck with your search.

Clavinova - I think we can expect to see King's College London Maths School at the top of the tables for as long as that policy stays in place. And people moaned about St Olaves!

cakeisalwaystheanswer
Indeed.

cakeisalwaystheanswer I’m sorry but that’s not for you to decide. And unfortunately if you’re unable to accept perspectives then good luck to you too😊

Clavinova further testament to my point that everyone including you are indeed looking at league tables as a certain reference point. Why dismiss it then when someone has a valid question? Again, I’m not here to say that league tables are everything. I’m just trying to make sense of it but some of the answers by clearly KCS parents are revealing. Thanks

Knowledge11
I certainly looked at the league tables for my own dc, although travelling distance and 'best fit' are equally important. Also, I wouldn't discount any private school that sends 10% plus to Oxbridge. If you are looking for 'value for money', then perhaps the grammars are your best option.

Knowledge - Again I have no idea what your post is intended to mean. I actually chose not to send DS2 to Kings for a number of reasons so I think I do understand different perspectives and having 3 DCs I have looked at a lot of schools.

I honestly don't think you will like Kings. I think you'll go and look but you will prefer StPs or Westminster, lots of parents do. I have no idea why you find that so offensive.

@Knowledge111 I think you're being a bit unfair on @cakeisalwaystheanswer and other KCS parents who have come on here to share the insight you asked for. You might not like our answers but that's no reason to be rude.

KCS isn't for everyone. It's been perfect for one of my DS, less so for my other DS. If I had my time again I'd have sent DS2 elsewhere perhaps.

Make your choice but please don't dis those who have tried to help you.

Sandybayley My very reason for initiating the post was to have a better understanding of why the school indeed advertises itself as best secondary school and to understand the parameters determining this. I did not in any way wish to come across as rude and was merely responding to cakeis who shouldn’t have made a sweeping statement that the school is not for my child. To me, that is very rude. But I will say this: definitely grateful for the inputs. Thanks for your time. Do not wish to comment further, not on the thread as a whole but along these lines.

But I didn't say it wasn't for your child, I said it wasn't for you.

Some schools get more swept up with PR stuff than others. 5 years ago Wellington was the top school for that, now after a change of head you barely hear a peep about them. KCS has a much bigger PR profile than StPs or Westminster, so if they're website is already annoying you - it's not for you. How can that possibly be construed as rude? I whinge about the PR stuff myself, don't start me on Tatler, and it was one of the reasons DS2 went elsewhere. You seem determined to take offence over nothing.

Because the weeding out after GCSEs, or even after first year in 6th form, seems opaque for many 'top' schools (state and private), it seems to me that looking at GCSE results may be preferable. But again, these results may just reflect the selectiveness of the intake. Without 'progress' measures, the actual 'results' are difficult to judge.