SWPS Sir William Perkins's School

[anrolnotrom]

Does anyone have up to date info on this school, please? I can't figure out where it sits in the schools line up (Surbiton, Tormead, GHS, St George's, St John's etc). Is it an academic school? Hard to get into? Just general info on what its strengths and weaknesses are, please.

I know a couple in recent years who got in to SWPS who didn't get into Surbiton.
However i also know a few who got into LEH and KGS who chose SWPS.

I think the overall ratio of applicants to places is lower than other SW London schools so maybe generally easier to get in, even though not less academic.

HTH.

It's on same level as schools you listed but not quite as hard to get into due to location - it's difficult to get to if you live in Kingston, Esher etc.

Do most people come from the east of the school then? Ascot, Winsdor, Virginia Water etc. then?

I think so. My friends daughter attends swps and she lives near walton on thames. There are like 5 girls from the same year group going to school together.

I think lots come from Twick /Hampton as well as Staines Walton, it's just if you live in Esher /Thames Ditton / Kingston parents are put off by the journey - no other reason.

I don't know about the line-up side of things but I have relatives who chose SWPS and they are all very happy with it. The parents felt it offered more of a rounded focus - values, happiness, character as well as academics - than the other local indies they applied to. The daughter likes the peer group atmosphere - in her primary by year 6 there was a bit of a focus on being cool, image, boys etc which wasn't working for her, she feels much less of that at SWPS. Academically she is bright and focused but not off the charts in any way, she was at a state primary and had around a year's group tutoring but nothing super-intensive. Work-wise she feels busy and stretched but not stressed. Hope some of that's helpful - they are all really pleased with their choice.

There's a pretty comprehensive bus service. Lots go from Hampton, Sunbury etc.

There is just so much on MN about other schools. People have really strong opinions, both positive and negative about schools (even ending up in big verbal fights about them!!!) but I don't see much around SWPS. People all seem to have 'a friend' who has girls there and they are 'very happy' but that is about all I ever read. I've never read anything negative about SWPS at all and only benign positive comments like 'it's a good school'. I guess I'm trying to read more into things than I need to!!!

I'm a parent of a new Y7 at SWPS and have been very pleased with the school so far. It's early days but they have been brilliant at welcoming the girls into the school and helping them settle - no bullying, minimal drama, all very positive. Academically she's off to a good start, and has taken up opportunities to play hockey and join the beginners orchestra.

I have friends with girls in the upper years and across the board they are very happy as well. Great academic results in a nurturing environment.

A good number of girls come from Walton and Weybridge along with Ascot, Windsor, Twickenham... good coach system and the Chertsey train station is just across the road.

I have had 3 DDs at SWPS. The last one is in sixth form now. I’ve also had my DSs at SGC.

I would say the academics are similar between SWPS and SGC. SWPS is more nurturing. It’s not hard to get into. SGC are a bit harsher with admissions given that they have their own prep school.

Ascot, Windsor, VW are west :).

Students can easily get to school by train, so Weybridge in the East and anywhere on the Richmond Line. Changing at Staines or VW, it’s easy to get to Windsor, Ascot etc.

A lot of girls take the school buses, which leave school after activities or prep, and they cover a huge area. Judging by DDs’ friends, Woking is a key part of their catchment.

Whatever you choose, make sure they can get to and from school independent of you. You might be happy to drive in Y7, but won’t in Y11.

CraftyGin, you are right, I should have said 'west'! Seeing as you have had 2 go through and 1 in her final year/s, would you say the girls are encouraged to apply to top universities? Do you feel that the girls get to the best destinations they could have hoped to get into? Could they have done better elsewhere or do you feel SWPS got the best out of them? Assuming your older 2 are at or have left uni, did they flourish there? Do SPWS girls generally cope well in the years immediately after SWPS? Hearing so much about mental health issues, lack of resilience etc of university students, I am interested to know how girls cope in the years after their senior school. I have heard stories of girls are very aggressively pushy schools struggling at university as they are for the first time living an unstructured life and have never learned to manage their time and self motivate without the helicoptering of their parents and school.

My eldest DD graduated from University of London, and my middle DD is at Edinburgh and fitting in brilliantly. She is turning out to be an amazing young woman. The university destinations are something like 80% Russell Group.

My eldest was offered a place at St George’s but having my sons there, I never really looked favourably on the girls, so I preferred to have my girls at an all-girls school.

Mine don’t have mental health issues, but the school is big on well-being and possibly mindfulness. The school nurse mans the well-being area. Saying that, girls are encouraged to be busy in their free time, and healthy living is promoted.

New parent at SWPS (year 7) here. Hi @Caddyshack !
It's easier to get into purely because of the numbers applying (location!) so far it looks well rounded, academic and nurturing. My DD travels independently by SW trains, and it's an easy journey.
Compared to SW London indies I think it's less pushy/urban which am hoping is a good thing?