As the Tiffin results day looms, a second 2019 SW London grammars and indies thread

[FlumePlume]

A new thread to avoid the doomsday scenario of running out of posts as envelopes are opened on Friday, waiting lists move (or don’t) and e-mails are opened on 1 March.

@FlumePlume did you go SPGS in the end?

On the oxbridge note - you think they will favour the state grammars or all the grammars?

Bool Yes, we went with SPGS. It didn’t seem likely we would be offered a WHS place as dd isn’t that high on the waiting list, and she much preferred SPGS to Tiffin.

@FlumePlume brilliant school!

Anyone else still not quite decided?
I'm going to be running around with forms shortly - at least it's not snowing, I guess!

I don’t believe Oxbridge favours grammar schools over indies. If anything, they are increasingly looking at contextual information. So your DC needs to be one of the top at whatever school they are at. Being the very best at a less sought after Indie may well be better than being middle of a St Paul’s. Rumour has it that Tiffin Boys has not had a good Oxbridge year.

@Jugglingmadly - what are your options

LU, LEH or G&L but think down to the first two.

Running out of time, feeling awful.
DH and I think one and DD the other.

Is your deadline 9am jugglingmadly?

Yes

Juggling I don’t think there is a wrong choice out of those. But out of interest, who wants which?

It’s the parents’ decision ultimately so go for the one you and dh favour. She might not like it at first but will be absolutely fine and pleased you made the choice in the end. Good luck!

@FlumePlume we like LEH, DD LU.
@littlemisslucky2 I agree but our decision is marginal and DDs heart is at LU.

Juggling - G&L deadline isn’t today, it’s tomorow noon!

Where do you live?

From my own experience of senior school I think you have to let your daughter make the final decision. If she is happy there she will do so much better and it will mean a lot to her that you have trusted her to make that choice.

If she is really adamant on LU then yes I guess she should be listened to. But are her reasons friends going there as she will soon make new ones. Also what are the journeys like? I would choose the easier one to get to.

She must like the co-ed vibe. Plenty of girls turn down G&L, SPGS and LEH for this very reason - many of them are my DS’ friends! They’re happier in mixed groups.

Also the sports centre at LU is basically like a luxury health club and families can be members for something like £30 per month. Olympic size pool, rowing machine looking out on Thames, lovely changing rooms?

I’m sure LEH has loads going for it too, but I never looked at it.

Where do you want the friends to be? London? (they come from all over at LU, but mainly Ealing, Acton, Kensington, Chelsea, Barnes, Putney)? Or a much wider suburban range - eg out as far as Guildford?

LU is fast-paced, urban vibe and a bit edgy. LEH possibly a bit calmer in a very residential area?

No friends going to LU
They are to LEH.
School coach to LEH
Tube to LU

Thanks all for your help at the last minute!!!!

G&L has slightly better GCSE results OP, if this matters to you?

When you look at A-A* for last year - LU and LEH are around 90-92%, G&L 98%.
Yes they do vary a little year to year, but G&L results do seem to have moved upwards since the new head started.

@Jugglingmadly if your decision is marginal then give her what she wants - LU. Especially if her friends will be at LEH. She has clearly thought it through.

They are all BRILLIANT schools. Well done her!

Long term lurker (just navigating prep/primary for September so baby steps here!), but Juggling, I think if your DD’s heart is set on LU, LU it is. Lovely to have the options though. All the best.

Juggling - presumably she’s gone off to school now maintaining she wants to go to LU?

What did you decide in the end?!