NLCS vs Godolphin and Latymer vs Latymer Upper

[Aleks123]

We are lucky to have a choice, but I am truly struggling to decide. Any views on NCLS vs Godophin, or Godolphin vs Latymer Upper would be greatly appreciated. Many, many thanks

We have a child at LUS. I’m not as happy with it as I hoped. It’s huge and not terribly nurturing. If your child is already a great sportsperson or actor or musician then there are opportunities aplenty but if they aren’t top of the year in those things they won’t get much encouragement. On the open days we were sold the amazing theatre etc but nobody tells you that the sheer size of the school makes it v v hard to get into any plays and your child may almost never use that theatre.

Over all I think LUS is great for the best of the best but my kid went from being a big fish in a small pond at primary school to a small fish in a big pond full of v talented fish at LUS. It’s knocked their confidence considerably.

Having said that my child says they are happy and would never change schools. It’s not terrible. It’s just not what we were sold at the open days.

Very different settings and feel. I've loved NLCS for both of my very different DDs but you should do the offer holders' days and see what your gut says. NLCS is exactly what it says on the tin.

Thanks so much for your helpful responses. Any further insights into NLCS or G&L would be gratefully received. Thanks so much.

Where do you live?
NLCS is absolutely miles away from G&L and LU!
G&L has a deserved reputation as a nurturing school. The girls are incredibly busy. Fairly similar in ethos to NLCS from what I have seen.

OP, I have a DC at LU and I wholeheartedly agree with everything Obama has said above. It’s fine once the pupils grow into the school by about Year 9 or 10, but it’s hard to feel you’ve found your place before then. There’s a lot of “big personalities” (for better or worse) in that school! On the plus side, the curriculum is fantastic and ever-evolving. The bursary program attracts more diversity and the whole ethos is very forward-thinking.

We’ll be choosing G&L for the DD as we’re hoping for a more nurturing experience! 100 pupils, rather than 180, will hopefully help them all to feel a bit more “known” a bit quicker and more of a chance to get involved in plays etc etc. I think all DC deserve that. Also, G&L has better GCSE results than LU for the last few years. It won Times Best School for 2019 which is a good sign!

No idea about the other school, sorry. Where is it?

Thanks so much for your reply. NLCS (North London Collegiate School is in Edgeware, North London) so not in the area of the other two schools.

Hi - in that case I would work out whether your DD feels more comfortable in an all girls school or co-ed and then work out the easiest journey if it’s between the two girls schools.

Also think about where the friends will live and where they will hang out. LU has a lot from Ealing, Acton, Barnes, Putney, Kew, Kensington, Notting Hill, plus a few from North London (anywhere with good tube access really). I expect G&L will be very similar. A school on Edgware will no doubt have pupils from Hertfordshire, etc. It depends where you live?

Which one did you choose in the end? My DD goes to g&l and I’m so happy with the school it is phenomenal

Does anyone know if NLCS offer tomorrow or Thursday this week for 11+?

DD at NLCS. Loves it, but she is über-confident and has a big personality.