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Secondary education

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Original poster

Kingston Grammar School

11 replies

mum197807 · 04/03/2019 15:43

Ladies,
DS has been offered a place at Kingston Grammar School and we are quite confused whether to send him there or not. Can anyone shed some light on how KGS is ? I liked the fact that it's a coed school and has a lot to offer. We are from an ethnic minority background and I just wanted to check around the ethnic diversity at the school as I want my DS to feel welcomed and the culture of the school helps him to do his best. Please could you provide some information/feedback if your kids go to this school and how it is from an ethnic diversity point of view.
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
HerdingPigs · 04/03/2019 16:15

May worth checking out this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3507503-As-the-Tiffin-results-day-looms-a-second-2019-SW-London-grammars-and-indies-thread

although it is about girls but KGS has been discussed at various points

Thesunalwaysshines · 04/03/2019 19:03

OP, have tagged Bool. She has a DS there and am sure she can shed some light. We have a DD there who loves it

Original poster
mum197807 · 04/03/2019 19:46

Thesunalwaysshines thank you so much !

OP posts:
Bool · 04/03/2019 20:40

Hey @mum197807 (thanks @thesunalwaysshines) yes I have a DS at the school and we have just accepted a place for my DD today! Firstly congrats to your DS! Is he excited? How did he feel when he went to look around?

From my point of view the more ethnic diversity the better. In fact I always feel uncomfortable if I don’t feel that and unfortunately the private sector overall is skewed. KGS is a very relaxed school which my DS absolutely loves. He feels such pride to go there - as all the kids seems to. His group of boy friends seem great - there is no nastiness or cliques - they seem to genuinely all get on very well. He is even telling me now (he is in the room) that they all support each other. It is a great school to push them academically - I have noticed it really encourages independent learning. The sport is just outstanding with lovely grounds, as is the drama and music - in fact that is one of the reasons you spend the money - for all that opportunity and for them to be surrounded by kids amongst whom it it ‘cool’ to what to learn.

What are you worried about in particular? What are you other options? Hope that helps

waxandwane · 04/03/2019 22:04

I have a DS who will be starting there in September. I have to say in the visits there it is overwhelmingly white and actually this is the one thing that gave me pause about the school (we are white British). His other options had greater diversity, but these were all bigger boys-only schools so perhaps I was just seeing more rather than more rather than there being a greater proportion.

That said, the boy who showed us round on Friday was from an ethnic minority and he clearly loved the school and was very happy there. The Head makes a big deal about the importance of relationships and of ensuring the wellbeing of each individual. The fact that I've seen this reflected in the kids' interactions on the four occasions I've looked round is what has really sold the school to me. Am heartened to read @Bool's response as she describes what I think I've seen and am hoping for.

Original poster
mum197807 · 04/03/2019 23:01

@bool @waxandwane, thank you so much for your lovely responses. I’m more relaxed now that I’ve heard such positive experiences. Husband is completing the acceptance form as we speak. Looking forward to a great start of a new chapter of life for my DS. Thanks again !

OP posts:
Bool · 05/03/2019 06:38

@mum197807 that’s great to hear! What were the other options you were weighing it against?

Original poster
mum197807 · 05/03/2019 07:55

@Bool - Hampton boys was the other option we had but my husband and I always felt that a co-Ed school would be much better for him based on his personality. He also liked KGS but a couple of his school friends are going to Hampton boys so he’s a bit inclined towards Hampton. But we were steering more towards KGS as we really liked the way it all came across when we visited the school.

OP posts:
amidaiwas · 05/03/2019 08:04

I get the impression the ethnic diversity is higher in the lower years for some reason - school becoming more popular? more attractive vs Tiffin?

Bool · 05/03/2019 09:05

@mum197807 the great thing about KGS (and have been thinking about this vs other schools that have junior schools) is that they all start new together. So having friends you know there doesn’t really make a difference because he will meet a whole new group of friends. They are all new. That is different to going to a school with a junior school. I went to a GDST school at 11 years old and for some reason they put all the new ones in a new form class and kept us there until we were 16 so we never ever ended up being friends with the junior school children who had already formed their friendship groups from age 8. A massive loss in hindsight and I see how it’s nice for them to start a school where everyone is new. Am sure Hampton is the same (don’t really know it) but just saying that he shouldn’t worry about leaving friends.

manolya · 13/02/2025 14:05

mum197807 · 04/03/2019 23:01

@bool @waxandwane, thank you so much for your lovely responses. I’m more relaxed now that I’ve heard such positive experiences. Husband is completing the acceptance form as we speak. Looking forward to a great start of a new chapter of life for my DS. Thanks again !

Can I get your feedback about the school as I think you already enrolled in Kingston Grammar School?

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