Girls’ Day School Trust GDST advertising everywhere

[Nandy2]

We’re looking at one of their secondary schools for our DD. Knew about it as it’s local to us and has a good reputation, not through any advertising. But I must admit that the fact that I’m seeing glossy GDST adverts every day in the newspaper and even in train stations on massive posters, is a bit off putting. Does anyone know why they are feeling the need to spend so much on advertising at the moment? Surely a good school, or the trust behind it, should be able to use its reputation and not need this sort of advertising. I’ve always thought that schools that advertise are those that aren’t full or aren’t really that good. From what I can gather, the school we’re looking at already has multiple applications for every place. Would be very grateful to hear your thoughts. Should they be spending the money elsewhere or is the marketing really important for them to keep attracting students. Maybe in their range of schools some are popular and some aren’t, so this is helping to bring up some of those that aren’t doing so well? Would love to hear your thoughts.

What is this 'feminist movement' mentioned near the beginning of the thread? As far as I can see women's rights are trampled on and things have only been going downhill since the 90s. World leaders may wear t shirts calling themselves feminists but the reality for women on the ground is very different I think.

Unhealthy? What a strange thing to say. Just because you chose something different doesn't mean the all-girls model is unhealthy.
Just as you had a good experience of your daughters at co-Ed, I had a great experience at a (state) girls school. It didn't wonders for my confidence and I had fantastic friends. Not for everyone but all girls are different and all-girls is a successful experience for many. Evidently, seeing as 24 gdst schools are still going!

It's more a fact that single sex girls' schools are unhealthy, than opinion. And DonaldTwain I think my DC have probably been better educated than I was at my own London GDST, although I was a pupil when the school and trust generally were in their heyday. A poster recently linked to results at that school, and they really are abysmal. It seems to be a shadow of its former self. Of course its all fee paying now, no direct grant pupils and they were almost always the cleverest.

Im an ex GDST girl and seem to be getting monthly begging letters off them at the moment asking to donate to them. They have also turned the schools locally to academy status and turned them into state schools. Makes you wonder...

I went to one of the most well known boarding schools in the country and I get begging letters from them all the time so I'm not sure you can read too much into that.
Which GDST schools have become Academies? I think the London ones are a different kettle of fish to some of the others.

@wasthesummerof69

We used to get the allumini letters and letters asking donations etc. This was somehow differant. You would have to see the letter. It seemed a differant tone and alot more abrupt and forth coming than before. I get them off uni too as well as my old prep school. But this had a totally differant feel too other letters previously. Alot more frequent too. Every couple of weeks as aposed to the annual one previously.

Birkenhead high and the belevedere school. Both are state schools now but still under the gdst umberella.

It's more a fact that single sex girls' schools are unhealthy, than opinion.

Where do you find this bit of factual information? I'd be interested to read it.

For posters saying their results aren’t impressive, I just want to stress that this is not true of the London schools. My DD went to Putney High and she and her friends all got fantastic results and were all happy and well adjusted girls. Nor do we get letters begging for money so I really don’t recognise much on this thread.

I am also confused at goodbyestrangers post as all the London GDST seems to do pretty well? Perhaps my standards are not as high! I know I have said this before but having had two DDs at a GDST school for a number of years now, I don’t have any complaints. They are both doing well academically, have lovely friends and are happy so I really don’t see this “unhealthy environment”. I have also never received any letter begging me for money.

I can however see Sherry19’ point of view about the campaign and how the timing might not be great with some schools really struggling.

Someone doesn’t know what facts are, I think.
I’m taking their assertions re: quality of coed education with a rather large pinch of salt.

I don't like the Where Girls Learn Without Limits

I'd interpret that as meaning without the limits imposed due to state school budget cuts year after year after year.

I went to a super-famous, super-desirable and super £££ school (girls only in sixth form) and they call me regularly and write begging for cash. That's how institutions prosper.

I also have dc at a super sought-after school which advertises all over the place, despite 10:1 ratio of candidates to acceptances.

I also know a bit about GDST schools and without doubt most, not just in London, are fantastic and get excellent results,

Looking at the independent schools league table for GCSE results, GDST schools rank 15, 16, 18, 21, 23, 58, 64, 82, 97, 101, 108, 118 and 147, so quite a spread; not sure how their results can be described abysmal.

Thanks for these results, Alsoplay.

I am really quite shocked about the extraordinary amount of disparaging and factually incorrect information on this thread. The GDST schools are hugely successful and over subscribed schools, particularly in London.

Another very satisfied GDST parent. DD was actually photographed for the campaign and has appeared in a couple of magazines. She'd be SO embarrassed to be on a billboard though. I have walked through Waterloo a couple of times and had to check it's not her.

I like the ethos of GDST, high standards and positive attitude with excellent results. DD's school has top 20 results and is by no means abysmal. We turned down a place at a highly ranked super selective for her to attend.

I have DS at an independent boys school (top 5 in most rankings) and if truth be told I like DD's school much better. Far more down to earth and less pretentious. No silly rules and plenty of opportunities to let their hair down when needed.

I think girls schools tend to market themselves as girls being themselves and aiming high. Teachers can have an unintentional bias towards thinking boys are better at STEM in co Ed schools. In a girls school, there is no unintentional gender bias.

Girls mix with boys. They are not locked away at girls’ schools. It’s just a few hours a day and they certainly don’t wear make up to impress the boys and you won’t find condoms in the grounds.

Like other posters I think they are tryimg to widen the gene pool, attracking first buyers or parents who would have opted for boarding/co-ed. One reason might well be that despite being oversubscribed they don't get enough candidates of the right calibre. Our local girls school is a competitor of Oxford High (GDST) and in recent years had better A level and GCSE results but is having lots of vacancies despite receiving 3 to 4 applications per place. They say they won't take a girl who they think won't cope, meaning is not sat to achieve 10 9/8s and 3 to 4 A* at A levels. I think these girls schools are desperate to keep their outstanding results, but girls able to achieve such results don't grow on trees and are hard to come by.

Yes but some people don’t want these hot house schools and that’s where GDST and similar come in. They should offer breadth and be slightly less frenetic in teaching pace. Where I live, there are no co Ed independent schools. It’s girls schools or nothing. People still like the girls schools!

About the advertising campaign:
www.vccp.com/work/gdst/girls-day-school-trust

I think that link is about last years campaign, but this years is so similar, it must have been the same agency.

I’ve moved my DD to a single sex school precisely so choices of STEM subjects won’t be undermined by gender based perceptions. It has many girls doing physics and a decent further maths set at A level. It’s not GDST due to geography but I applaud their approach. I also support the idea that advertising broadens the catchment usefully beyond who is in the know.

Common sense, but do make sure you check out the schools individually.