Westminster Sixth Form

[clarand]

Hello
I am not sure if there is a more suitable place for this but trying here.

My 15 y daughter is considering Westminster for 6th Form. She currently attends a top Surrey school. She would apply for a music scholarship as this is the music program that really interests her and she more than fits the criteria.
I am keen to have any advice/feedback. Also she had a good school report but it’s not her best one ( she had a bit of wobble after her very good friend was hospitalised) but is back on top of things. I am concerned that one report is not representative of her potential. How much do you think this matters? I would hope and assume the exams/assessments count more??

Very grateful for your comments.

Thanks !

My DD attended Westminster 6th form a few years ago. She was at a private all girls school in SW London from which about 12 girls applied and of which 3 were offered places. Of the girls who were ‘rejected’, most went on to achieve all A* grades at GCSE . It was a bit of a mystery as to why they made the decision they did. So it is very hard to know what they look for.

Btw, the school was wonderful in many ways and provided a superb education but my DD found the transition very stressful. She came through it successfully but a couple of her friends floundered a bit.

Are you going to the open day at the weekend? We're looking forward to having a tour and learning more about it.
My daughter is the same age as yours and we thought we'd check it out.

I think girls who have more of a humanities bent have a better chance of gaining entry. As you'll know, W is a maths/science heavy school and they're looking to round out their A-level stats.

I have also hear it's a bit of a wild card, a fair few girls from Putney High have made the most recent cut.

I disagree with Emperor. DD was a maths/science type as were plenty of other girls. What would be the point of a mixed sixth form if you segregated boys and girls according to stereotype.

What does happen is that friendships tend to be made according to subject. So arty girls will mainly know arty girls. DD knew them through sport but almost without exception her friends were studying science.

I think four applied from DDs school. Two were offered places, though only DD took up her place. DDs friends at her previous school did very well indeed, so though she got where she wanted to go, she probably would have whether she moved or not. That said DD loved Westminster from the minute she stepped foot in the school. It was like education in technicolour. Just an amazing experience. (Though as a pp suggests, not true of all.)