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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

SW London girls independent/grammars thread 2020

999 replies

autumnnightsaredrawingin · 05/10/2019 22:56

Last year, there were two amazing threads which were super helpful about exactly this, so I wanted to start a thread for girls due to start September 2020. If anyone from last year wants to contribute please do!

We have narrowed our choices down to 5, sadly not in the right postcode for Tiffin, and decided not to do the Sutton grammars.

So, she will be doing PHS, WHS, LEH, SHS and Woldingham. Also registered for Emanuel but we may pull that one.

OP posts:
givemesomewineplease · 15/02/2020 09:06

@ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe - thank you for this, I'm grateful. And obviously something that appeals about LEH and similar schools is for dd to be able to access any activities she wants so that is a concern (but as you say I expect that might be mirrored in many of these top schools). Dd has a music exhibition and plays and sings to a good standard, so I believe she will be encouraged in all musical endeavours. She also has an academic scholarship. She loves her sports and will want to be in teams but may not be A team material. Are there not teams and fixtures for lower teams? She would be keen on netball, lacrosse and cross-country running.

Also keen to understand if girls reach their academic potential. Are there particular subjects that the teaching is especially strong or weak in?

givemesomewineplease · 15/02/2020 09:10

@mummyme2016 - we're in a similar position, our dd is also from a state school and waiting on Tiffin. We're deciding between LU, G&L and LEH (and SPGS waitlist, but I think we'll drop that). I think we will take one of them over Tiffin if she is offered it but it's hard to know what is the right decision. Tiffin seems incredible - logistically though it would be much more of a pain, so I think we'll rule it out on that basis alone.

ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe · 15/02/2020 09:24

If your girls have offers from all of those they will thrive wherever they go! There’s always going to be issues somewhere (academic or extracurricular)...choose the one that is most convenient!!!

Remember all sports etc are after school (and late bus is at extra cost)...

And just to add to the mix ask all the schools what extras you end up having to pay for? Are all curriculum trips included or extra? Are gcse entry fees included or extra? Do you have to buy specific team uniforms for different sports? Is the compulsory iPad included or extra...

mummyme2016 · 15/02/2020 09:27

@givemesomewineplease
Yes, actually very similar situation. DD is not keen on sports and music is only for leisure but she loves it.
Fairly academic but no scholarships. LEH closest and the commute to Tiffin isn't going to be easy !
We are booked for LU info evening, let's see and might drop SPGS WL.
Read lovely things about GL plus good results as well. You have a lot to choose from!

Autumnnightsaredrawingin · 15/02/2020 09:30

@ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe do you have any views on LEH vs Putney High? Thanks

OP posts:
ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe · 15/02/2020 09:36

Sorry I don’t know anything about the other schools specifically...

ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe · 15/02/2020 09:38

There is so little between these schools though...take the one with the easiest commute!!!

mummyme2016 · 15/02/2020 09:48

@ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe
Thank you. It is so good to know that your DD is happy there.

Chocolatedrops2 · 15/02/2020 09:49

My dd is at LEH and very happy there. She came from a state school and didn’t have any problem making friends. The junior school girls are spread between the different forms and there is a trip to an activity centre in the first term to help mix the girls. I have found the school very nurturing and they seem to really care about the girls’ mental well-being. They are very aware of the pressures that bright girls potentially put on themselves. Their work is often marked with a comment from the teacher rather than a grade to try to do away with them feeling inferior if they receive a B rather than an A. She’s not the most sporty but has been included in netball and lacrosse matches against other schools despite not being in the top teams. They do expect a commitment to attend lunchtime & after school training sessions but there is a late coach for these days. I have been very impressed with the school but can’t comment on the older years. My advice is to go for the easiest journey as all these schools are excellent but it makes such a difference if you’re travelling there day to day and for weekend sport & parents events if you are at a nearer distance to the school.

ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe · 15/02/2020 10:05

Absolutely agree! If everything else is equal Saving an hour commuting each day will make far more difference to your dds mental health/academic performance etc than the minuscule differences between these schools!

Autumnnightsaredrawingin · 15/02/2020 10:06

Thank you both. PHS is by far, far the easier commute for my DD.

OP posts:
Utility · 15/02/2020 10:24

Autumn: definitely PHS then.

Footballnetball · 15/02/2020 10:46

I have kids in years 8 and 10 already. All these schools that you are talking about are amazing. The big decisions are single sex or co-ed and once you’ve made that decision then length of journey is key. It makes an enormous difference to your child’s long day at secondary school with clubs after, getting home after sports fixtures and plays; and very important - how far away their friends live. My kids journey is about 30 minutes and that’s doable - I wouldn’t want it to be much further than that. So if it’s between one amazing school near you and one amazing school further away take the easy commute! That’s my tuppence worth. Good luck with your decision making!

mummyme2016 · 15/02/2020 11:03

Thank you @Chocolatedrops2 , @Footballnetball and @ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe for your input.

Autumnnightsaredrawingin · 15/02/2020 12:19

@bashstreetkids I know you said your DD got offered Putney, do you think you’ll take it?

How is everyone getting on making their choices? And to those on the PHS waiting list, have you rung to see the position etc? Quite a few people are turning it down so I have everything crossed you’ll be lucky and offered a place.

I also just heard from a friend that her DD’s friend has an offer from G&L but waitlist for PHS! Another weird one I would have said. Just shows there is no definite pattern!

OP posts:
EmilyShi · 15/02/2020 13:40

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bashstreetkids · 15/02/2020 13:41

@autumnnightsaredrawingin we are so confused about what to do for the best! I am very conscious of everyone on waitlists, so we’ll try to make our minds up over half term. She has five amazing offers including academic scholarships, but (like many people) the final offers only came through yesterday.

What an exhausting process for the children (and us!). Well done to everyone for getting through it and good luck to those who are still waiting for news/ on the waiting lists.

Greenleave · 15/02/2020 13:53

Many congratulations on amazing results!

Easy commute makes their life so much easier if your children are keen on sports and other extra curriculum activities. Mine has early morning swimming, after school swimming and chambers and matches on Tuesdays and Saturday. It helps that it takes her only 30 mins door to door either by bus or tube.

77seven · 15/02/2020 14:18

Autumn - if you live Putney way, definitely go for PHS!
Apart from being freed from a coach commute twice a day, day in day out, with the same group of girls and Hampton boys; you’re avoiding the earlier morning starts. Also, they love their independence as they get older and look forward to being able to pop into Putney for a coffee after school with friends, rather than being tied to coach times and bussed back and forth. Coaches for eleven year olds may seem appealing, but for 16-18 year olds? Not so much. Also, if they don’t get on with someone on the coach, or so-and-so won’t surprise with them anymore etc etc, there’s problems there before they even get to registration. This is just my view, but being able to walk or have a short journey will save countless hours over the years and think what she could be doing instead in those hours.

77seven · 15/02/2020 14:19

sit with them, not “surprise.” Sorry, I should check my posts before sending!!

77seven · 15/02/2020 15:04

I have DC at LU and G&L (never applied to LEH though).

They are both fantastic schools. LU feels like a distinctly bigger school though, as there are 180 in a year rather than 120. It took mine longer to settle into LU and be really happy there. There very few drama opportunities in the lower school, unless you’re literally phenomenal. It does get much better as they move up the school, but it definitely takes them longer to find their “thing” and feel recognised for anything. It’s not just me who would say that, it’s a fairly common feeling in the school. Having said this, the curriculum is fantastic. It’s a very liberal, outwardly-focused school. Also they do “Activities Week” every June where the school closes for the week and they all go off on their choice of amazing trips! I’m super grateful to the school for all the opportunities my DC has, but it was a bit rocky (socially not academically) in the early years there and it takes longer for them to feel “known”, if that makes sense?

There’s not much homework in Year 7 in either school. LU don’t even if summer exams in Year 7.

G&L is more nurturing and calmer. For instance, if they do a particularly good piece if work, they get to take it to the head, this kind of thing. They don’t do that at LU ever. All Year 7s do a Xmas show, but they don’t do main parts and all this business - last year it was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and each of the five classes did one scene each. At LU, the parts are taken up by older children and there’s a definite “drama group” and that’s it. There is a “Year 7“ play at LUvwhich the A-level drama students organise, but it tends to be quite chaotic.

The two schools do some joint orchestral concerts . Music is fabulous in both. There is only one choir you can audition to be in at LU, called the “Consort Choir” and there’s about 5 basses, 5 tenors, 5 altos and 5 sopranos in this, no more. You have to be invited and it’s from Year 10/11 upwards. Otherwise, it’s the main choir which is big and anyone can join. There a lower school boys and a girls choir that you can join without audition. At G&L, there’s a Year 7 choir they can all join, and then I think a few choirs you can audition for from Year 8.

In Year 7 at G&L they do Food Tech sessions, rotating with Design Tech which is fun.

LU has the amazing sports centre that’s more like a health club. Families can join for a low monthly fee and use it at weekends and evenings, I think.

G&L have slightly better GCSE results and A-level. I think last year or the year before they got 98% 9-7 grades and were second only to SPGS which got 99% Grin It’s ridiculous. G&L is also the joint top school in the world for IB results. But it’s all much of a muchness.

But LU also manages to strike a good balance between being academic and no massive pressure. My DC got all grade 9s at GCSE and was nothing exceptional there, by any means. Very average in fact.

Anyway, they are both fabulous, but I guess you just have to go with your gut feeling.

Sorry for the essay Blush

Autumnnightsaredrawingin · 15/02/2020 15:10

@bashstreetkids wow that’s amazing, well done to her! Can you say what the others are? No worries if you don’t want to- PM me instead if you’re happy to (but no worries at all if you don’t!).

Thanks to everyone on their kind and really helpful feedback on this thread. Distance/commute and being able to hang out with friends seems hugely important, and I have friends who have older DCs who have also told me this.

So, our choice is made. Smile DD will be going to Putney and not LEH. It feels bitter sweet to be turning down such an amazing school, but we are so, so happy that she will be going to a local, brilliant school that feels absolutely right for her. Hopefully she’ll be joined by one or two from this thread!

Good luck to all with your decisions, wherever they go they’ll all do brilliantly.

OP posts:
allyoudoiscriticize · 15/02/2020 15:19

autumnnights you've made the right decision. You cannot underestimate the importance of the journey or journey time. Your DD will benefit greatly from it over the years.

BlitheSpirit · 15/02/2020 16:05

Great decision Autumn. Also if your DD wants to take up rowing in due course, the boat club is literally on your doorstep for those early morning starts!

77seven · 15/02/2020 16:15

Congrats on your decision Autumn. As a teen she’ll have local friends and you won’t have to be “the taxi of mum” because her friends happen to be the LEH girls who live near Guildford or somewhere.