SW London girls independent/grammars thread 2020

[autumnnightsaredrawingin]

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.

We’ve accepted WHS, turned down Sutton and Surbiton and asked to come off Wait List for Putney and LEH.
Living in Wimbledon (plus WHS being my DDs first favourite) it has been easy decision for us so I feel very lucky. I’m sure must be so hard weighing up all the pros and cons if you’ve got lots of offers and exhausting constantly thinking about it even though you know will work out well wherever you choose. Best of Luck ...you’re nearly there !

Has anyone managed to get any information on where they are on the G&L waitlist, and if they are likely to go to it? Also has anyone been put through to the Registrar or received answers to email requesting this information?

@givemesomewineplease - it's so tricky but hopefully the visits will help this week. We're pretty much decided on WHS (which we love) but visiting FHS to just make absolutely sure that it's not the one for us.

Also love FHS, but the early start/offsite sports and more central location are downsides for us. If it had been our only offer, we'd have jumped at the chance.

Re G&L - an offer might make us think twice but, if I'm honest, I think WHS is a better fit for DD.

Does anyone know whether you get a chance to visit if you get an wait list offer or if it's just 24 hours to decide and no visit? If the latter, I don't think a G&L offer would make any difference.

@almost231 - well done! It looks like we'll be joining you

@Catrina7 - no information from G&L. I called a week ago and was told that they have not ranked the wait list people. They told me that more info would come out after half term.

Thanks ColaPip,
I did not manage to speak to the Registrar and haven’t received an answering email so maybe that doesn’t look too hopeful.

givemesomewineplease-
agree with you about a 24 hours take it or leave it with no visit.

Keeping my fingers crossed that everyone ends up with an offer that really suits.🤞

Have received a rather generic reply from G&L
...waiting lists can be slow to move.Please bear with us.

No indication of numbers on waiting list or place on it.
Will be looking at firm offers and taking the bird in the hand approach but good luck to everyone else.

We are WL for FHSS. Would love to revisit the school but you need a firm offer apparently. Please could anyone attending the FHSS offer holders' day on Thursday give feedback with their impressions - many thanks. Am keen to find out if they do rowing (which is of interest to DD) and if so where and when. We have a firm offer from Surbiton (and a drama scholarship offer from a school further away from us, so it's less attractive than Surbiton in terms of logistics). We are equidistant between Surbiton and FHSS. Really hope that WLs are now starting to move after half term, but fear It's going to have to be a last minute decision for us based on what happens with the FHSS WL. Surbiton acceptance deadline is Monday 2 March. Grateful for any thoughts on a choice between FHSS (if we actually get an offer - they won't tell you where you are on the WL, just that you did really well even to get on it!) and Surbiton. DD is very into drama and performing arts (singing) and things creative.

I have never seen the mention of rowing and FHSS in the same breath so assume they don’t do it. Surbiton have an excellent rowing programme - they have really upped their game in recent years and now perform really well - they had a good clutch of medals at National Schools Regatta last year. The squad of girls who do it from each year group is huge so it will be quite a social thing . Your DD could also row at a club outside of school such as Tideway Scullers . Most secondaries don’t start rowing until year 8 or sometimes year 9.

Really appreciate your thoughts Thisisconfusing. Many thanks! I know that the rowing, and sports in general, are great at Surbiton, which is a big factor for DD. There is a rather delphic mention of rowing on the FHSS website: "The [Sports] department are also supported by coaches in rowing, swimming, judo, dance, gymnastics, tennis , horse riding and skiing." So I'm assuming FHSS must do some rowing, but maybe they are not in the same league as Surbiton (from your helpful comments).

The academic side is also important to us and here I'm a bit confused: FHSS's GCSE results last year are 20% better than Surbiton's but Surbiton's A level results (89% A-B) are much better than FHSS's (75% A-B) and are on a par with WHS's and PHS's A level results. I know that quite a few girls leave FHSS for 6th form, maybe less so at Surbiton, which might explain the drop at FHSS, but how come the jump at Surbiton or is it just different year groups? I appreciate you can't base a decision solely on league tables, which do fluctuate.

@BlitheSpirit , SHS boat house is in Teddington & walking distance from Hampton wick train station. SHS rowing programme is excellent and welcoming to all, starts in Year 8.

@BlitheSpirit , SHS has a particularly large year 11 last year, they had over offered 5 years previously. I think there will be an improvement in gcse results this year - 6 classes sitting exams rather than 8. I wouldn't get too hung up on results at this stage.

Re rowing - obviously not every school will reach the heady heights of Surbiton at rowing but I’ve not seen FHSS at even the novice / lower level regattas ( wasn’t looking though !). Maybe they offer an option to do it in a PE lesson at one of the local boat clubs but don’t have their own boathouse . Also the most important thing is to enjoy a sport at the end of the day . If your DD wanted to pursue more seriously she could then do outside school. I’m also of the view that A level results are more important than GCSEs because they are easier to compare . There is such a variety of IGCSE/ GCSE boards/ in house accredited qualifications across the indies plus also other opportunities to manipulate the tables means it’s hard to compare . Also a larger intake ( and Surbiton is massive ) means generally a broader range of intake and so reflects in results at GCSE. I don’t have children at either school so these are merely an observation.

Congratulations to those who have made their decisions, and keeping everything crossed for those on WLs that you get the places you want.

We accepted Putney and went to the offers morning today- definitely felt like the right choice for us which was a relief as I’d been going over the LEH vs Putney debate in my head, but we are very happy with our choice.

Many thanks for your very helpful comments @Frostyskies1223 and @Thisisconfusing. At this stage, I would say that DD is unlikely to change school for sixth form (assuming she is happy) so A level results are an important indicator for us.

@Frostyskies1223 if you have a DD at Surbiton by any chance, do you know if many girls leave after GCSE? At FHSS, I heard it was up to 25%.

@autumnnightsaredrawingin Fantastic decision - as I said before I have 3 DC in 3 different secondaries and PHS is by far my favourite !

Re G&L WL, last year it did move but also closed very quickly. I remember being chased by the (ever so lovely) registrar very day for about three days well before the cutoff date (so rest assured that they do chase up decisions from the offer holders!). Rumour says if you are on the WL and are genuinely really keen, make sure the registrar knows! Good luck with the decision making!

A lot of the girls schools see movement - Westminster and KCS for example take girls in sixth form . So in a way if A results hold up despite movement elsewhere that good be a good sign

@Blithespirit ,re SHS I don't know how may leave, I don't think it's a large % but some girls have been there since they were 4 & want a change & others don't meet the criteria to stay for 6th form, this won't apply to your dd as she has passed a tough exam but others either come via the prep school or other reasons ie vv sporty but not academic. PM me if you have any other queries

We've accepted LEH and turned down the other 4 offers.

They are all excellent schools and I don't think you'll find a slam dunk reason to exclude or prefer one, other than on practicalities (distance, cost). Hopefully the offer holder tours help with decisions.

My SIL was at the other end of this spectrum last year - 4 exams, no offers for a DS who is just as bright as the rest. I remember how awful she felt for her DS who had tried his best but wasn't "good enough" for anywhere. She was phoning around to see if he could do late exam entries etc and was told that until offers and waiting list were filled, schools couldn't say if there were late entry spaces. It was awful, and a reminder why schools ask you to let them know as soon as you can.

@Springboard - really sorry to hear about your SIL's experience last year and do hope that things worked out well for her DS? One of my DSs just missed out on Hampton at the same age, but got 9 x 9s at GCSE/IGCSE and an A* in Further Maths. 11 plus can be a blunt, and not always very accurate instrument, especially for DCs who aren't a natural at maths (I have both types).

@Frostyskies1223 - many thanks for your really helpful comments about Surbiton. Will PM you.

Hi Everyone,

Congrats to all those that have made their decisions.

DD2 is going to the offer day at FHSS - but we have completed the paperwork to accept the offer, she is adamant that she wants to go there.
My degree course is finishing a day earlier but we have't told her so I will be home in time to go with her on Thursday. :)

@Blithespirit - I really don't remember the mention of rowing.
DD2 has played football/basketball for her primary but they dont play often.
She isn't really sporty she defies convention as the only sport she is interested in is American Football!
She is just starting her second season as a Flag Cadet [Non- contact NFL not allowed contact until 14]
She plays Centre or Corner Defense - I think she might like to play Rugby when she is older, she describes herself as a running brick wall.

@tiggermummy70, DD is another one that defies convention as she loves rugby. I find it a bit odd that none of the girls schools have rugby teams. We live in HK and there is a very active girls rugby league here. Hopefully some of her skills can be transferred to other sports.

LEH is apparently gauging interest for a rugby team.

There’s growing girls rugby activity in local rugby clubs though and a league they play in. But you’re right - way behind Hong Kong. Old Rutlishians (Old Ruts) in Wimbledon has a great girls rugby group with teams in all ages up to U15. Some of the coaches coach at local state secondary school voluntarily , but they don’t play competitively against each other at secondary school ..... yet.

Revolution I doubt very much LEH will introduce rugby. When my friends with girls who played competitive football asked whether they would consider introducing football as a self-promoted progressive girls school, the head said they will stick to the traditional girls' sports, the main one being lacrosse. Really progressive. Not.

Actually I think LEH have introduced football in last couple of years and i think they might even have played matches (in year 7/8) or if not it’s on the cards. My DD has taken PE options in both tag rugby and football several times each Which she has really enjoyed. Also LEH swapped rounders for cricket last year . Not sure I can see LEH bringing in rugby unless it was tag rugby but any DD who are interested would be better to join one of the local clubs. But I agree lacrosse will remain the most important sport . The former PE Director was also an England lax coach and quite a few girls have played for England over the years , and usually several each year get picked for the national and regional training squads and they won National schools a couple of years ago. It would be really hard for LEH to get to this sort of level in another sport (especially one that is played more widely ) and im afraid all of these schools feel they have to have a bulging trophy cabinet. It is also a relatively small year grouping so it would be hard to get a decent number of squads together if you introduced other sport. To be honest if a girl is say academy level or just under at football I don’t think you would be looking to school to provide the competitive level sadly. This is probably true of many schools.