London Days School 11+ for sporty DS

[wewillseee]

I’m looking at SW london/ surrey day schools for 2021 for my v sporty DS. So far we’ve looked at Emmanuel, CLFS, Whitgift and Reeds. I like the idea of a Co-Ed school but don’t want a snobby environment which is why we’ve discounted Epsom but boys is ok if it offers the sports my DS likes ( cricket and rugby). If someone can tell me more about the reputations of the above schools and add to my list. Thanks!

Trinity
Royal Russell

My DS has super sporty friends at Whitgift...who love it.
Only visited it a few times to watch Surrey play 1st class cricket, but the sports facilities did impress.

@AveEldon Trinity is a good school though I don’t know much about it however Royal Russell don’t do Rugby and aren’t particularly strong at cricket from what I hear although it is a lovely school I think it’s too much of a dealbreaker for DS

Hampton, Kings Wimbledon, Ibstock?

My son is very sporty and county level for some sports, he is at Trinity and it’s non stop for sport. Excellent standard but also very inclusive.

Trinity is very sporty, but also enables boys to follow other interests if they want to.

It is co-ed in the 6th form which adds another dimension.

Harrodian and Latymer Upper (depending on where you are). Latymer Upper quite easy to get to from rail lines stopping at Richmond for example. Harrodian at Barnes Bridge Station and probably also walkable from Barnes Station.

Definitely adding Trinity to the list; a coed sixth form is good feature even if it means he won’t really be talking to girls till he’s sixteen. I’m a bit worried I’m aiming too high academically looking at results.

Is he at state primary or prep school? Prep should be able to advise you. I know a lot of boys at Trinity come from state primaries though.

He’s at a state but my sister-in-law worked as a deputy head at a prep in Surrey so can only really advise me on few schools but said he could get into CLFS which is the main reason it’s included in our list although I’m a bit confused about how sporty it is.

I don’t think Latymer Upper or Harrodian play high level rugby.

Is Dulwich too far?

I think he sounds cut out for whitgift, the sports facilities and coaching are fantastic. It's not at all snobby either my DS is yr 8 there now having gone from state primary in year 6.

Latymer Upper has some good sports facilities and respectable performance in schools rugby union league. Harrodian maybe less so but smaller school. Both schools offer rugby and cricket. London coeds generally seem to be weaker at rugby than all-boys schools so it may be a trade off if you prefer coed.

And, yes, Whitgift would be a very good choice for a sport-mad boy.

Caterham?

Kingston Grammar School. Co-Ed. But is hockey, cricket and football. No rugby.

Reed's is the best for sport facilities and the variety of sports is quite amazing, niche and action sports not just teams, teams, teams. They doing well too. DS goes there, it is so friendly say he and his buds.

I find mums put off by travel but actually if you live in south/southwest London it is very easy, just 20min by train from CJ, Earlsfield, Wimbledon to Oxshott and short walk. Loads take this route and alight those stations in a pack in evening, so walk out of station together and at a time, appox 6pm, when all the kentucky-fried chicken mobs have dispersed to whereever, so no picking on.

They also have bus routes, competitively priced compared to childs £120+ monthly child season fare on SWTrains from those stations = roughly £300 / term. I'd rather DS took that route than grapple with bus stops in London or have DS walking through streets where local Ind sch badge is invite for mini-gangs of three during London's Kentucky-Fried chicken hours (3:30-5:30) try to have-a-go.

Thanks for all the replies they were really helpful, I’m definitely going to take DS to look round Whitgift and Trinity, they sound lovely. I don’t know much about Reeds other than that it takes girls at sixth form but based on what @WalmartMom said it seems easy to get to so I will add it too my list. However I was looking at match results to get a better idea of sports etc and it seems they were beaten by CLFS which I have now worked are NOT sporty at all: is this normal or just a complete fluke.

For sport - you need to look at number of boys in the year, then at the sports - how many teams are they fielding in each year

Trinity do smaller group tours in the spring which I really recommend - I took my then yr 5 boy on one last year and it was a really good thorough look round and you got to meet the head. Much better than the mass autumn open days.

I'm sorry @WalmartMom but your KFC comments is completely OTT. I have two DS at one of the schools mentioned n this thread and they have never had any trouble getting to or from school.

It's totally misleading to paint a picture of DC educated at independent schools before by subject to regular aggro.

OP please take these silly comments with a big pinch of salt and send your son to the school you think is right for him.

Someone will come on soon to warn about the gangs of Croydon 😱

Yes possibly OTT, depends much on route and age. I was thinking under 14 years. Yes, thousands of ind children transverse London to get to school each day and have it worked out. But there are some gauntlets to run where it is quite sketchy but too long to list - depends on your route. Point I make is a comparative point in that with some runs, Reeds, KCS the run to and fro is safe by comparison. ( KCS disembark at Raynes Park & bus or Wimbledon station walk up steep hill both ways are trouble free)

I do think it is OTT.

DC throughout London navigate themselves around perfectly well from age 11 and do it very well. I know plenty of children who've gone all over to school - into central London on the Northern Line to City and down to the Croydon schools on the tram.

I think there is a tendency to be a bit PFB about it (not a criticism, I was with DS1) but children cope and will flourish. I'm pleased with how all 3 of mine are independent and self confident. They travel around London and DS1 got to his university interviews on his own this Autumn.

Have you looked at Caterham? It’s co-ed with extensive grounds and facilities and lots of coach routes. They do do cricketvand rugby and lots of other sports.

Hampton definitely worth a look. Kings College also excellent for sport though tends to just focus on the A teams so you need to be good enough. CLFS isn't known to be a sporty school - they don't play in any of the main circuits (although it is very nice and down to earth). St Johns Leatherhead is also excellent for sport and punches well above its weight for the size of the school - a good option if your DS is not academic enough to make the cut at Hampton/Kings/Whitgift etc. Loads of choice though! Happy looking!

Re travelling: My DS has been at T since Y6, now in the U6. He has to change train/bus at East Croydon. He has never had a problem. I have never heard of any of his friends having problems either, and many of them use E or W Croydon or the tram.