St Paul’s or Kings College School Wimbledon

[User653]

Hi, I am hoping for some advice here on which school might suit a very academic child, with little talents in sports or music. I realise that both SPS and KCS are sought after schools, but given a choice, and if the fees and distance to the schools are not an issue, which would you choose and why?

OP: Don't be too swayed by the views expressed on this thread! As has just been pointed out, it represents the views of only a few parents. It seems that there is one parent who is disappointed with KCS and wishes they had sent their son elsewhere. That is sad. But certainly not the norm for what is one of the country's top schools.

They are both great choices and most kids love their school and cannot imagine having gone anywhere else!

I'm not sure it's true that 'very bright boys tend to pursue STEM subjects at uni'. If you look at Westminster far more leavers go on to study Arts/Humanities subjects than STEM subjects - even allowing for them having girls in 6th form the majority of their boys are definitely not doing STEM at uni.

Tiffin do a very nice summary of destination by courses, attached:

www.tiffinschool.co.uk/_docs/sixthform/University%20Courses%202019.pdf

And so does St Pauls. less than 30 non STEM from my rough count, higher than Tiffin but still a big STEM majority.

www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2018-Leavers-Destinations-Nov-2019-1.pdf

Yes Westminster do one too which is where my original information was from. It just illustrates the point I was making that it varies from school to school. At certain schools for bright boys most go on to do STEM at other schools for bright boys there is a fairly equal balance of STEM v arts/languages/humanities and at others fewer seem to do STEM than not.

Point taken, Westminster is just different and attracts a very particular type. I looked at a few other boys schools and they are all very similar to these.

And @utility - I wasn't disappointed with Kings in that DS did extremely well academically there. He has some very strong friendships, has lots of happy memories and still attends the alumni events. But I do think that there is a lot more teaching and support at less academic schools because there needs to be. And I would choose StP's now because of the on site sports facilities, which is a very strong personal preference, and because of the larger take in at 13+ when everyone joins the senior school.

Cake. So your DS joined KCS at 13+? I thought SPS is also more to 11+?

SPS moving more to 11+?

They have slightly increased the (mostly state primary) 11+ intake into SPJS, but the main school still firmly starts at 13+.

cakeisslwaystheanswer. Agree with you about Westminster. I would have loved my son to go there, but we didn't apply because of the location (of course, he may not have got in). Maybe for 6th form. If you look at the leavers' destinations. Wow

From their website : American universities are also proving increasingly popular, with as many as forty pupils applying successfully each year, some also gaining offers at Oxford or Cambridge. Pupils have also accepted places at universities offering leading courses in their chosen fields: for example, the London School of Economics, Imperial College, the Courtauld Institute, the Sorbonne, the Royal College of Music and the New York Film School.

The dominance of STEM at Tiffin left me cold

Yes DS1 joined at 13+, the 11+ intake was only about 15? then. Previously at KCS for 13+ they took about 85 from the junior school and 60 from external preps so it was a good mix. But now that will be 80ish from the prep, about 45 from the new "Lower School" and 30 from external preps. I don't think that's a good mix, too many established groups and friendships.

According to StP's website, they take in about 180 to the senior school, half from the junior school the remainder from external preps. Which hasn't changed from DS's time and is a better mix for a boy joining at 13+.

@Testbunny - the other odd thing you will notice with W is the number going to London unis. It's much higher than other schools.Different priorites.

cakeisslwaystheanswer can you explain what you mean by differential priorities? I am interested

cakeisslwaystheanswer can you explain what you mean by differential priorities? I am interested

Thanks cake. I see what you mean. The head said they want to attract more boys from state schools now hence the move to 11+. A good thing (in my opinion)

DS's uni is very popular with SW Londonners, and he has made lots of friends from other London schools but hasn't met anyone from W. But he has chosen a campus uni with a strong sports reputation so it is very attractive to boys from KCS, St Ps, Dulwich etc who still want to play rugby and other sports. W is different, I think it is a very special incredibly academic school that suits a particular type of boy and one who isn't looking to play rugby (they don't field a team). It is difficult to explain and W parents are usually very tolerant of efforts to do so but it is probably best if you ask W parents what makes W special.

I had a quick look at KCS destinations. They split the subjects out by university, but it looks a little more balanced between humanities and stem, but stem still has the edge?

@Allyoudoiscriticise - Girls! at least 60 fo them, it's impossible to separate that's why I looked at boys only schools.

Hampton, not quite as bad as Tiffin

hamptonschool.org.uk/academic/universities-careers-2/#leavers-destinations

Dulwich has a slightly better mix but still STEM dominant.

www.dulwich.org.uk/senior-school/academic/leavers-destinations

Maybe things have changed recently, my youngest is Y10, but when we were looking at schools they would boast about the percentage going on to study STEM.

Good point cake. Westminster have girls too!

But humanities at Westminster are so popular that the boys must choose them too