KGS - happy DCs??

[ohneuroticmum]

Hi all - DC going to KGS in Sept and have been beyond excited they got in. I loved it as did DS and DC on all visits. Been reading such great stuff too. More recently though, came across some posts from parents who are not happy at all. Mainly seems to be about the mobile phone policy (and also some complaining about not getting into sports teams or drama auditions). So now I'm panicking....anyone with DC there who can reassure me or equally elaborate on why they are not happy with choice??

Most important to me is that DC is happy, makes nice new group of friends and encouraged to take up wider extra-curricular opportunities.

Thanks!!

I have DC who has been there for a few years now. They are loving school. So many opportunities, so don't worry. My DC has played lots of sport and been in the junior and house drama productions (they aren't at all musical, sadly, but there are lots of opportunities there too). The art department is also fantastic.

There have been a few grumbles about phone policy, but the school are managing it and ensure children make the most of the opportunities on offer, so if you do have any issues/concerns do contact them. The head is keen to embrace changing technology, not ban it, but they do have a policy of when they can / can't use them in school.

The school is very hockey focused in winter (football 2nd) and cricket in the summer. They have been extremely successful in hockey. The focus may change with a new director of sport coming in September. I have heard from a two parents the same about sport, ie not getting into teams, but I think this happens across many schools. Everything will change with the new director of sport, but again contact them with any concerns.

No school is 100% perfect, but I haven't experienced any negatives at all, but obviously there will always be a few parents who may have. I am very happy with KGS. It's such a lovely school, not too big, the pastoral care is great. It's a lovely community. I've been very impressed with the leadership, both the head and the heads of years so far. Some very impressive people at the school! Their attitude to the well being of the children during lockdown has been very good.

It's a lovely school, with the right balance between academics, extra curricular and pastoral care. We came from state primary and were pleased to find so many down to earth families, I think maybe as they don't have a feeder prep school. That has been a big plus for us.

You will love the school, I'm sure.

@Overthisnow - thank you so much. Really appreciate and put my mind at rest. We turned down good state option for this so just want to be sure we have made right decision.
DS hasn't been sporty up until now but that's partly because primary option hasn't pushed it (like most I guess). But really hoping that with all the opportunities at KGS he will find something he is into. Thanks again

No problem. It's a fab school. We also had a very good state option, but KGS seemed like the better fit, and we weren't wrong. We are not monied, so it wasn't an easy choice, but we definitely feel we get value for money for the reasons I mentioned before.

Again, any issues speak to the school , but I'm sure your DC will be very happy there.

Mine is about to go into the second year, she absolutely loved it (until the end of March of course!) and cannot wait to get back. The online teaching provision has been excellent.

She isn't very sporty, although has loved PE and games lessons at KGS, but as far as I can tell everyone gets to (has to!) play hockey competitively which I don't think all schools can offer.

The phone policy did seem to be causing angst amongst parents but for us at least it seemed to be working - teaching them to be responsible themselves and facing up to the role phones play in all our lives.

We have been very happy with the decision to send DD there, now comes the challenge of getting the other one in!

I have a dd about to to into Upper Sixth. I honestly can't think of one bad thing to say about the school, it's been fantastic for her. She's had a couple of wobbles along the way (as will anyone) and the pastoral care has been gobsmackingly good.

I think the mobile phone policy is great, it also chimes with the ethos of the school which is to encourage personal responsibility rather than to be draconian.

Re the sports/drama thing - it's very easy to get sucked into looking at the glossy brochures for all the sport and extra curricular stuff and imagining your child excelling in every area! However in reality it's a busy busy life, they try out and drop a few things over the first couple of years and everyone shakes down to finding what they like, be it excelling at hockey, muddling along in the c/d teams but having fun and staying active. There are multiple opportunities for drama, not just the productions - there's junior drama club and house drama too, plus the tech side is brilliant. Personally, dd quite liked hockey and was in the Bs for a bit then dropped to the Cs because frankly she didn't care enough! She did LOVE rowing though, and did that for a few years but then the commitment became too much and she had to choose between that and drama, she chose the latter. Importantly though, she had a couple of years where she rowed competitively even though she didn't win a lot, got to row at the National Schools regatta etc. She was never going to be a rower, but she got the experience all the same.

I think that whatever the school do, they do it properly and expect commitment and focus, even if you aren't at the top of the pile. There really is something for everyone.

What is your heart (not MN) telling you? We were set on KGS but in the end realised our hearts were drawn to our local state secondary. Both great schools and your doubts may just be nerves.

My DS is very happy there. He has performed in the lower/middle school plays and represented the school in a variety of sports. There is quite a big party scene - earlier than I'd anticipated - but I think that's true of most London secondary schools. You just need to parent with that in mind,

Thanks all - really appreciate the replies.
My heart is saying KGS. We had a good state option but it is miles away, was our 3rd choice. If we had our 1st or 2nd choice we wouldn't have gone private (though KGS was my fave by far). That said, I think it has worked out well and I am super excited for him. We are not monied so to speak so it will mean tighter saving and bring a little more cautious with our cash.
My concern is that DS is very shy and won't voluntarily get involved in sport unless really encouraged by school - but I think he has the ability to be ok at it. I'm mainly trying to get him active (he needs that, has energy to burn!!) and for building friendships. He's been so shy that he is often excluded. I think I'd have these concerns with any school and it was the pastoral care at KGS that swung it for me, my heart is saying KGS but my head is saying wow these fees are huge, I need to see the value-add!!