Streatham and Clapham High?

[CAZZERANT]

Hi all

Going through the sllghtly daunting task of choosing a place for my Y6 daughter, made harder by COVID restrictions for visiting schools.

Wondering if anyone had feedback on Streatham and Clapham High?

What's your view of it? Be great to hear.

Thanks so much!

Completely personal view but we really like it! I found it a bit tatty on the open day last year but loved the slightly eccentric headmaster. Good sized grounds, lovely new refectory, not a hot house but lots going on. Our state primary sends a few girls there each year and the ones I know of seem happy and well adjusted.

Not sure how the ISEB admissions process will work out but everyone is in the same boat here...

Thanks. Makes it so much harder when you can’t look in. Altho we’ve got a virtual tour coming up. I wasn’t sure about the Head tbh but it’s really hard to get a proper feeling from promotional videos.

Only found out about the ISEB applications today and was a bit alarmed to see English is just a 25 minute test where’s Maths is 50 and VR and non VR 35 each. My daughter is much stronger on English and her state primary has taught her nothing new in maths since pre lockdown. Do you know anything about these tests - how they are pitched etc? It is a big unsettling!

Thanks for your feedback !

I would also be interested in views on SCHS as it’s one of our school choices. I loved the school when I looked around and I find the admissions team and teachers I have spoken to to be really lovely! Fingers crossed for an offer now!!

Also have a few questions on SCHS

• Interested in feedback on pastoral care if anyone has experience of it ?
• what's the intake split State/in house prep and private ?
• Does the sport look as good as it it ?
• How many GCSEs do the girls take ?

Thanks

@montlieu

Also have a few questions on SCHS

• Interested in feedback on pastoral care if anyone has experience of it ?
• what's the intake split State/in house prep and private ?
• Does the sport look as good as it it ?
• How many GCSEs do the girls take ?

Thanks

Pastoral care: absolutely brilliant. DD has received lots of excellent care over very difficult experiences at home with family illness.

State - we came from state primary. From those that I am aware of, there is a good number of state.

SCPS - lots moved up. Loads in fact.

Private - again, plenty.

I’d say the overall mix is a good balance.

Sport - yes it is excellent. DD is only in her first year there, but does loads. Plenty of opportunities for all, but also an excellent focus on those at club and county level. DD and her club/county level friends have extra training which has been a godsend while external sports have been unable to go ahead for the past month.

GCSEs - I’ve not got actual numbers to hand, but the girls I do know who’ve have gone past that stage have done 10-12 on average. I think the general paths available are adjusted according to each individual.

In a nutshell, really happy with the school. DD has gone from being very close to school refuser in Y4/5/6 to absolutely loving school now. She’s so happy.

@LackBladder thank you so much SO Useful !

Thanks also. My DD also at primary and I’m feeling slightly anxious about this ISEB test and how hard it seems to be this year. Apparently SCHS not really regarding the results of Verbal and non verbal reasoning.

How hard would you say it is to get into school? Feels quite a series of hurdles looking in.

@CAZZERANT

Thanks also. My DD also at primary and I’m feeling slightly anxious about this ISEB test and how hard it seems to be this year. Apparently SCHS not really regarding the results of Verbal and non verbal reasoning.

How hard would you say it is to get into school? Feels quite a series of hurdles looking in.

I don’t think it’s going to be any harder exactly, just different. I know that VR and NVR will not hold as much weighting as the English and Maths components as they’ve made that clear.

The activity day in place of interviews will also be a factor, and obviously Y5 report. I also asked DD’s primary head to write a reference, which was done, so perhaps worth asking your current head for the same.

IMO there are hurdles for each and every school, every year, but this year they’re just different. They absolutely distinguish between prep and primary as they’re fully aware that our state schools are different. I don’t feel at all that my DD was at a disadvantage. For transparency, she’s mid year birth and dyslexic. Wandsworth Test was a disaster for her... But here we are with her at SCHS with an offer on offer day.

I’m very happy to answer any in depth stuff via DM if you have questions. It’s a stressful time in a normal year, but if I can help, I will.

That’s so kind - thank you.

I also have a DD in year 7 and agree with everything LackBladder says. DD could not be happier. She was at their Prep and pretty much all the girls moved up to the senior school but with the increased intake after the recent building improvements there seems to be a good mix - I think more girls now join from other schools than the Prep. They seem to have done a good job at getting them all integrated which is impressive given the restrictions covid has placed on social gatherings. I think 10 GCSEs is the norm.

I have a different view as my daughter left after 2 unhappy years there (along with 9 other girls that year). Maybe pastoral care has improved but it was appalling when we were there and the school very chaotically run. I was sad it didn’t work as v local to us and I liked it too at open days. She was unlucky with the tutor she was given amd stick with for 5 years. Most girls do 9 GCSEs based on the 2 prize giving we attended. Do know lots of girls happy there but it didn’t work for us. They didn’t care at all that half my daughters year weren’t even going to lunch let alone eating any. Despite the fancy new dining hall they hadn’t working out capacity and not enough seating so sounded v stressful experience.