Lower Sixth Form - Westminster vs. St Paul Boys' vs. Magdalen College School vs. Sevenoaks

[poodlelovermama]

We are writing from overseas. The offers from these schools have made us excited for one hour last week. But the dilemma and struggling have been lingering on our minds for over one week. It is a pity that we cannot fly to these campuses and meet with the teachers and students. We wanted to feel the school cultures and environments. We could merely judge from websites, league tables and words of mouth. My boy is academic sound, love sports. He used to a school sports team and orchestra members. However, he pretty understands that he needs to focus on studying and extended project/ volunteering to build up his portfolio for university application. Thus school sports facilities may not be a big concern. Yet, he wants a school that is not too much drilling on past exam papers and make students trained/moulded to be a 'book worm'. He said there is a long way to finish college and a balance of life during these two years is also important. Honestly speaking, he is from an elite school and he feels a little burnt out during the past two years. Because students are only measured by scores and grades, awards. The atmosphere is very competitive with very pushy parents. The pastoral system is so nominal. Everyone just acts cool and indifference except for champions awards and scores and performances. We do not want to repeat the life under this model. Please kindly advise. Urgent. The deadlines to offer acceptance is due in the coming days.

Does Westminster not have its own racing circuit then? How disappointing.

I think PP meant Jack Aitken, Jenson Button had nothing to do with Westminster School..

Interestingly, the circuit Aitken trained on was near Sevenoaks! In case that's an interest of your DS's..

Aubaine, No, no racing circuit! They might try using Parliament Sq I suppose. What I was trying to demonstrate was that pupils had a range of talents in contradiction to the Presenting Percy view that the culture is one of unrelenting academic competition.

I think it was impressive that one was able balance both a demanding school life and making progress in a demanding sport.

The point is that academics may be top notch, but they were not the be all and end all. From previous posts it is pretty clear that PresentingPercy's child/children had a miserable time at Westminster. Or as I rather suspect, that they did not attend at all and comments are based on some personal prejudice.

I also wonder. The arrogant Westminster pupils you know. Do you think that this is a function of the school. Are their parents meek and unassuming? My impression is that parents can have a lot of influence on the attitudes of their children, far more than any school. DCs friends were bright and enquiring, but not obviously arrogant.

Ooh not sure we can call Jack Aitken a formula one driver ]

He’s formula 2. Has done one F1 race as a stand-in for a much better and younger driver who was drafted in by a different racing team to replace Hamilton for one race as Hamilton had Covid.

Dunno. My DD says he has a team for next year. But the point was he was able to balance school and practice.

They are all very different schools. Westminster is great for the right child. And probably wrong for those who are bothered where they come in class. Sevenoaks also appears to be a great school and I have come across several who have chosen it over Westminster for sixth form. (One Asian friend, say, did not her daughter far away and in central London.) I don't know much about Magdalen College. My impressions of St Pauls, boys or girls, was that the parents seemed involved in their children's education, but that might simply have been the parents we came across. When do they start taking girls. I assume this will involve quite a lot of change. Unless OP is actively looking for co-ed, it might be something to bear in mind.

Need, Jack Aiken has been very open that being in sixth form while motor racing really hindered him. Which is why he’s still not an official F1 driver

I didn’t say arrogant. Judgmental and a bit snobby though? Yeah I absolutely think it’s a function of the school since the teacher I know (a head of department) is that in spades. The pupils I know are a mix in ages, some past, some present. I don’t know their parents that well in some cases but of the ones I do know well, one mother (my friend) has been disappointed that her son. Has expressed entitled views.

I’m not sure anyone said academics were the be all and end all. To say they’re not the main focus would be foolish though surely. I’m not sure there’s anything too wrong with that, it is what it is.The school itself states it’s the top performing academic school in Britain on its website.

Aubaine, as far as I could see DS' friends could be characterised as nerdy and quirky. Like many schools there is a big mix of personalities, and people gravitate towards those most like them. I know DS steered clear of some he saw as arrogant.

I was really responding to PresentingPercy who posts regularly about Westminster yet seems to have quite an odd take. I remain curious about her links with the school.

Apparently Jack Aitkin was nice and not arrogant... maybe that will change if he becomes an official F1 driver

^My DD says he has a team for next year.*

@Needmoresleep Then your DD either knows something that hasn’t been announced or Westminster failed to teach her to fact check He has a seat in a test race, that’s all that’s out there. He is currently a reserve driver for an F1 team.

Need I’ve already clarified I didn’t say arrogant. One can come across as rather unassuming bit still be judgmental and inherently entitled. Please don’t misrepresent my words to suit your own point.

I didn’t say the culture was one of unrelenting academic competition. In fact I was responding to the notion that all the schools mentioned were not houses. I stand by the fact that it’s what parents know about them and indeed respect that! It’s an important aspect for these schools. I don’t need to know any of the schools to know what they are about. Any more than other posters do. Not sure I comment much on Westminster actually. Seems to have a much bigger presence on these forums than other schools. I do wonder why that is?

Not houses: hot houses.

@needmoresleep. Sounds like WN is a well balanced school. Wonder the activities - weekend inter house sports contests, overseas SQ trip and ice marathon Iceland Finland is for Sixth formers? Is it regular and make all students access to these activities ? Or are they being access to good athletic students ? Do they really have so much time to do these, in parallel to the fast paced study ?

And dear all, again, thank you very much for the sharing here. It is good that we, from a diverse backgrounds, can be brought on one platform to talk liberally. As parents, we are all doing very hard for the well being of our kids. Nothing wrong for any one of the approach. To conclude, we want a school which can balance the stress ( a known fact there for sixth forms the very fast pace wherever one go) .... not much unhealthy competitions amongst peers, more liberal teaching staffs, a tint of co curricular life to relax the minds.... diverse cultural background ... are we too greedy :D

OP, all those schools will have staff at a level to be able to and want to deliver university style teaching rather than simply covering exam syllabus. Westminster and St Paul’s are particularly known for that. MCS will offer less ‘extra’ as a school than the others.
I would say for all those schools it is up to him now whether he is passively trained and ‘measured’ or is ‘in the driving seat’ for picking opportunities to develop his originality and independent thinking from the teaching, school societies, intra- and extra-curricular and importantly from the other students. All those schools will have a range of students for mixing with, those who spend all their time working because they particularly feel the pressure of achievement and ranking or are natural ‘bookworms’ and those who are very bright but tilted to entrepreneurial projects or hedonism or rebellion rather than academic achievements. So it is fine to bias selection on IB versus A level, his preferred location and extras for activities and whether he wants a boarding setup to allow more in-school time for those extras and socialising. Sevenoaks will have more of a university campus feel due to the international boarding mix and space.

Also be honest with yourself as a family. How much of his holidays will be structured for additional coaching and working / practice because of perceived need to excel or keep-up? That will contribute to burnout.

Ouch!

Not sure I comment much on Westminster actually.

Advanced Search shows you’ve never commented on Westminster before... not under this name anyway. So @Needmoresleep is wrong that you comment on it regularly

Sevenoaks School - very international, liberal teaching, supportive, great new headmaster and IB. I would go for boarding in the house that takes all new boys in the Sixth Form - they will all be new and have a special bond.

I think within U.K., Westminster and St Paul’s are more traditional and recognised than the other 2 on your list, but having read your criteria, co-Ed, liberal, balanced etc I think Sevenoaks is best. Internationally, Sevenoaks is well recognised due to boarding and best IB results. I don’t even know if they participate in English league tables anymore.

It is also means there will be kids who really have experienced other school systems and cultures up to GCSE’s. Westminster is also very multi cultural but I think most kids will have lived in U.K. most of their life.

If situation allows, we prefer we could have flied to UK the tests and interviews..... Seems parents here said fewer for Magdalen... really want to know more.. if anyone could share

From my limited experience of schools, although DDs have friends from a myriad of top schools, the sports trips are usually for the sports teams. Often they cost £thousands. I’ve never seen them for DC not in the teams. Skiing is usually for anyone.

Trips that are designed to enhance the curriculum are also offered. Sometimes these can be over subscribed but hopefully not and DC get so much out of them. It would be usual for Geography and History to do field trips. Less obviously possible for maths! Often choirs go on tours and these schools should have all sorts of extra opportunities for students. We always took the view that we wanted a broad education as well as an academic one. All work and no play isn’t good for enjoying life, at school or in the future. My DDs always took part in debating, dance, drama, music and choirs even in the 6th form. They needed these to develop their personalities and soft skills. And they represent learning for life.

Regarding Magdalen, this may be helpful:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/magdalen-college/amp/

As for skiing and school trips, given your son is starting sixth form next Sep OP, skiing and other trips shouldn’t be your main concern (not saying it is). With Covid, it’s highly unlikely there will be many during his lower sixth time. They have to be planned well in advance so schools may not be able to set this up for the next academic year. It will probably be possible for upper sixth but your son may be too busy with impending exams.