G&L, CLSG, SHHS, Highgate? Your honest opinion is needed?

[NewMum112]

Good Morning , I’m reposting this again as you advised
We live in NW London, we didn’t have a chance to visit any school only through virtual openings, so I need your honest opinions about CLSG, G&L, SHHS, and Highgate please.
With the exploding offers we need to make a first and second choice at least, please if you have any experience with any of these schools or any +/- information please do share, I value the views of parents more than any information I could get from the school itself. Thank you.

@MumsRule20
@Cloudymornings96
You are right, we need to test the journeys and then make a decision

ok thanks hersetta

@Addmelater3
I tried to PM but didn’t get through to you.
Thank you for your message and your views, DD still prefers G&L, I’m only worried about the journey it’s around 45mins, while SHHS is 5-10 mins, but I have not visited SHHS, I don’t have a real sense of the school, virtual open days don’t give a real feeling of the school, we will have to make a decision regardless. Thanks you very much.

Tough one. On the face of it, it’s a no brainer. I am sure SHHS is as good as GL, even though I only know the former and SPGS directly, which also happens to be the travelling choice you have, i.e. 5 vs 45 min for us. 1.5hrs a day is a lot of time in the day. Unless you gain something you know you would value for this investment, e.g. sports, SW London friendship groups, IB, etc., I would not do it. Only you know the answer. Consider also your child. If she is very fast and efficient, may be she can spend that extra time and not be affected. Also consider how often you are able to be on standby for pick ups/drops offs because it is quicker to drive and much easier for the child., esp. if she needs to take bulky things with her such as instruments, sports kit, etc.

I agree, no brainer with SHHS. 5 minutes versus 45 minutes makes a significant difference in lost time over a week, especially if she's travelling by tube which can be quite tiring (even worse if there's a change of line involved). Year 9 mum here, and I think they're at their best for concentrating and learning in class without a long journey at the beginning of the day (teenagers sleep a lot!) Plus homework tends to ramp up quite a bit in the later years. And obviously more pleasant for them to have local friends. If you're thinking of Oxbridge, then SHHS has one of the highest acceptances of all schools in the country (perhaps because G&L's results have only risen in recent years). But both great choices so very well done to your daughter!

@newmum112 one other factor though, is that the Hammersmith bridge closure has made travel times from the SW much worse for a lot of people who would have previously been the 'natural' catchment area for G&L, and other Hammersmith schools.

Given this, I wonder if the centre of gravity might shift a bit more towards NW London? Certainly there was no shortage of children from St Johns Wood, Queens Park and Maida Vale travelling to Hammersmith up till now... so your DD wouldn't be the only one from this area by a long shot.

@KittyWithStripes I forgot about the issue of the Hammersmith bridge closure. But I think the SW crowd still get to properly manage it.

And we know that the centre of gravity is also pushing to include Kensal Green, Brondesbury Park, Belsize Park, Primrose Hill, Marylebone, Holborn - in addition to what @KittyWithStripes wrote.

I should have written "the reach is expanding to include"

We live about equidistant between SHHS & G&L. However the journey to G&L is much more straightforward and quicker so we didn’t apply to SHHS or CLSG (which is almost an hour door to door). I personally preferred CLSG as perhaps a ‘more rounded’ & down to earth school compared to G&L, but since our DD preferred G&L, in conjunction with journey times and their rise up the league tables it was a straightforward decision for us when applying and luckily it worked out. She is very happy and there are students from the NW London area in her year.
If I was in your position, it would be very tempting to go for the convenience of SHHS, especially if you have other children to consider.
But my DH really didn’t like SHHS for some reason (which I always found odd as I thought it was lovely!) It’s a real shame if you haven’t been able to visit the schools in person as they all have such a different feel and that too is a big factor. Nonetheless, you have great options and in the grand scheme of things all of them will probably work out fine!

@LLPHLGL Would love to hear some more details on why you personally preferred CLSG despite the longer journey for you and not applying. Did you visit? Trying to garner as much insight whilst deciding at our end. Do you know any girls there and how they are doing now? Sadly it was the one we didn’t get to see and it will be a 45min or so journey for us too. So many have said this isn’t an issue if a child loves it and have read and heard it is the norm for those in SW London who are travelling to the more central schools. I am going to try and not let this preturb us too much at this stage as DD very keen on City for various reasons.

If anyone else has any balanced experiences on CLSG, do share. Thank you!

I like the ‘urban city’ feel of CLSG & it’s more slightly more diverse intake. I like the fact it’s not particularly polished! However that concrete setting is exactly why some people don’t like it. A friend’s daughter is there who loves it and is bright and confident.
Only you know how committed and resilient your DD would be to make that journey every day. Ultimately, we never had to really question if our DD would manage it as I was the only one who felt that was about City in our family!

Hello ladies and thanks for your helpful input, we are nearly there on making our decision, but I feel really bad holding the offers and taking a long time to make this decision I can’t help feeling guilty that we didn’t make decision until now so we can release offers to waiting list pupils, are you feeling the same or am I being over sensitive. It’s adding to the pressure of making our final decision.

@NewMum112 I think when you haven’t seen any of the schools and have more offers than expected it must be extremely difficult. The only thing to really clarify will be the offer holder events.

Of course for some where there are other considerations in play, such as financial or wanting a choice closer to home etc. - are waiting on state and grammar options on the 1st.

SPGS results came out this morning so I expect a number of those who were holding out will now have made up their minds and in a better position to release their other offers. So anticipating more WL spaces freed up from today.

Are you still deciding between all or narrowed it down to a couple and can release the others? Will help your decision making a bit more if you can do that.

@NewMum112 sorry last msg should have ended by saying don’t feel bad. Understandable under the circumstances this year and you won’t be alone. Many will have given up their offers and everyone is hopefully mindful of wanting to do the same and release what they can as soon as they can if not already.

The schools are all expecting people to take their time and to play a strategic game; they will fill their places so don't worry about them! Your decision is a critical one for your family so take your time!

Hi again NewMum112!

All those schools are fine schools and your daughter will do well at all of them. My daughter has Cambridge friends from all of them.

Highgate has boys, which makes it distinctive. I know many European families which prefer it for that reason.

That said, we had an 8 minute car journey in NW London. Made a huge difference to our daughter's energy levels and the activities she could do easily, both within school and without. I would do the same again, to be frank.

I have a general but relevant question to ask anyone if they know how common or easy is it to switch schools outside of the traditional entry points? Should things really not work out based on various reasons.

Bearing in mind a blind decisions this year will be common for many who have not been able to physically visit the schools. A real gamble as visiting a school and watching in action (not virtually) is such an important part in making a suitable decision.

People switch subject to places becoming available, single digits of course but I am aware of recent switches from CLSG to SHHS and SPGS and from NLCS to SHHS.

As what the PP said, places become available - in single digits - because people move, etc.

I mentioned in my post before, during our grand tour of London schools, we met students who have switched from:

1. NLCS or CLSG or SPGS -> SHHS or Channing (less pressure?)
2. NHEHS -> G&L (better care? academic?)

And then for 6th form (we know of):
a. WHS -> KCS Wimbledon (for the boys :)!)
b. SPGS -> Westminster School (boys again!)
c. SHHS or CLSG -> State Grammar or Partially Selective State (?)

DD is at a SW London school- they had a few girls join in y8 and a few left ( to go abroad). About 10 joined in y9 from other state and private secondary ( ie not from 13 prep schools) and abroad. There is more movement than you’d think.

@Oblonsky thanks for the thoughts. Also recall your earlier useful posts .

On the switches you mention which you have personally heard of, are these at any specific years? From what I understood and heard those moves have mostly occurred for sixth form and some also go state and co-ed.

Do you have a DD at any of the schools?

@TomorrowOnce just seen your message and really helpful as always thank you. Your school research is impeccable!

@sw15sw15 so reassuring to know as well.

I am aware of the usual 13+ (Year 9) and Year 12 (Sixth Form) moves being easy transition points.

Expect the rest does depend on in year / chance vacancies becoming available and the school itself.

Forgot one

1. Boarding -> NHEHS (want day?)

@TomorrowOnce Reading back, I think your astute questioning / evaluations make a lot of sense. Sounds about right to me :)

I was specifically referring to year 7 and 8 switches when things don’t work out. Sixth form is a whole different ball game and there is a generally a lot more movement depending on the school.