St Pauls 13+ vs Westminster 13+ vs KCS 11+

[SARTN]

Please can anyone advise with above school offers St Pauls 13+ (offer received) Westminster 13+ (pending results) and KCS 11+(offer received) - what are your opinions about these school choices. Very nice dilemma to be in and with no options of visiting school before deadline 5/3/21 was wondering if anyone can share their thoughts and experience.

We’re in a slightly similar conundrum about deciding between a 13+ and 11+ offer (different schools though)....my advice might only help you decide between those two factors. What has your prep school’s teaching been like during lockdown? It looks like there might be another year or so before we come out of this with online learning likely to feature heavily.... can you see your current school maintaining standards? Ours has been not great as some of the older staff have found it challenging (the Latin teacher sent the boys a Zoom link and sat in Teams waiting for them 😂🙄) and a friend pointed out that a senior school would have more of a drive to push boys as opposed to schools where the boys have already got their places sorted. Also, in our prep school a few boys, who didn’t sit the pretests, will be sitting the 13+ and I’m curious as to whether class time in year 7/8 will be eaten up with pastpapers etc which a child like yours,who has already got an assured place at 13+, might find boring and won’t need. Good luck to you and your little chap...amazing schools and he’s obviously bright enough to shine and be happy in whichever choice you make!

Thank you Mumtum79. We are very happy with current school online teaching and school tells us they will prepare for scholarship if he stays for the extra 2 years. A lot of dilemma to be considered in a position like this and thank you very much to take the time for your opinion. Much appreciated

I’m in a similar position deciding between KCS and St Paul’s. Our places are both for 13+. Based on our visits, I preferred KCS. I’m now wondering whether the reduced 13+ intake is a problem for prep school boys and they have a weird system of integrating their own prep school with their Y7 and Y8 “lower school” cohort and the 13+ boys. So bringing together three groups at Y9. It doesn’t look like anyone else from my son’s prep is going to KCS but quite a few waiting on SPS.

My radar was telling me that my son isn’t a SPS boy. I’ve heard too many tales of boys under pressure there, feeling unhappy in the very academic environment. One male friend friend told me I’d be ruining my son’s life if I sent him there!

So much to weigh up, hard isn’t it?

Thank you motherdare. It’s soo hard. I have heard a lot about people saying the ‘vibe at St Paul’s doesnt fit all boys - not being able to visit the school makes it hard to understand what is it in St Pauls that few feel it is just not right? As westminster is also equally academic but i dont see many reviews about this. We have been to both schools for 8+ But my son cant remember much about it. KCS my son knows in and out and loved it when he was on reserve list tour last 2 years. But suddenly now he is favouring westminster more (maybe peer pressure as more boys from current school go to westminster). I have spoken to current boys at st pauls and westminster and they talk high of their current school and not really much negatives. Hard to think what will suit my son better ....dilemma

@SARTN and @Motherdare I’m new to the site but anxiously waiting for St Paul’s results, so hoping you could please tell me how long did it take to get the response after the interview?

@SARTN we’ve decided on KCS. Didn’t apply to St Paul’s because a difficult journey! When you have great schools to choose between, probably the travel is the main thing.

I can’t but help love Westminster. If travel is same for all, I think I’d pick that. BUT I’d say it’s much more fast paced than St. Paul’s - Saturday classes, right?

However, your son seems to have kings on the brain! Like my son.

Ah sorry, no - I see his swaying to Westminster. Well, it’s a fantastic school!

@Fbmd1 - we had interview on 28/1/21 and we received results by post on 9/2/21

@jumpalicious my son always had Kings as his first option but suddenly after the whole 11/13+ process he seem to have changed and after results seem to be swaying towards Westminter (the surprising thing is we don't even have the results for Westminster), Your son has chosen KCS 11+ or 13+ ? Did you apply for westminster?

@SARTN 11+, didn’t apply to Westminster because I wasn’t sure my son would get into one of the top 3, let alone two of them! Not at a prep, and so didn’t get that sort of feedback... if I had my (his) time again, I’d have gone for both. Probably still go for kings, though, but only because it’s near(ish) to us. I realise (now, after a lot of time thinking, ha) that distance is a big deciding factor.

Dilemma of Westminster13+ and KCS 11+?
Anyone who can share more thoughts into this and opinion?
We had dropped Hampton and my son is not very keen on St Pauls 13 i don't know why - he just doesn't feel it's right for him

@SARTN we also dropped Hampton. Your son has the top three schools there. All excellent. All fast paced. All excellent teaching.

How to pick? I’ve gone for the school closest to us (K). But I’d be delighted with all.

Westminster- be aware of Saturday school. Consider: Central London location of W, vs quiet vibe of Kings.

If there’s nothing in it, in terms of travel, then why not st p, if that’s where your son wants to go.

11+ vs 13+. Depends on how good his prep is. Will it get him ready to move to W or SP.

You have a dilemma, albeit a v good one!

Apologies: too early! I see your son doesn’t want sp. in that case, remove that one. Makes life easier. It’s now between KCS and WUS.

Qu: why does your son not like the idea of SP? The answer may help to decide which of the other two is the better fit...

#Jumpalicious thanks for your thoughts. KCS is much closer to us. Westminster will be public transport travel or might involve a move closer to school (which we don't mind doing if this is the school he wants to be in). St Pauls he didn't like due to a bad interview experience, first negative impression that i can't seem to restore despite all efforts (i will not blame the school as it was online and it had to be how it had to be). We even had 1 hour 1 to 1 with head of admissions and my son still has SPS on his 3rd preference. I hear teaching style is also different at westminster being more research and independent learning compared to the more traditional teaching way at KCS (which i prefer but as it is not me going to school i can only put this info across to my son to choose). I think he wants to take the challenge exam at westminster another reason that is pulling his thoughts to westminster, he doesn't see saturday school as a negative and thinks it is positive (i really don't know how). He knows westminster is scattered campus and city life and KCS all in one site. I struggle to know if I should leave the decision to him and just guide with all the info or actually steer him towards my preference (actually I am confused myself and can't make up my mind) ....arrrgghhh

The challenge exam comment made me chuckle. He sounds like a lovely bright kid.

Did he/you attend the kings offer holders eve the other day? What did he think? Has there been similar at W?

Could he even do two years at KCS and transfer to W at 13...
Sorry, that’s probably not helping...

In terms of teaching, I also get the impression that K is more trad when compared to W. But I expect the more off piste stuff at W is only possible because they also go to school on a sat. So essentially W do all the trad stuff too, they just have more time to play with. I’d rather keep saturdays free for our own off piste stuff - -lie ins- -.

@SARTN we struggled with this choice and went with WS and no regrets. Pm me if you’d like.

@Jumpalicious - yes he did attend KCS offer holder virtual class and also I did attend the parents evening talk. Nothing similar has been arranged by westminster or SPS but might be because these 2 schools we did 13 + so there is time for decision.
I am contemplating writing and asking if we can move to KCS for 2 years than to westminster.....as offer letter states reference from current prep school so not sure what they will say

@Talksunderwater - I can't figure out how to PM you....i will really appreciate a discussion with you.

[quote SARTN]@Jumpalicious - yes he did attend KCS offer holder virtual class and also I did attend the parents evening talk. Nothing similar has been arranged by westminster or SPS but might be because these 2 schools we did 13 + so there is time for decision.
I am contemplating writing and asking if we can move to KCS for 2 years than to westminster.....as offer letter states reference from current prep school so not sure what they will say[/quote]
Wouldn’t it be far better to stay at the prep for 2 years and then go to Westminster. Would be very hard for your DS to leave KCS at 13 when barely anyone else would be ( maybe the odd boy who’s been there since 7) and I don’t think would be favourably looked on by either school although they probably can’t technically stop you doing it.

@enoughisenough2021 i agree with you and i don't have any issue with current prep school. only reason this option came to my mind is KCS is half the journey to his current prep and also if he is in KCS and doesnt want to move at 13 that will be fine, but worried if I will regret the Westminster option and since we have time for deadlines??????
but i don't know if this is allowed (i know people saying they have done in to grammer than private) but now offers states reference from current prep schools so i am not sure at all...if this is still an option.
my thoughts jumping from pillar to post
thanks for your input to this thread....i cannot tell you how much i appreciate others opinion to gain insight into these school to help with decision

@talksunderwater i think i found how to PM you - hope you received it

Actually, for Westminster offer, you have at least one year to decide and get 100% of your deposit (to hold your place) back if you decide not to go. Then six months later, they'll ask for another deposit (traditional) that is refunded after your son leaves the school.

So conceivably, you can go to KCS at 11+ and then switch two years later but this move would be very unusual and frowned upon by both schools.

If he's very academic, then I'd say go for WS. Kids travel from all over London, some at least 1hr each way. He can also choose to board at any time if he doesn't want to commute. Many kids do this at 6th Form.

Lastly, the reason for Saturday school is that 2 of the weekdays are half-days for "Stations" (sports) so they make up the lost academic classes on Saturdays.

@njshore thank you...yes i am trying to read all the terms and condition. I am just puzzled how sometimes you hear negative feedback from parents at Westminster but actually never from the boys currently studying there as all who I have spoken to seem to be enjoying it.
I really don't know if westminster will allow this idea of move to KCS than to westminster - i will need to write to them if this is a consideration to see what westminster has to say about this. Chances also are my son might like KCS and not want to move.
But moving schools like this might not be a good idea.....really overthinking this i think....hard decision.

I appreciate for those coming out and giving positive info about Westminster - as always negatives are spoken out and positives not mentioned.

Thanks again for helping me

@SARTN have you done a pen and paper list of pros and cons? Sometimes that is the only way. List all the + and - for each school. Go with the school that has more +s. If the lists are absolutely equal, then let your son decide.

You can’t go wrong with either school.

@Jumpalicious thank you. I have done that but probably can do amendments from all the additional discussions from this thread. thanks again