Putney High or Emanuel school for all-rounder DD ?

[11plusNewbie]

Hello all,
We are trying to decide between Emanuel and Putney High for an all-rounder/sporty DD.
We live walking distance to Emanuel and 30 minutes public transport to PHS.
Leaning towards Emanuel on the basis of location, recent massive improvements and nicer/greener grounds but wonder if we are crazy to turn down Putney which we also love for the buzz and HM !!
One of the concerns is that very few girls travel in that same direction, they all seem to travel east, south or stay local, so no local school friends on hand.
Please help !
Thanks

Agreed - girls at all-girls schools going on to all-girls schools.

Also, those going to those three prep schools probably live north of the river and may well not be looking to schools in that part of south London at all, other than those who particularly want a GDST school

It's a bit like the post above pointing out that some who live near Emanuel send their DC elsewhere, presumably because they think a different school is a better fit. Others travel long distances to get to Emanuel because they think that's the best fit.

I would however always caution against a bugger of a journey (not just length, but also convenience and reliability). If your heart sinks at the thought of travelling to a parents evening or a fixture, then don't I fount it daily on a DC who might be carrying school bag, gym kit, oboe and coffee.

PHS has a coach service, so easier to reach conveniently and reliably from some areas (including Fulham and Kensington) but Emanuel does not - but it's a short walk from Clapham Junctin station so has plenty of pupils arriving from different directions by train.

@Utility

Agreed - girls at all-girls schools going on to all-girls schools.

No, that's not right. Here is The Times's list of the top 30 independent schools in London.

Top independent secondary schools in London

1 St Paul’s Girls’ School, Hammersmith
2 The Godolphin and Latymer School, Hammersmith
3 King’s College School, Wimbledon
4 St Paul’s School, Barnes
5 Westminster School
6 City of London School
7 North London Collegiate School, Edgware
8 Hampton School
9 University College School, Hampstead
10 City of London School For Girls, Barbican
11 Highgate School
12 South Hampstead High School GDST
13 Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith
14 James Allen’s Girls’ School, Dulwich
15 Eltham College, Mottingham
16 Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton
17 Wimbledon High School GDST
18 Whitgift School, South Croydon
19 Channing School, Highgate
20 Putney High School GDST
21 Alleyn’s School, Dulwich
22 Trinity School, Croydon
23= Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST
23= Dulwich College
25 Bancroft’s School, Woodford Green
26 Kingston Grammar School
27 Sydenham High School GDST
28 Ibstock Place School, Roehampton
29 Surbiton High School, Kingston upon Thames
30 Hampton Court House, East Molesey

It's what you would expect. You could argue that it's a rough and ready measure, but it shows the best schools in an order that makes approximate sense. Hence why I suggested to the OP that if you have the option of PHS, and if the journey isn't prohibitive, take PHS over Emanuel. This would also explain the preferred destinations for the prep schools I listed, not geography or a reference for singe sex education.

@Globaliser I 'think' the original poster chose Emanuel and moved on. I get where you are coming from with league tables but would also argue they are 7 years out of date! (intake v outtake)

We chose PHS for our DD (over WHS, Alleyns and JAGS) because we could really see the fit for her. I completely agree its an amazing school and she is so excited as she will finally get to step inside on 19 April! A big plus for us (apologies I'm probably repeating myself) was the lovely head and focus on sports / co-curricular. Its a very personal decision!

second the idea that it's personal - you just have to go with your gut feel on this? However many open days (virtual or otherwise) you attend, it's a leap of faith. There are no bad choices listed here, just choices that might suit your child and location better than others.

Globaliser: of the 'top' schools you have listed, only Latymer is co-ed and geographically relevant to this thread. So if you want co-education and it's not to be Latymer, then Emanuel is the option.
Using your rather esoteric method, I am sure the 1/1 girl going from Falkner House to E this year will have a great time. As will the 0/11 going to PH.
They are both excellent schools. I have children at neither. My only point is that E is on the up!

Hi all,
We have gone for Emanuel for the reasons mentioned above : coed, great facilities and green, local, shooting up really and a massive will to improve across the board.

One shouldn’t forget that the league tables only show one side of the story being for example how bright the intake was 5/7 years ago.
One mustn’t forget that by offering a few academic scholarships, asking pupils to drop off the number of subjects they won’t be getting As in at GCSEs or A levels, getting new pupils in the sixth form (while kicking others out) a school can easily maintain a certain place in the league tables... all very efficient strategies !!! But not showing what the value added is.

We have been impressed by Emanuel and how hard they are working on all aspects being massively improving teaching, zero tolerance for drugs or certain behaviours, offering the best clubs across the board. This is not to say that PHS doesn’t offer those though hence the post, as we love it too.
It’s just that PHS can’t compete with coed location and facilities for us.
Thank you so much for all your help!!
For everyone’s sake, try and not put too much weight on the league tables as they are only a picture at a point in time of certain key glossy things being put forward to the public !
All the best !

@Utility

Globaliser: of the 'top' schools you have listed, only Latymer is co-ed and geographically relevant to this thread. So if you want co-education and it's not to be Latymer, then Emanuel is the option. Using your rather esoteric method, I am sure the 1/1 girl going from Falkner House to E this year will have a great time. As will the 0/11 going to PH. They are both excellent schools. I have children at neither. My only point is that E is on the up!

I’m sure it’s on the up, and I’m sure it’s a good school, but I don’t think it’s helpful to the OP to equate it to Putney High, which is a very good school. It’s also artificial to compare it only with co-educational schools. A bright girl has the choice of single sex and co-ed, and that is the valid comparison here, at secondary level when DC can travel to school independently, and in London when there plenty of boys’ and girls’ schools within a short distance of each other. I think it’s unrealistic to suggest that parents are going to turn down places at Westminster, St Paul’s, St Paul’s Girls, or G&L, for example, in order to take a place at Emanuel on the basis that it is co-educational, and the other schools are not.

Both Putney high school and Emanuel are great schools. My daughter turned down a place at JAGS for Emanuel. While JAGS is an amazing school we thought that Emanuel would suit her better having spoken to parents of both schools (who like both schools!) and having the choice. I think that academic results are not the only consideration and other factors come into play.

So in this thread alone, we have first hand examples of Putney High, Notting Hill & Ealing High and JAGS being turned down in favour of Emanuel.
I think the point has been made.

@StopAtTheRedLight what a ridiculous thing to say, that is nothing to do with the school or what OP is asking. I'm not sure if you have children this age but I can tell you from experience that there are a huge amount of 16/17 year olds - boys and girls that go out in groups and have a good time. Like the others have said talk to your neighbours not the school. I have a DS at Emanuel - the school is very good, they will only accept good behaviour and my DS has been happy there. I think you'll find PHS girls are just the same when they are out. They are both good schools in my opinion. Both get good results and in my experience good sporting facilities. OP most of my DS friends live in Clapham, Battersea, Barnes, Wimbledon or Putney area Hope that helped OP.

@pringlesandchocolate
Thank you ! I am very glad to read your post.
As I said we are local to Emanuel and we get to see the pupils in action and are pleased to see manners and good behaviour.
those comments did not go in the balance at all. It wasn’t the object of the post.

@11plusNewbie I think you'll be pleased particularly if you're local to the school. The new head although unpopular with the kids (because he's stricter than the last!) is certainly bringing up the standards, my DS tells me there is now a new deputy head too. The sport is good there and although there have been fewer fixtures due to covid they have been ploughing on with sport when they can! the other thing I've really noticed from friends who have more sensitive children is that there seems to be no bullying and everyone being kind to each other. My Ds was not very confident when he started in YR 7 he now has lovely friends and has so much more confidence. Good luck

@pringlesandchocolate
yes indeed Mr Turner is joining from Alleyn's, he is a great addition, having seen him in action during the 11+ process, as head of lower school at Alleyn's.
I saw that during lockdown #2, Emanuel managed to keep the Saturday sport going whereas a lot of other schools cut down on it.
I have also seen they have extended their swimming provision, and increased the hours the pool is used by their own pupils.