St Marylebone CofE School

[SweetsMum3]

A newbie here, and might need to make a quick decision. I have gotten myself tied in knots about secondary schools. DD is on the waitlist for St Marylebone. I rang admissions on the last day of Spring Term and was told it’s moving.

Anyone know anything about this school firsthand? Academic studies, Maths and English? Community? Students? Extra-curricular activities? Sports? Languages? Music? Class size?

Is St Marylebone School similar to private schools as far as the education the girls receive?

Sometimes I think I would go for private if she would definitely be getting a better education but I am not sure the private schools she got into will be much better than an excellent state option. Interested in hearing from others who have been through this and what they decided.

It's a fantastic school - will DM you!

It's a terrific school. Academically aspirational, and some (not all of course) extremely dedicated and talented teachers. Pastoral care and support, when needed, is fantastic. Class size is big (about 28) to be expected in a state school.

I really like the community, and the fact that the girls come from all over London and there's a real social, racial, economic and even religious (for a CofE school) mix. This wasn't the case in my local school.

I don't think they're so hot on languages, tbh, and they could do better on music, but that's nitpicking. The HT is wonderful.

As a state school, it really shines. However, given how underfunded state education is, and probably will continue to be, if you can afford private, and if your DD has got into an excellent private school (not all private schools are good, but I'm sure you know that) and it's a good fit, then I might go for private. I say this with huge reluctance, as I'm a big believer in state education, but I see how hard the HT has to fight for every penny, and the facilities and class sizes and opportunities are just different in private education.

But I would wholeheartedly recommend the school. Please feel free to DM me if you want to discuss/ask anything else.

I have reservations. I find the school highly politicised in a way that is almost systemic. I think it tends to push political viewpoints on the girls, which does not allows the girls to think for themselves.It encourages activism with no qualms regularly, through many channels. If I'm honest I think this is the opposite of what a good education should be. You can DM me if you want more information.

It's Secondary offers tomorrow - really interested in current views of St Marylebone school if anyone has any?

I took my daughter out - for the reasons above - which led to bullying and a pretty toxic atmosphere in her year group. I know lots of mums loved it. Some who are a bit worried and a couple who are pretty worried. I found many of the lessons full of political content and ropey statistics and amounted to indoctrination. However there were also some great teachers. I thought the maths and history were very strong. Art is better than I've seen in any private school. Music was poor. Geography, English and RE were just lessons in social justice – and I'm fine for the kids to talk and discuss many pressing issues - just not happy for them to be "re-educated".

We got an offer to Marylebone today, we also have offers at Queen’s College and More House.

I’m watching this discussion with great interest and would value any feedback!

@ranunculusbloom "leaning towards a political edge is a big current curriculum trend at the moment and hear this from various schools and that’s if one is breaking it down to nitty gritty" – I don't really know what you are trying to say here. Is promoting bias political opinion okay? A minor detail? Just so widespread we should let it happen? Putting politics in the classroom has been done throughout the ages – so that the kids think in line with a certain orthodoxy. It stops critical thinking. I don't mean to take apart what you say – but my experience is this is the root of the problem is parents slightly turn a blind eye to things like this, and teachers think they are saving the world with a certain world view. – I'd be interested to know what views outside the general consensus your daughter expressed? I've heard an example, at St. M where a Jewish girl was forced by classmates to say she was pro-Palestine - and of course when classrooms are adorned with Palestinian flags and various political symbols are warn by teachers - you kind of know what is "right-think" and what isn't. Moreover, it's far easier to just fall in-line than to question. One girl accused of being a racist in my daughter's year (which she wasn't) - then began reading "why I am no longer talking to white people about race"... which personally I think it a pretty divisive book (I'm mixed race). I've also seen lessons in RE where the Hijab is promoted as the most positive feminist expression of your identity - which I think it often is - but it's complicated... this was also cushioned with the kids being told it protected women from "white me" and statistics on the rise of Islamaphobia – that I took the trouble to look up and were basically false.I don't know if Islamphobia is on the rise or not, but the statistic was false. Aside from the absolute zero educational value of this lesson - please tell me where a child forced to wear a hijab might turn when her western school is telling her is in only ever a symbol of everything good in the world? After that RE lesson, I actually made my daughter ring a muslim friend - and she was pretty damning of the lesson - which shocked me as I know she's always stayed very close to her community and that's always been important. Sorry to rant –I just think we can sometimes be quiet flippant about politics in the classroom, and political neutrality is enshrined in law - and that is for a reason.So we can all speak freely and feel safe to express what we think in school..When at the age of 11 you are messaged very clearly what is right and wrong - often with things that aren't true or half truths – I think it is a form of indoctrination. I just would like education to be about more than political utopia building. I'd like a kid to go deeper. I saw enough troubling lessons and when I confronted the school they were very lovely - but were kind of sure they were fighting the right fight. So it's a firm "no" for me. I think if you want your kid to learn a type of activism - and people do want this – it works. It's also a very popular trendy mindset at preset. It's not for me - though in essence I agree with most of the causes - but find the versions promoted extremist. I think art and maths were excellent departments at st. M. Music was poor if you're truly musical. But there were some very good, fun teachers there. Some were just teaching activism in the main. Rant over!

We do have an offer and are really happy. I appreciate your points MumMakes, but a bit of social justice woven through the curriculum will go a long way for us.

My only concern applies to any London state school, which is the move from a tiny, kind state primary with excellent pastoral care and very friendly teachers who know the kids inside out, to a huge school of 1100+ where there's 150 kids per year, different teacher each lesson etc.

But that's any school, and the kids are well able for it I think. I am really happy, and more importantly, so is she.

@ranunculusbloom You are making us all the happier. This is all great to know, and really useful and kind. Thanks!

Look. I'm glad you're happy at the school. I'm very happy at the new school - and so is the kid - so we're all good. Don't like being referred to as lurking on this forum... bit mean.- I think your view and my view gives a balanced overview of two opinions - all I was trying to do was just let someone know something I would have valued knowing on entering the school. In fact someone did say something similar but very diplomatically and I just thought it would be fine. For me it wasn't fine and my kid was bullied. Many people love the school.@PurpleNotebook I honestly hope you like it. Good luck both.

If anyone fancies a St Marylebone meet-up, PM me, we could do something in the summer.

My DD also has an offer to Marylebone and QCL.

She is bright but not academically motivated. Coming from a small outstanding state primary, she managed to fly under the radar until lockdown and 11+ Prep when I uncovered how far behind she was and had been placed in lower sets.

My concern, as well as her moving to a much bigger secondary, is how much will staff notice her coasting along vs achieving her potential. I watched a video and heard about the extra LA resources for poor behaving/performing students and the school identifying high achievers but I worry she’ll be left behind again.

QCL’s academic head made a point about making sure the girls don’t coast.

Also, performing arts. I would think the girls who secured scholarships feature in the productions. What space does that allow other pupils to participate? A school review I read online said not all girls get to be involved vs the ethos at QCL where all girls are encouraged to join in.

It’s such a hard decision!

Hi all !
My daughter is also going to Marylebone and she’s very happy!
We had another choice of going to Mill Hill County but she’s prefers Marylebone!
She’s the only one from her school going to Marylebone!
I’m a bit concerned 😟 but hopefully she will fit in with all and make new friends quickly!
Happy to meet anyone who’s daughter is also going to thesame School!

Hi hi,
Also been offered place for my daughter!
A bit nervous about the comments!

Hi LLai
My daughter got an offer now too... is your daughter happy? any insights pls?
Isn't is too teenager mood around? that is what worries me
Looking forward your reply pls

@mummakes thank you, that is very thoughtful insight and very much appreciated.

@SameBoat2022 Thanks for the kind words. It's been a while since I wrote the posts but was somewhat attacked at the time for trying give an honest opinion (although those posts have since been removed) I do of course understand it's painful to hear the school your kid is going to/your dream school is someone else's nightmare - but it was a nightmare for us and I think the nightmare came from the ethos of the school: which was well meaning social activism. In my opinion this was wrong footed and in some ways deeply narcissistic. Huge push on showing how good you are, and finger pointing at others and almost no self refection, from staff and girls... I will also add – although our kid's now resettled in a LOVELY very normal functioning school (which we all adore) – we watched The Crucible over half term and my daughter started crying afterwards because of the Marylebone experience. I think that says a lot about how bad it was for her. BUT I know others are genuinely happy, and on a better note – we're genuinely happy with the new school:). Glad what I said was appreciated. Don't mean to be negative - just honest - and kind of warn people who might feel the same about a politicised education as we do. It's not for us.

No I really appreciated the depth and nuance of your contribution. I despair at the complete lack of political conscience at most schools vs the conformist politicisation at others. I do not understand how kids in England can develop a political conscience with virtually no history and philosophy. May I ask what school are you in now? In PM? Thanks again

I so agree. I think it speaks to years of denigration of education, and unfortunately that many of the younger teachers probably had a similarly poor education (probably at University) – so poor that they literally can't discern that what politicisation of the classroom is, and that they are partakers. I've found the whole experience shocking. No lessons from history taken. I was also shocked how few parents or staff would speak out - even though privately the voiced concerned - sometimes quite grave concerns - but they didn't take if further. I think there was a fear of not conforming to the orthodoxy among them too. I'll PM you:)

The headteacher at St Marylebone is lovely. Really really nice and friendly.

Sorry to reassure this oldish thread, but wondered if anyone could tell me if there is an induction day in the summer before the Y7s start in September please?

Hi
my daughter got an offer as yours, Marylebone and Blackheat- private
i have the same queries as yours
did you decided for Marylebone? If so, was it the right thing to do compared with private?
looking forward to hearing from you
thank you in advance
T.