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.

Hi
mu daughter also got offers Marylebone and Blackheat
i was wondering, which did you choose between queen’ and marylebone and how is your opinion of what is the best between private and state pls? Any opinion would be appreciated

Surely you must have accepted the place at the state school by now, if it was offered back in May?

We had offers to a number of independent schools and Marylebone. We waited till after the taster days in July to make our final decision. For me the decision was always about academics and aspiration. 1) I did a lot of research about how Marylebone push students - the school is good at spotting the very bright girls (top 5-10%) and challenging them. Via extra support from the council they are also focused on the lowest 10% - improving attendance and grades but my concern was the girls in the middle who coast and go under the radar - as my daughter had. A delight to teach, pretty and polite but not driven by grades. That’s fine in primary but at some point she has to apply to university and competitive jobs. 2) During the parents evening, the HT at Marylebone spent 15 mins lecturing about the uniform, saying how important it was for every child to comply. My concern was are parents really so in engaged or supportive of their daughters education that they need buying in to the uniform policy. I want lectures on advanced maths not uniform compliance. 3) DD attended the settling in days for our final two choices. At Marylebone she didn’t like that they had to eat lunch in their form room - there is no cafeteria. During the settling in day, a couple of groups of girls in each class were disruptive and had to be told multiple times to stop talking and participate. I want my daughter to be surrounded by girls who work hard in class and respect teachers. We decided on Queen’s College that afternoon and haven’t looked back. She’s thrived. She achieved ‘excellent’ in science for the year, ‘very good’ in most other subjects and her English writing/vocabulary has blossomed. It’s been tough financially but I don’t regret our decision.

@AMagny I can't believe you held onto school places that long. St M doesn't hide the fact the kids eat in form groups. They show that on the tours.

AMagny
thank you for your prompt reply
I think you are right, but in the end we decide to bet on Marylebone as our private choice was a good Tier 2, but we were not sure if was worth the cost-benefits as a Tier 1 would be

I think we will see how it goes and try a private 13+ if doesn’t go well

i am so happy for you that your daughter likes queen’s. Finally this is the most important part

best

T

I understand AMagny, it is a very difficult decision for the next 5 years of your daughter

Llai
and hiw has been your exper In ML so far? Does the girls behave well in general? Or some can be disruptive?

Sorry typos, I have a tricky auto correction on my phone

Hello,
After reading all the reviews here, I am seeking some more recent advice.
My daughter has secured placements at both St Marylebone and NorthBridge House in Hampstead. We are truly undecided about where to send her. Financially, paying the private school fee would be a stretch, but not impossible. The crux of the matter is that NorthBridge House only provides studies up to GCSE level; afterward, students typically apply to Camden, St Marylebone for their 6th form.
My daughter is a quietly confident and sensitive person. She works diligently and takes things very seriously. She is not very loud and sometimes can pass unnoticed in larger groups. She can benefit from more tailored learning in private, but equally could put up with the challenge at St Marylebone.
I've discussed the matter with her; on one hand, she leans towards a girls-only school because she finds disruptive boys challenging to deal with. On the other hand, she is worried that St Marylebone might be too strict. This feedback is from her experiences during the assessment and music exam. Please let me know your views/recommendations. We have to accept/refuse the place by 15th March. Thank you

@ElleCool start your own thread but imo it'll be far far easier for you to move to north bridge house if St M doesn't work out, than the other way.
I'd try the free option first.

@ElleCool Be good to start a new thread. "Sensitive" children don't stand a chance at St. Marylebone Girls School. I would 100% send her to Northbridge House based on how you describe her. St. Marylebone is no place for a sensitive child, it has a horrendous behaviour policy and it is not a great school. If she is already worried about it being strict, that should be a red flag. It is and it won't serve her well if she is concerned about that. Many children have had a poor experience, but parents do not talk openly about it. It is a toxic urban school. The leadership is poor.

At St. Marylebone, all pupils need to apply to other schools for sixth form as there is no guarantee they will be able to achieve a place for sixth form. It is dependent on the grades. The school weeds out anyone who does not achieve this and their reputation matters more than the child.

Switch to state at sixth form if this provides a better opportunity and she has fared well. Remember not to choose a school based upon an old reputation, or old threads and don't believe what a school tells you. Don't worry about A'levels now just focus on finding the best place for her and her individual needs as you her mother know best. Go on your gut instinct and best right fit for your child and their ability and personality to date.

Just because it is "free" as the previous poster remarked, does not mean it is good or a better option. Give her the best possible opportunity you can. I don't know much about Northbridge but I do know it invests in a more nurturing approach, smaller classes, academic attention and support and I know children who have gone there and been happy.

In all schools, you will have strong, loud personalities and those who show their personalities in quieter productive ways. St. Marylebone is competitive and the expectations are extremely high and not tailored for each child, and the learning is formulaic. She will be expected from onset to be strong and resilient to fare well. No concessions. It is a one-size-fits-all approach.

PM me if you would like more info :)

Any chance you could go on the Parli waiting list? It would probably suit her more than St M tbh

@ElleCool You say "she finds disruptive boys challenging to deal with". May I ask how she finds disruptive girls? St. Marylebone has a very large share and this is the reason it is strict. Bullying, social contagions, the girls' well-being etc. are very poorly managed.

I’m really surprised at the negative comments on St M, my daughter is in Y7 and thriving. She isn’t overly popular or hugely outgoing and was behind in maths when she joined but is now on track with a small group of friends. It hasn’t been a one size fits all in our experience. She has been encouraged to grow and ask for support rather than been spoon fed but we are very happy with the school. She’s becoming confident in herself, maybe it’s different in other Year groups but I’m glad she has her place there.

@Martinisarebetterdirty Glad, to hear your daughter's experience has been positive. It isn't for everyone, and therefore the "negative comments" you are surprised about are very real and very true. I know several parents with children currently in Year 7 and they will say differently through the years and over years. The reference I made about "one size fits all" is about teaching and policies. This is standard for most large state schools.

I agree with @Foxesandsquirrels From those I know, Parliament Hill prides and demonstrates itself on being a more progressive, inclusive, rounded school with excellent invested teaching. St Marylebone Girls squashes 1000 girls and a warren of corridors and stairs in a cramped physical environment. Tiny outdoor spaces too.

@Nicer absolutely no school is for everyone, and I didn’t mean to disparage your view and opinion. I suppose what I’m saying badly is that we’ve found it positive and DD is by no means one of the popular girls or one of the most brilliant academically. I’ve just asked her if she finds it overly strict and she said no, but on the bullying she said that she’s seen verbal fights but not physical. It is a small footprint and crammed in, and if DD wasn’t keen I wouldn’t have sent her there.

Thank you so much everyone for your input. It really helps me take an informed decision.

@Nicer I’ve started a new thread. I’m new to the site and I don’t know how to remove my comment.
I really appreciate your detailed response. I believe you got the right assessment re my concern about my daughter being sensitive. I will create a detailed list with pros and cons to make sure I look at all the factors. I have a few days to decide. All the best 🤗

Hi my DD has received an offer for St Marylebone for Sept 2024. We are really thrilled but I am worried that she is the only one from her school going there. Second the change will be rather dramatic moving from a small primary to such a large school. Would like to meet anyone else whose daughter also starting there or any tips about the school. She also got into a little private school but we have heard such good feedback about St M and with fees going up think we are very lucky to get there. Would welcome any tips. Thanks

My eldest was the only from her school and my youngest going in Sept is also the only one. It has been a challenge to make good friends for the eldest but she now has a lovely group and the school were fantastic. We are so happy with the school and the support we’ve had. The only thing I’d say is check homework before it’s submitted, as we’ve belatedly realised it’s possible to mark as done on Google classroom with nothing submitted. I’d also say make sure she throws herself in to the clubs (and actually goes rather than says she goes) as that’s the key to making it a success. Most girls seem to have smartphones sadly (I’d support a school ban like they have at a lot of secondaries in Ealing), we don’t but will succumb for the eldest over the summer, hoping to hold out until Y8 for the youngest but it’s hard when all their friends have them.

I’d add that the eldest has had lowish level bullying, and school were simply amazing at sorting it out.

Hi
what about the teachers and academic level of the school?
any comments?
also about pastoral care? On this big school do they manage to know and support your child during these first years of puberty, that can be challenging?

Thank you. That’s really helpful. The transition is such a difficult time and I am hoping she will settle in.

My daughter attends Marylebone.

Pros

• Diverse student body. Girls from different backgrounds (ethnicity religion and class)
• Exceptional drama and dance offer. With brilliant ties to the arts your children will have opportunities to explore their thespian side with ease.
• Consistent house tutor. The form tutor remains the same throughout their school life.
• induction was well organised. The new y7 intake starts one week before everyone else starts in September.
• Good wellbeing interventions

Cons

• Rewards and punishments seem to be issued frequently and with minimal feedback. The school could do with introducing more strengths based approaches eg opportunities for leadership and recognition.
• No school refectory and.limited sports facilities. Children eat within their form rooms. Sports teams limited for those already at elite level
• School culture needs work. Theres a sense of the school being a collection of individuals. The lack of sports or collective rewards mean that camaraderie is down to individuals rather than promoted centrally. The Head teacher is committed and passionate but her faculty young and some Lack lustre. This means while many girls love it there, bullying can happen covertly (theft, cliques, social media and rough treatment) as they lack the cultural push to instil and self police some of the values they espouse.

A lovely school but hope you appreciate my honest review.

Marylebone Girls school. A seemingly good school, with good facilities, good gcse grade averages.. and etc… right? Wrong.

This school is a breeding ground for toxicity, drama, peer pressure, and IMMENSE academic pressure. With around 5 homeworks for each subject each week, it is almost impossible to have free time.

In cold English winters? No support. The school barely pays for heating and yet it expects students to not wear puffer coats in the halls, for those who do, face freezing in the cold and getting their jacket returned at the end of the day. In lessons, the students must ask for PERMISSION to take off their blazers. Even. In Summer.

The teachers frankly don't care whether it’s ‘that time of the month’ or if you are close to bursting, you will wait till the lesson is finished to go to the toilet. And yet, there are only really 3 minutes between each lesson, so if you do go to the toilet, you’ll be late to your next lesson, and be punished for it. Proof of this, is a close friend of mine wanting to go to the toilet so badly. She had to wait hours to be allowed to go to the toilet, and she was in such bad condition that she could hardly walk. The aftereffects of waiting for so long even caused so much pain, that she was admitted to hospital.

There is absolutely no support in academics as well. I myself struggled with maths, and yet, there was no help in place to recuperate my grades. I ended up failing, for years, and when I moved to my next school, I had to spend unholy hours, going back to year 7 maths, and having to learn from there.

Detentions are cruelly overused. You forgot a pencil? Detention. You forget a tie? Detention. You accidentally wear one of the 3 uniforms on the wrong day? Detention. You’re late? Detention. You accidentally break science equipment? Detention. Or… you slightly annoy off a teacher? Detention.

I remember, one lunchtime, my form room teacher left gingerbread on his desk, and left for lunch. To none of my surprise, it was taken by someone. He returned for our history lesson a few periods later, and spent the entire lesson shouting at the entire class, even blaming an innocent student, and shouting at them to the point that they were on the brink of tears. And yes. This was over a SINGLE. GINGERBREAD.

The double standards are outstanding as well. There's ‘up’ and ‘down’ staircases, to stop traffic, but if a student is late to their lesson and tries to get up to their lesson that’s right in front of the ‘down’ staircase, detention. However, it’s completely fine for a teacher to go the wrong way, right? Because they’re adults and what they say goes. They don’t have to attend to the rules, right?

The students who have mental health problems are also not cared for. And bullying can go on for ages, and the school does not do ANYTHING. While at this school, I struggled with Chronic anxiety, and sadly, eventually depression.

Please please please, I only went to this school a year ago. If you care for your kids, do not send them here.