Homework Load of SPGS vs G&L

[pkim123]

Hello,
Does anyone actually have daughters at both St Paul's Girls and Godolphin and Latymer? We are very curious to compare the homework load in the first few years of the schools. Our DD is at a very good prep school and we were advised that she should consider applying to both as she's a strong student. Our DD is also committed to sports outside of school, which takes up several hours per week. Both schools are located very close to us. I know they are both brilliant schools. However, can anyone provide us with a good sense of how much homework is done in the first year or two at each of these great schools? Thanks so much for your help.

I can’t compare, but SPGS is in theory an hour a night in Y7. Dd took significantly less time on it than that , but she does a lot of other stuff after school, so she has an incentive to get it done quickly. I think that she does do some at lunchtime, too, as there have been fewer club options at lunchtime due to Covid. They don’t set holiday work and one week a term is reading week (just reading homework), and quite a bit of it seems to be learning by heart (they have to do three languages in Y7-9, so verb tables, vocab etc).

DD is Y10 at SPGS and has done very little homework in first 3 years although I know some of her peers do more, depends on the individual level of motivation. Despite DD's relaxed attitude to homework & revision, she seems to be learning a lot in lessons and always has interesting things to say at dinner.

Comparing the two schools, think about whether you want a uniform and more broadly whether SPGS's more independent, self-directed path is right for your family.

Hi, the homework at G&L is also very light, to the extent I never particularly noticed when she was doing it! The only time I got involved was when she needed ingredients for the cookery lessons.

Re- the uniform issue, she wears the PE kit pretty much every day and they are allowed to do this. Many cycle to school etc and there’s so many lunchtime sports clubs it’s just more practical to wear the PE kit. She only wears the actual uniform for certain assemblies etc.

It’s a very calm, unpretentious school in my experience, with a surprisingly ‘personalised’ atmosphere. Sport and drama are very inclusive and there really is something for everyone. Pastoral care is fantastic.

Quite a lot do the IB at Sixth Form (with stellar results) so this is another consideration.

Thank you so much for the homework insights. It sounds like both schools are at one hour or less of homework per evening. I'm pleasantly surprised as a close friend's DD goes to SPGS and despite being a strong student sounded like she was certainly doing over an hour, but maybe she was inefficient.

As for the uniform, my DD is in a uniform now and has not expressed any preference one way or the other. So, unless she says otherwise I don't think that will be much of a factor for us.

I've often read about SPGS students being independent and figuring out there own way to manage work and complete assignments on time. However, can someone at G&L explain how the school is perhaps more nurturing or supportive and, therefore, requires a student to not be so independent?

Thank you again.

I can only comment on G&L, but I think there’s far more similarities between the two schools than there are differences. Both all girls, Both similar size year groups. Similar area and demographic. SPGS gets about 99% grade 8/9s; G&L might get one or two % less. Hardly with losing sleep over - it’s like splitting hairs really.

Some people like to say SPGS has its “quirky” girls, but all the ones I know are no more quirky than the next person on the street

Basically, the schools have quite different entrance exams. G&L’s you can’t prepare for as it’s like a CAT test they do at school (testing underlying ability rather than learned ability). SPGS do this too in the first round on a computer test. But then there’s also a maths paper and an English comprehension which they can prepare for to some extent. Interviews can go any way for any of them.

It all depends on who their friends are when they get there and nobody can predict this.

I think G&L has a calm, studious atmosphere on the whole. The girls are quietly confident and it’s all quite understated (in a good way). Mind you, I can only compare to LU which I would describe as, er.... not calm.

Thanks @mangomania , that's very helpful. Since you mentioned LU, do you have a DS or DD there? You describe LU as "not calm," what makes you say that? LU is a possible school of interest, so I'd be curious to get your insights. Thanks again.

I’ve had two DS go through LU. It’s a fantastic school in many ways. Teaching and curriculum are amazing. In many ways, the atmosphere is more dynamic than at G&L. They both got top results and I couldn’t have asked for more in that sense. The kids are very politically aware and articulate at LU in general - it’s an environment that promotes that type of awareness. They run their own course additional ti GCSE called “World Perspectives.” A lot of the teachers seem very dynamic and top of their game. They get them doing charity work - eg. helping refugees in Calais or planting trees. Another unique feature of LU is the Activities Week where the school closes for a week in late June and they all go off on their amazing respective trips doing allsorts.

It’s a bigger year group at LU, so feels less personal. The co-Ed also makes for a different vibe. Also (this is my personal take) they seem to use the interview to select very articulate, confident types. Nothing wrong with that, but it does make for a lot of, can I say, ‘big personalities’ in a small space. I think this could be intimidating for a very academic, but more shy child.

LU feels very fast-paced and has more of a campus feel than a school at times, I’d say. If I could make a comparison - at G&L, if they get a commendation, they get sent to the head and it’s nice to get that recognition. They feel ‘noticed’ I guess. At LU, there is nothing like this. I admire David Goodhew and he’s a very dynamic head, but it’s very possible to go through the entire school and never have a conversation with him.

LU is more edgy and more of a “cool” school - which is either good or bad depending on what way you look at it! Drama is very non-inclusive at LU. In Years 7 and 8, the kids do try and get involved, They queue around the entire site for hours for auditions. Nobody gets anything because they give all the parts to older kids. So they give up and do drama outside school. Within school, a distinct drama ‘clique’ emerges and that’s it. Compare this to the G&L play where every class did a scene and all had a part and there was no “stars if the show.”

It’s the same with choirs. There is a lowere school choir at LU but it’s one you can just show up to and no need to audition so kids seem to come and go with that. Then there is the Latymer Consort for the older ones (Year 11 upwards) which is amazing and they go on tour, sing in St Paul’s etc, but it’s invitation only and there’s only about 20 in it. Many excellent singers of grade 8 and above never get in for some reason. G&L has various style choirs you can audition for and others you don’t need to audition for and it’s just all more accessible and inclusive.

At G&L they seem to do sport most days in the lower school because the netball and hockey pitch is on site. There are clubs every lunchtime for allsorts. LU they do a games afternoon where they bus them to Wood Lane sports field, plus one PE hour a week. Having said this, LU’s pool and rowing facilities are amazing. Obviously, being in the river is great for keen rowers too.

Wow, that was an essay - sorry!

on the river, not in it!

OP- as you’re thinking of LU- I’ve got a DS just finished y7 at LU and have also been involved there in various other capacities. It is a ‘busy’ school but they’ve been really good this year at trying to keep up the clubs etc in covid times. There was a drama thing last term where all the y7s could perform if they wanted, all similar size parts and very inclusive. DS ended up doing sports most days, be it before or after school clubs, lunchtime clubs etc and he’s not even that sporty.
I had heard a lot about the ‘cool’ reputation (but I would say G&L also has the same reputation), it really doesn’t seem any different form any of the other schools. (DD is elsewhere).
All in all v happy with the school.

@mangomania that is terrific, brilliant to get your detailed insights! A friend who has a DD at another top school and a DS at LU described LU as having a "street culture", and sort of implied that it was good for their DS, but not their DD, which I found curious. Our DD is extremely sporty, much less drama & choir, so from what you're saying maybe GL better choice than LU?
Thanks!

I think if your daughter enjoys sports such as netball or hockey, it’s probably easier to play daily at G&L. DD has friends who do just that. Even non-sporty DD is doing cricket (possibly more to do with the guy teaching it). But for swimming or rowing LU has the facilities.

As they get older, they are often opting for things like Zumba or Pilates anyway, if they’re not team sport orientated. All this available at with her school. LU’s gym is better. Both schools have a climbing wall!

either school, not ‘with her’

Thanks @mangomania. Our DD is not really into swimming or rowing. In fact, she's more of an individual sports kid.

@FactyFrances

DD is Y10 at SPGS and has done very little homework in first 3 years although I know some of her peers do more, depends on the individual level of motivation. Despite DD's relaxed attitude to homework & revision, she seems to be learning a lot in lessons and always has interesting things to say at dinner.

Comparing the two schools, think about whether you want a uniform and more broadly whether SPGS's more independent, self-directed path is right for your family.

thanks, @FactyFrances that's very helpful. really appreciate the insights.

any more insights from others? thanks in advance.

DD is at SPGS and doesn't seem to get that much homework. I don't think she has ever spent more than an hour a night on it at most, though I guess that may change as she begins GCSEs.

In Y7 it was more like about half an hour a night if that.

One thing that has pleased me is that they only seem to set work if there is actually something to do. And a lot is reading. The homework burden has been pretty light most of the time, and when it hasn't it has been a direct result of DD wanting to spend more time on something she is enjoying.

I’d just add, I (and by the sounds of it, the other parents on here) are at the relaxed end of the scale. I don’t check on my dd’s work at all, not on whether she’s done it or how well she’s done it. I don’t enforce attending particular clubs or activities at school. I don’t ask about what others are getting in half termly tests or reward end of year exam performance and / or prizes. Other parents do. This would make for a much more stressful and high pressured school experience (which is why I don’t do it), and may explain why you’ve heard about high levels of homework and stress.

Yes, same here to all of that. I don't really hear about schoolwork unless either it's something DD loves so much she wants to tell me or something she is finding tricky. I let her work out when to do it and all that. And it's up to her which clubs etc she wants to do and up to her to work out what can reasonably be fitted in.

@HighRopes

I’d just add, I (and by the sounds of it, the other parents on here) are at the relaxed end of the scale. I don’t check on my dd’s work at all, not on whether she’s done it or how well she’s done it. I don’t enforce attending particular clubs or activities at school. I don’t ask about what others are getting in half termly tests or reward end of year exam performance and / or prizes. Other parents do. This would make for a much more stressful and high pressured school experience (which is why I don’t do it), and may explain why you’ve heard about high levels of homework and stress.

Thanks, and that's an excellent point. I always recall a story about a pair of SPGS parents having dinner together one evening. The topic of "what are you doing this weekend?" came up in the dinner conversation. One set of parents said, "and of course we have to study for Monday's maths test"...and the other set of parents were like, "what maths test?" LOL I think it illustrates your point precisely. Thanks again, all of you, for your help. Cheers.

G&L's official homework set for year 7 averages 80 minutes a night spread across 3 or 4 subjects. For example: 15 mins Mandarin, 15mins Latin, 20 minutes Maths, 30 mins Physics. Maths is set three times a week & all other subjects are set once with English being the longest at 40 minutes.
Many girls knock off the shorter homeworks at lunchtime or break so it's not apparent that they've been set over an hour a night from what they do when they get home. All homework reinforces what's been covered in class as far as I can tell and isn't set for the sake of it. Sometimes a subject might be skipped for a week. It doesn't feel heavy but it is there.

Hi - this thread may have expired, but in case not, would love a bit more info about G&L Year 7. My daughter is starting there in September.
Would you recommend any kind of preparation at all over summer (I think SPGS has a reading list, don't know if G&L does)?
How do the sets work in Year 7 & 8? Is it just for Maths?
Thanks!!