Kings College Wimbledon - So Disappointed

[Iamnotsoexcited]

My son did incredibly well in his CAT scores (average of 131) so we decided to look at Kings in Wimbledon given its incredible reputation.

We were so disappointed in the school on the tour that we actually left before the Deputy Head could speak. Our overall impression was that:

1. There were no displays/artwork/celebrations of the kids in the corridors. As a result the school felt like a functional building not a celebration of the individuals, almost factory like.

2. The Design Technology Lab resembled that of an underfunded 1970s comprehensive. Engineering and technology are the future, to deny this just seems ignorant. It feels like they are creating children for the finance jobs of today which will not be the roles of the future.

3)An almost claustrophobic air in the classrooms up to GCSE, kids tightly bunched in with no space between desks which were arranged haphazardly. It would not be working environment an adult would thrive in, so I am not sure a child would.

Overall, it had an aggressive feel about the place which I was so surprised about. The sixth form centre, with its low ceilings and lack of space, was the worst. The bell went and shutters went down on the cafe loudly, straight away, as though the staff had had enough and were done. This is at odds with other schools which are creating open coffee shops all day to allow for kids to collaborate together in a positive environment.

I put emphasis on academic achievement, but I was shocked at how negatively I felt about the school. From my son's prep school I know other parents are feeling the same way as me. I am wondering if Kings will be a bit like Blockbuster the video store, riding high until one day because it fails to keep pace with the times, will just lose its shine completely?

What do you think?

No offence to OP but if you turn up to an Oxbridge interview with a D&T or Computing A-level, while you won’t exactly be laughed out the room, you will be at a disadvantage.

Most of the best engineers do not have tech or computing GCSEs or A/levels. You learn what you need at degree level.

Subjects such as Latin are considered much better at signposting intellectual ability. That’s why these schools prioritise them.

Take your money where you want to spend it ... No Biggie. You don't like this school (of which I have no personal experience at all). That's schools. They polarise. State or fee-paying. Bright middle class kids well-raised will do well wherever. No point getting into a flurry.

Do you have an ulterior motive for this post OP?

@PeachesPumpkin

Do you have an ulterior motive for this post OP?

I wondered this too! It’s one of the top 3 schools…

@Cheshirewife but do you think that is right? Eg I do worry if the UK doesn’t transform its educational system to create the future workforce for the future we’ll be behind.

Engineering and technology are the future, to deny this just seems ignorant
Actually no. These careers are the future for those who have the skills & aptitude
Other careers will continue to flourish too. Health care medicine cannot be replaced or adequately replicated as it heavily relies upon personal skill,judgement and interaction
People will still want & seek out literature,arts,drama
Finance is a global term for a myriad of jobs that won’t vanish, change yes. Vanish no

You’re quite myopic in your predictions

No ulterior motive. Just viewing schools. Most I have seen I like, some I think they are ok but not suitable, Kings was an odd one. Hence my post, wondering if other people thought the same. Isn’t this why we ask questions on a forum, to find out viewpoints outside our immediate worlds?

With regards to the previous poster, anyone who thinks you cannot make engineering or computer science as technically difficult as Latin is naive. This is the problem with the historic view of education, and we need to change with the times. RGS Guildford used to send 40+ boys a year to Oxbridge, last year it was 17. Same with Eton. Universities are looking for something new and these schools should be setting the new tone, not sticking their heads in the sand outraged that state school kids are getting the places at the best universities.

Interestingly when I started the thread this morning, it was about being disappointed in this leading school being so uninspiring for me. Now overall, I have started to question what I really want for an education and school and I am not sure. I will be pondering this for some time to come.

I had a friend send her sons there (years ago now). Mine went to the local comp and Richmond Further Education College, My eldest did Natural Sciences at Cambridge and he only did Dual Award Sciences at Gcse ( all that was on offer then). He certainly wasn't at a disadvantage @Cheshirewife.
I taught in a Sixth Form College. In my experience, Oxbridge Colleges are so anxious to recruit from ordinary comps.

@EspressoDoubleShot sort of. Engineering and technology will enable ever business process, eg think the platforms/technology/tooling which exists already in financial services, people have been let go because they’ve struggled to adapt.

It’s an old fashioned outlook to segregate disciplines. Engineering and technology will be at the heart of every career and therefore schools should adapt and teach this with each core subject.

What are you on about these schools should be setting the new tone?
New tone?
You come across a bit overzealous and agitated. It’s not combative. You attend the school that makes you an offer. That’s pretty much it

@Whstdoyouthink I agree with your post. A true leader stays ahead and Kings should have been exciting, inspiring, forward thinking, shown me a new type of incredible education that would have me signing up my child straight away. Instead, it offered an academic hot house with a focus on grades above all else.

One school, for example, has extended its lunch hour to 75 minutes every day so they can run a myriad of clubs of lunchtime. The focus they put on this additional element was inspiring.

I should add they were clubs I had never heard of! As a tiger mother from London this was amazing.

I think you’re being a bit unfair to be so negative about a school that you’ve only seen on an open day!
However, I agree with you particularly about teaching of computer science. Yes there are lots of industries which will continue to flourish but many of them have substantial and increasing use of computers. I think schools are doing the kids a disservice not to give them a very good grounding in computer science and IT, it would enhance so many career choices. One of the few good things about the pandemic is the increased use of technology

[quote Iamnotsoexcited]@cricketjoys85 I agree. Latin is great as an academic subject, but we need to focus on the academic subjects of the future. Computer studies, engineering, design etc. My friends in the city say their roles on the way out. I just think Blockbuster the video store thought it had a thriving business and by not innovating they did not move with the times.

Mental health is so important and I think part of that is made up from your physical environment. I was surprised there were no child centric displays on the walls. Do people not think they are important?

Genuine question. We went to Kings expecting to love it. I was surprised I didn’t.[/quote]
Computer Studies A level is not generally that well thought of. My son did CS at Uni and doesn’t rate it. It’s about good teaching and learning to use your brain. Those who want to go into engineering etc will get a good foundation with Maths, Physics etc. Latin is a great preparation for lots of things. Very academic schools know this and therefore don’t focus on vocational stuff.

But they do have lunchtime clubs too, 19 pages worth on a link down this page: www.kcs.org.uk/senior-school/co-curricular-life/clubs-and-societies

They spoke quite a bit about it during the deputy head's talk. It's really bizarre that you didn't stay for it.

@Cheshirewife - yes - exactly this.

With competitive entry day schools you don’t sign up, you wait and see if they offer you a place. They pick you, the school makes the offer not the parent
Schools you just sign up to straight away they’re not as competitive to get a place at.

Just wanted to flag that I've had 3 children go through KCS and not one has been tutored while there. DS1 is now at Oxford and DD has been predicted 45 in her IB.

It's absolutely normal to take a dislike to a school on an open day. I took a particular dislike to KGS for no particular reason. Perfectly good school just didn't inspire me.

We chose KCS because of the type of boys we have met over the years from there. Absolutely delightful boys. We had a wonderful 18th last weekend for my DD and every single one was a pleasure to have as a guest in my home (we stayed in to supervise). All doing exceptionally well academically as well.

Oh and KCS does have an extended lunch break for extra-curricular.

It's a good school and there are lots of other good schools. Gut feel is important and who shows you round can make a huge difference.

I didn't like St Pauls Boys, G&L or PHS, even though on paper I should. Loved LU, WHS and KGS. Others would have had totally different opinions. A lot of that was down to the heads talk and who showed us around.

DD, (less so DS) also had strong opinions and flatly refused to apply to a couple of schools.

Luckily there's lots of schools and they seem to offer to the pupils who they think will 'thrive' (their favourite word!) so all tends to work out!

I think most of them have long lunchtimes with lots of clubs these days.

If you are measuring a school on the length of lunch breaks for clubs it is 100 minutes at KCS which allows plenty of time for coding, robotics and (mostly) football in the playground. Things didn't click for you and the school and it is more traditional and formal than works for you. Don't worry about it! Pick somewhere else. Good luck!

Having been a tiger mother getting my kids into London private schools, I then changed careers and became a teacher in one of them.

I can assure you that the open day parents’ visits give pretty much zero idea of what a school is actually like. Until your DC is in the school, you have no real idea of what you are getting into.

It always amuses me when someone says they loved one London Day school but hated another, very similar one. Surely you need to dismiss factors such as the pupil showing you around (some are better than others).

As a poster above says, in London most people take the private school place they are offered, as only a few have a real choice. Generally the schools are all pretty good and the kids are very lucky to be there.

I wouldn't dismiss a school solely on the person showing us around but it can add to the whole 'gut feel' of the place. I said upthread I didn't like St Pauls. Probably more accurate to say I was a bit underwhelmed, probably because I expected to be very impressed. It was actually one of the speeches that put me off (which is why I'm surprised that the OP left before them at KCS). We didn't apply but know a fair few boys there who've been happy so I know it's a good school, just didn't feel right for us.
I actually think the open days did give a pretty accurate impression for the schools my DCs ended up but they would have probably have been fine anywhere. We were lucky to have a choice so you have to make a decision somehow.

I do know what the OP means though in general (I don't know KCS).

I remember asking a teacher at a top school in North London/Herts area how many went on to do art at 3rd level. She looked me straight in the eye and said "None. Their parents want them to do vocational degrees like medicine/dentistry, not art". I appreciated that honesty frankly and think we are pushing academic disciplines over all else but that's what parents want! Another top boarding school told my friend that her son should study classics and Latin/Greek for easier entry into Oxbridge because the state schools don't offer it at A level.

I agree we're not thinking of schools for the future at all.

It's IMO almost, but not quite, better not to attend open days. Schools vary greatly in how slickly they can do a sales pitch, in ways that don't at all translate into the quality of the education.

In particular, don't ever read anything at all into your interaction the kids who show you round. A hard-selling big city comprehensive won't allow any of the thuggy kids to do it, just as a hard-selling private won't allow any of the obviously know-it-all/smug kids to do it.

You'll vastly better information out of other parents, preferably ones who have experience of multiple schools & obviously not ones who for whatever reason [e.g. because of a multi-generational connection, because they're governers, etc] appointed themselves as cheerleaders for 'their' school.

I have nothing to add about KIngs though there are schools nearby with very good art depts - Epsom for example. And grammars with new shiny DT blocks if thats what you're after (Wallington Boys).

But I disagree that Latin is harder than Computer Science - one you learn multiple coding languages for and the other you can basically pass through your couple of years at prep school. Latin GCSE is very easy indeed.