Ethnic diversity of london independent schools

[WCC1985]

Does anyone have any idea about the ethnic diversity of the following schools?
Latymer Upper
Hampton
Emmanuel
Kingston Grammar
Whitgift
Bancroft
Caterham
Ipstock Place

@SquirmOfEels

The Wandsworth borough netball team for the London Youth Games was also all white girls.

Perhaps Wandsworth as a whole might not be for you, as the proportion BAME is quite low for London (but the 'white, other' category is large)

Wandsworth as a whole is really very diverse, certainly in the younger generation, e.g. see www.google.com/search?q=wandsworth+schools+football&client=ms-android-xiaomi-rev1&prmd=nimxv&sxsrf=AOaemvJCWseBkReo7FlOCj7o1zkl2rxqeA:1633803033056&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj93qvL9r3zAhVKUMAKHbDrBygQ_AUoAnoECAIQAg&biw=393&bih=696&dpr=2.75.

you just won't see that diversity reflected in a private co-ed school in Wandsworth.

We are East Asians, so probably not the "Majority one single minority" mentioned about. We are also mindful of the lack of ethnic diversity (from another angle) of some grammar schools. In any event, we want to go independent because we treasure a good education even if my son can make grammar (which for those London super selectives, is very unlikely). But just mindful of him feeling uneasy in some schools (which of course may not turn out to be an issue).

I understand the wealth distribution and preference of individual ethnic groups, so not really chasing "even" distribution of ethnic groups, but is really concerned him being the only 1 or 2, or even the only one non-white in the class.

We are 40 miles outside London but my DC2’s indie is far far more diverse than our local primary school. As far as local schools go, only DC1’s super selective state grammar is more diverse than DC2’s indie.

If you go for selective non fee paying, you will find there is a lot of ethnic diversity. My kids are at grammar school and it's a lot more diverse than their primary school because the catchment is much wider.

@BunsyGirl

We are 40 miles outside London but my DC2’s indie is far far more diverse than our local primary school. As far as local schools go, only DC1’s super selective state grammar is more diverse than DC2’s indie.

May I know where is it?

Compared to other London boroughs, the proportion of BAME in Wandsworth is low.

data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ethnic-groups-borough

But private schools usually don't have usually have a terribly local footprint, do they?

We have not yet arrived at UK. So will be disadvantaged in preparing 11+ for grammars. I have asked him to do some Atom mock tests. He is quite good, but still I guess way behind what is needed for the London grammars. For independents, I do think he may just be able to meet the standards of those second tier ones, and if not, there are a lot for more average performers to choose from.

@WCC1985

We have not yet arrived at UK. So will be disadvantaged in preparing 11+ for grammars. I have asked him to do some Atom mock tests. He is quite good, but still I guess way behind what is needed for the London grammars. For independents, I do think he may just be able to meet the standards of those second tier ones, and if not, there are a lot for more average performers to choose from.

In theory, primary schools - private and state - are forbidden for preparing children for the 11+. In practice some private schools do.

My children went to state school and did all their prep from books we bought from Amazon. So being in another country (as long as you're in the U.K. to register for the actual exams which is June ish I think? Exams are September) then you will be fine.

@Clymene it’s not just about catchment though. Some cultures place more value on education than others. That’s very clear at DC2’s indie. For many white British families, private school comes after a big house and fancy car. It’s the first thing that goes if there’s a loss of income. Less so for the families from other ethnic backgrounds, many of whom are clearly putting education first.

@WCC1985 Essex. Just looked at DC’s class photo from last year. Class of 20, three black children, two of East Asian origin and one of Chinese origin. Of the other children in the class many of the white European children were born abroad or have parents from non-British backgrounds: e.g. Russian, Italian, German. I find it difficult to believe that there are not equally diverse private schools in London as it’s far more diverse place than the rest of the U.K.

@WCC1985

We are East Asians, so probably not the "Majority one single minority" mentioned about. We are also mindful of the lack of ethnic diversity (from another angle) of some grammar schools. In any event, we want to go independent because we treasure a good education even if my son can make grammar (which for those London super selectives, is very unlikely). But just mindful of him feeling uneasy in some schools (which of course may not turn out to be an issue).

Right. Well, one more thing to say about Emanuel is that, albeit in a low-key way, it is to some extent a 'Christian school'. I suppose that's probably another factor explaining the relatively few Asians there.

Something it might be worth saying about Whitgift is that sport is a really, really big deal there, it's sort of the old old fashioned 'muscular Christianity' [not, these days, in an actually religious way] thing, quite [a certain kind of] English in character, even with a relatively diverse intake.

I think you are incorrect about state grammars. In my area the state grammars have by far higher BAME populations than the comprehensives - mostly due to the large numbers of Asians .... both Indian etc origin and Chinese etc origin.
The independents are somewhat in the middle. So a higher BAME population than comprehensives but lower than grammars.

I also think that as a PP said, fewer of the Asians participate in extra curricular sports. You want to look at chess clubs, orchestras etc.

[quote BunsyGirl]@Clymene it’s not just about catchment though. Some cultures place more value on education than others. That’s very clear at DC2’s indie. For many white British families, private school comes after a big house and fancy car. It’s the first thing that goes if there’s a loss of income. Less so for the families from other ethnic backgrounds, many of whom are clearly putting education first.[/quote]
That is true. But that push is even more evident in families who can't afford private school fees. i would say that children from ethnic minorities are over represented

May I know who do ethnic minorities prefer single sex rather than co-ed schools?

@AnotherNewt

I dont think there's a good source of statistics on BAME students in independent schools.

ISI report of numbers of EAL students, which isn't a terribly good proxy for BAME, but which does give a different measure of diversity.

Taking Emanuel as an example (as a pic has been linked above) there are 924 pupils (they start at 10+ so that's years 6-13) 134 are EAL

IME (which is a bit random) single sex schools attract more BANE pupils - the difference between eg JAGS and Alleyns is often noted

I have to disagree. My daughter goes to Alleyns and 40% of her class is BAME (including mixed race children). JAGs also has a lot of students of colour but Alleyns incorrectly has a reputation for being much whiter than it is. It also has a number of Europeans as well.

The other local co-ed prep schools in Dulwich are very diverse (Oakfield and Rosemead).

I am from South Asian community and I will be avoiding grammar because of very very high Asian proportion. Does not reflect the real British demography at all. All good London indies (including few my DD will be trying) have good mix of population both from white and BAME community. OP: Once you narrow down your area of residency and then list of indie schools, you can email them direct to ask about their diversity and inclusivity policies.

@Clymene

If you go for selective non fee paying, you will find there is a lot of ethnic diversity. My kids are at grammar school and it's a lot more diverse than their primary school because the catchment is much wider.

I agree with this. DD1 has just started at a North London super selective grammar, and her class is more than 50% BAME. By comparison, her local east London primary was about 30%. She said she was struck by how many different races there were, compared to primary where it was mainly either white or south Asian.

I don't know much about the overall mix of Bancrofts but I do know some BAME families who go there.

@WCC1985

If you are looking for diversity in a very academically selective school (private or state) North London and South London schools should be a safe bet. I think the mix you'll find will be a balance of anything between 30%-50% BAME and the white British people who chose to live in these areas and educate their children at these schools are not the kind of people that are hostile to diversity.

The population of East Asians in London is pretty low so I'm not aware of any schools that have very large proportions though.

I believe that Bancroft's has a high proportion of south Asians - so not ethnically diverse in the sense that there seems to be a more majority asian population that is non-white. Forest is nearby and has a more diverse feel I think.

[quote SouthLondonMommy]@WCC1985

If you are looking for diversity in a very academically selective school (private or state) North London and South London schools should be a safe bet. I think the mix you'll find will be a balance of anything between 30%-50% BAME and the white British people who chose to live in these areas and educate their children at these schools are not the kind of people that are hostile to diversity.

The population of East Asians in London is pretty low so I'm not aware of any schools that have very large proportions though.[/quote]
I know not many East Asians live in UK and so their percentage is not a concern or a requirement that I can expect.

My real concern, when I look at pictures of some schools, is that he will be the only BAME in the class. I did see a lot of pictures of some private schools with almost 100% white. Of course as said above, it may be distorted by the particular interest group of that group photo (e.g. cricket, rugby etc).

Any schools or area that we would be expecting less than 20% or even less than 10% BAME?

I’d be amazed if he was the BAME pupil in his class.
Another place possibly worth looking at for a flavour of the schools is the online publishing portal Issuu- lots of the schools publish yearbooks, reviews, prospectuses etc on there.

@WCC1985 I'm sure there are some but I'd be guessing based on rumour rather than fact. My gut feel is there is less diversity in the West London / Hammersmith schools with the possible exception of Latymer Upper based on reputation alone but I couldn't say for sure.

Your best bet would be to pick some schools that seem like a good fit for the child and then ask the specific question to double check. If you post the school name in a thread people with children there will let you know. I think that would be easier than trying to back solve a list of schools to avoid if you see what I mean.

However, you'll have plenty of great options so it shouldn't be an issue for you to find a school that's a good fit in the City. As others have said, BAME students are highly represented in private schools (maybe over represented) in the UK because of how much BAME families prioritise education.

I have friends and children at a number of highly selective London schools so happy to help with specific queries.

Are there really any London schools, state, grammar or independent that are "mainly white" in this day and age? I don't see Thais at all in all. The only place I see this is schools in Surrey, Sussex, areas surrounding London, and even that is changing. I only see S London, Surrey, Sussex schools (and a lot of them) so maybe I am missing werid pockets of whiteness. I can see that there might be independent schools where most of the non white children come from Asian families, due to demographics and affordability, but I don't see pure whiteness anywhere. I really don't think a South Asian boy would stand out, or feel uncomfortable, at any London school, based on race.