London girls independent school suggestions

[Zodlebud]

Please can you give me your suggestions for girls London independent schools that might fit the bill for my DD2?

Bit of background. We currently live in the Home Counties and have DD1 weekly boarding within 40 mins drive of north London. We are beyond happy with this school and always envisaged DD2 would go there, but as she gets older I am not sure boarding is right for her and there is no way she will be doing it unless we are all 100% on board. She could be a day girl but she would be spending two hours every day commuting which feels too much.

DD2 is also a lot brighter than DD1 and her current school said we can realistically aim for top academic schools. I have discounted St Albans High, NLCS and Habs girls as I just didn’t like the vibe. We did, however, like the feeling we got from Wycombe Abbey so I don’t think it’s an academic school thing. More of an environment of naturally bright girls who are confident in their abilities without the constant pressure of parents cracking the whip in the background.

I should add that we are VERY anti tutoring. Her current school preps for entrance exams and uses Atom for VR and NVR but outside that I don’t believe a child should have to be tutored endlessly at home on top of this just to get into a school. It’s either the right school for them or it isn’t.

We are in the very lucky position that we could pick and choose between London day schools and move back into London (north) if she got into the right school so we can just apply to one or two and use my eldest daughters school as a backup.

DD2 is very artistic and art, music and dance will be very important to her. A good all rounder but very strong in maths. Likes sport but she is rather take it or leave it to be honest. Definitely not A team material. She is extremely quick witted and sharp - would be good at stand up comedy 😂😂😂. Genuinely interested in what’s going on in the world and has quite an entrepreneurial side. A free thinker who likes to dig down further into things that interest her - shells and rocks are the current favourites.

Current school has suggested St Paul’s Girls. I like the look of it online and had a really positive chat with admissions. Will be going to see it next year. I am slightly put off by it being the “holy grail” of schools though and the obvious amount of tutoring some girls will be put through to get in. Is it impossible to get a place without endless hours of preparation?

Also suggested were City and SHHS but I am a little put off by schools with a prep attached as the dynamic for new Y7 joiners can be a little off. Interested in people’s thoughts on that.

Can’t do the schools too far south as logistically it doesn’t work for DD1 coming home at weekends. We would look to live St John’s Wood / Marylebone areas.

Any other suggestions? We deliberately moved out of London to avoid the 11+ madness so I feel really clueless. Current school has one teacher with experience of London admissions as they just moved to our school from a top London prep but it’s all very new. It’s not territory her current school has much experience with.

Thanks in advance.

It is definitely possible to get into SPGS without loads of tutoring. DD is in year 10 and having a great time. She was not tutored for anything academic but I did get her some coaching on how to take an exam and to get used to doing so.

If St Paul's appeals, you could also try the other Hammersmith schools - Godolphin and Latymer is also pretty academic. Latymer Upper is co-ed - don't know if this appeals or not.

Was also going to suggest Latymer Upper if you’d consider Co-Ed?
They do have a prep but only 40 come up into a year group of 170.

SHHS sounds like an excellent fit, I wouldn't worry too much about the junior school as that is smaller and lots will join in y7. SPGS I would worry about "whip cracking parents" in the background, nothing wrong with the school but it obviously attracts many of the hyper ambitious families who are very pro tutoring, no matter what they say. G&L might be a very nice alternative to SPGS and I agree with the LU recommendation, too.

How old is your daughter? What are her opinions about secondary schools? Children shouldn’t be directing a secondary school search, but they need to buy into your choices.

@Ericaequites She is currently in Y4. I am doing what I did with my eldest and making a shortlist of schools and visiting them myself now so we only need to see five or six as a family in Y5. It worked really well with my eldest. Her main request is brilliant art. She’s the sort of girl who spends hours painting and drawing so trying to find somewhere that gives her what she wants on that side as a priority. There’s a school close to us currently that has amazing art but very few girls take separate sciences or get top grades in maths. I’m sure a bright girl would do very well there but it has a rather princessy vibe - lots of ponies and shopping trips…. Having DD1 board actually gives us a lot of flexibility to find the right school for DD2. The main focus for DD1 was sport. DD1 chose her school out of the ones we shortlisted as a family after visiting and I agree that children should be an active part of the final decision. The happiness of my children comes before league tables. We are open to other less academic schools in London if they fit the bill and it’s “cool” to be clever and get good grades.

@Glaciferous That’s good to hear. Her current school do a great job at prepping them for entrance exams and interviews for local schools so I believe this would be enough.

Will take a look at G&L and SHHS then. Any thoughts on City?

We have discounted LU as she is adamant she wants single sex. She is currently at a coed school and just prefers the idea of being with all girls.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

I second G&L is lovely. SPGS only works for a specific type and it is getting more and more narrow in type of girl it suits as time goes on.

SHHS is also fab and the junior school thing really doesn't matter. They mix up very quickly.

What about Highgate?

Unfortunately you will get whip cracking parents everywhere but it is more about how you treat your dd and it sounds like you are very sensible.

SPGS I would worry about "whip cracking parents" in the background

Honestly, it's nothing like the image people seem to have of it. It's a very relaxed and liberal place. I don't think there is particularly a higher percentage of mad parents than any other school. Most seem very relaxed and just let their daughters get on with it.

SPGS only works for a specific type and it is getting more and more narrow in type of girl it suits as time goes on.

I disagree with this. DD's friends are a wide range of types of people. What do you mean?

Her current school do a great job at prepping them for entrance exams and interviews for local schools so I believe this would be enough.

I am sure this will be fine! DD was at a state school so had absolutely no exam experience.

I discounted City because I didn't like the exploding offers thing. It just doesn't seem like the sort of thing a school that actually cares about children would do.

@Zodlebud. Your school choosing approach is great. If DD1’s school offers a strong art program along with good maths and sciences, DD2 might want to follow her there. I’d ask DD2 soon if she wants to join her sister. Weekly boarding with a sister present at the start might feel more comfortable. If possible, could she flexiboard with one night midweek at home, or a visit from you midweek? A two hour commute is far too much for every day.

I attended the same day school as my sister, although we were eleven years apart. It’s been a strong bond between us, talking about teachers, classes, and experiences. The logistic advantages of sharing a school are obvious.

@Ericaequites We all love DD1s school and it offers everything and she would stand a good chance at academic and art scholarships which don’t offer a fee reduction but provide greater depth of learning and specialist sessions. It would also be very handy for her to go there. Flexi boarding is an option. The school is still very much “up there” for our choices. It’s just we have no other schools in the mix as they just don’t feel right. I do feel for those children sitting for seven or more schools but I think we need more than one option just in case

At least three options would be good: one DD2 will most likely be accepted, one reach school, and another where she will definitely be accepted. Seven are too many with all the applications and testing.

Have you thought about Palmers Green High School, Winchmore Hill? Small school but very nurturing.

@MrsDThaskala Palmers Green is way too small for us with only about 26 in each year and most of those come up through from the prep. Thank you for suggesting it though.

@Ericaequites. Exactly. We applied for three schools for DD1 plus she got a grammar place. Three is more than enough and she is practically guaranteed a place at DD1s school.

I think deep down she’ll probably end up there one way or another but I just want to give it the same attention to her specific needs in the same way we did her sister. Now we have the option of looking in a totally different location I just want to validate that decision.

Our prep school will only write references for three independent schools anyway to focus parents minds and stop children having to sit multiple exams.

DD2 is very artistic and art, music and dance will be very important to her. A good all rounder but very strong in maths. Likes sport but she is rather take it or leave it to be honest. Definitely not A team material. She is extremely quick witted and sharp - would be good at stand up comedy 😂😂😂. Genuinely interested in what’s going on in the world and has quite an entrepreneurial side. A free thinker who likes to dig down further into things that interest her - shells and rocks are the current favourites.

Sounds like classic SPGS to me. Like Glaciferous, my dd is there from a state primary with us doing home prep (no formal tutoring). It’s the right place for sharp witted free thinkers. Also the music is fantastic with a big range of opportunities at different levels, auditioned and non-auditioned. My dd is in four different music groups, and could do more but wants to have time for other lunch activities. On maths, the top and middle sets are strongly encouraged to do further maths at GCSE, and lots (70%? Maybe more, I asked at an open day several years ago) take it at A level.

SHHS would work well. It has great art, music and dance with lots of clubs covering all three plus allied areas such as DT. DD joined in Yr 7 and has made lots of friends both other Yr 7 joiners and those from the prep. It has a laid back fun feel whilst also consistently working hard. They don't set any homework in the half-term/end of term holidays in yrs 7-10 as they want the girls to really relax and enjoy the breaks. The girls are bright, articulate and enjoy everything the school has to offer - always busy with things at break/lunch etc. None of the parents we have met seem pushy and the school ethos is very much to look after the girls. The entrance exam is the ISEB which can be prepared for without a tutor, more easily than some of the other independent schools, using things such as Atom etc. Good luck with your research :-)

Did you discount Wycombe? They have day girls as well as boarders but sounds like it may be a good fit too.

I think City have a lot of girls that come in Y7, I didn't even know it had a junior school. It's definitely worth a look.

Can I ask what the vibe from St Albans High School was that you didn’t like? I didn’t think it was so different to some of the other schools you’ve mentioned. Isn’t the previously former head of St Albans High now the head of City? (And I think her twin sister is/was head at Wimbledon?!)

@Stokey We discounted WA as it’s too full on. Saturday morning school followed by sport even for day girls feels like too much. I like my children and want to see them at weekends. I think what we like is the “buzz” you get in a boarding school environment though. Days are full and there’s enough time to fit in all the stuff that isn’t academic without it feeling pressurised. I know it has the reputation for being a hot house but we didn’t get that vibe at all. You know like really rich people actually don’t put on airs and graces because they don’t need or want to impress? The girls are just bright. But they are all bright, so they can be themselves. It felt really quite refreshing actually after seeing Habs and NLCS. I guess we are after the day school version of WA but with more art.

@PearandHoney I visited STAHS for DD1 under the old head who I did actually really like. I don’t know, the school just felt flat. Facilities are quite cramped (although this is invariably down to location) and sports grounds and pool are a coach ride away. The girls showing me around didn’t do a convincing job of showing me they were happy there and it exuded pressurised environment. I probably should give it another go now the new head is there but it really didn’t give me any of the feels. Out of the three it was the least worst. Not worst as in bad, just not a good fit.

My DDs only entered for one school. If you already have the best school why look elsewhere? Don’t you trust them with a bright child?

@TizerorFizz Not at all. I looked at all options for DD1 and found the best school for HER. I intend to do the same for DD2.

I think DD2 would thrive and be very happy at her sisters school. Right now I’m not sure boarding is right for her though, nor do I want to put her through a one hour each way commute every day. We can’t live closer to the school for a number of reasons. We could, however, move into London and explore options there.

School transport for day girls? Plenty of options.

@TizerorFizz The commute is ON school transportation.

Yes but if you move you can move closer.

Interesting, thanks @Zodlebud. I think in the Herts area it’s one of the best options in terms of being academic but also doing other “stuff” (eg they have all kinds of scholarships for a variety of subjects), but if you have more geographical scope then I can see that you can probably do better for your DD2.