Page 5 | Did you choose LU over GL and SPGS for sporty DD?

Glaciferous · 27/02/2022 22:33

I was told about the food weighing by a friend’s daughter who attends. She mentioned it at a talk at her sister’s school when asked if there was anything strange at the school. This was last term. Why would she make it up? 🤔

Does this sound to you like someone saying 'someone I know has to have her food weighed'? It doesn't to me.

And 'is there anything strange about the school' strikes me as a massively unlikely question for a child to ask another. I would think most primary aged children would be more likely to ask about sports, the school day, if the food is nice, if teachers are strict etc.

Anyway, we are unlikely to get any clarification from @Grandjany as she seems not to have returned, or has name changed.

Innocenta · 27/02/2022 22:41

@Glaciferous Matter of opinion, I suppose, because asking if there's anything strange about the school sounds eminently likely to me.

I agree that it doesn't point to a friend of the child having that as an adjustment. And it could be fiction, by the poster or the child. But I can think of several scenarios that are all too possible, which could lead to something like this happening. It reminds me obliquely of when I myself was helping at an open evening at my school, aged fifteen (so should've known better), and gave a joking but pointed answer to a question from some parents, claiming in effect that the teacher in whose room I was stationed disliked me. It was a totally inappropriate thing to say, and not really true, but teenage judgment isn't notorious for being good. I think sometimes teens just say weird stuff when they feel put on the spot.

Innocenta · 27/02/2022 22:44

(But of course you are quite right, we'll likely never get any clarification on this - one for the mists of obscurity, I think.)

Glaciferous · 27/02/2022 23:30

Haha, that sounds hilarious. I am sure everyone has had that moment where they just go 'WTF, I have no idea why I said that'. And I do understand what you are saying there. The way the whole thing was phrased just sounds like fiction to me. I don't know why anyone would do that so would obviously hope I am wrong. But I don't believe I am.

I just can't see a child of less than 12 years old asking if there is something strange about any school, because why would there be unless we are talking Summerhill?! These are children at prep schools presumably so are very unlikely to think any school is likely to be strange! Their experience of school is likely to be extremely unstrange and very traditional indeed.

Plus, regardless of the stereotypes and silly gossip, these are secondary schools - and in fact most secondary schools (including SPGS or LU or G&L) are probably more alike than they are different.

For the food thing, DD actually does know someone in her year who has an eating disorder (not anorexia or bulimia) and she does not have her food monitored in any way by school. None of them do. The food culture is very much 'here is lovely food, eat it up and have seconds'.

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 07:59

@Alexia234

Would love to get in contact if you chose LU over the 2 Hammersmith girls schools for a sporty DD. My DD got all 3 and we really loved LU for her but having second thoughts when other 2 Schools thrown into the mix and Concerned the sports isn’t as strong for girls in latymer and that dreaded great western road with the pollution . Any parents out there who wouldn’t mind me PMing them?

I think you are asking an excellent question. Yes, LU is a sporty school, but you must look closely at which sports they do for DD, because boys and girls are not the same. For example, check out the provision for girls football vs boys football at LU. Good luck.

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 08:03

@Glaciferous

I was told about the food weighing by a friend’s daughter who attends. She mentioned it at a talk at her sister’s school when asked if there was anything strange at the school. This was last term. Why would she make it up? 🤔

Does this sound to you like someone saying 'someone I know has to have her food weighed'? It doesn't to me.

And 'is there anything strange about the school' strikes me as a massively unlikely question for a child to ask another. I would think most primary aged children would be more likely to ask about sports, the school day, if the food is nice, if teachers are strict etc.

Anyway, we are unlikely to get any clarification from @Grandjany as she seems not to have returned, or has name changed.

You honestly believe that each day, they weigh what 800 kids eat? And besides weighing it, I assume they monitor each child to ensure that she actually eats what's put on her plate? In addition, they monitor that nobody gives food to another student?

A kid told me that there's a tooth fairy at SPGS....

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 08:21

@Glaciferous

I was told about the food weighing by a friend’s daughter who attends. She mentioned it at a talk at her sister’s school when asked if there was anything strange at the school. This was last term. Why would she make it up? 🤔

Does this sound to you like someone saying 'someone I know has to have her food weighed'? It doesn't to me.

And 'is there anything strange about the school' strikes me as a massively unlikely question for a child to ask another. I would think most primary aged children would be more likely to ask about sports, the school day, if the food is nice, if teachers are strict etc.

Anyway, we are unlikely to get any clarification from @Grandjany as she seems not to have returned, or has name changed.

apologies, I did not realise @Grandjany posted that. sorry.

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 08:24

@Grandjany

I was told about the food weighing by a friend’s daughter who attends. She mentioned it at a talk at her sister’s school when asked if there was anything strange at the school. This was last term. Why would she make it up? 🤔

I’m sorry if I’ve offended anyone. I really don’t have an agenda; just relating what I’ve heard. I was very impressed by the school.

You honestly believe that each day, they weigh what 800 kids eat? And besides weighing it, I assume they monitor each child to ensure that she actually eats what's put on her plate? In addition, they monitor that nobody gives food to another student?

A kid told me that there's a tooth fairy at SPGS....

Grandjany · 28/02/2022 11:23

I will have a chat with her mum about it and see what she says. It could have been an isolated incident of course, but not great for a whole year group to hear. Anyway, inspired e of a few raised eyebrows it didn’t stop them applying!

Grandjany · 28/02/2022 11:27

What does WTF stand for btw?

Grandjany · 28/02/2022 11:29

Is it a SPGS phrase?

HoneyMobster · 28/02/2022 12:13

What the f*

pkim123 · 28/02/2022 14:50

@Grandjany

I will have a chat with her mum about it and see what she says. It could have been an isolated incident of course, but not great for a whole year group to hear. Anyway, inspired e of a few raised eyebrows it didn’t stop them applying!

Thanks so much for checking with her mum, please let us know what the update is.

Glaciferous · 04/03/2022 23:39

She will never update because I'm pretty sure she knows full well she made it all up.

pkim123 · 05/03/2022 07:43

@Glaciferous

She will never update because I'm pretty sure she knows full well she made it all up.

LMAO

pkim123 · 05/03/2022 14:14

@Unici5

*Agree, they all have issues. However, LU seems like a lightening rod of issues. First it was the drug use: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/latymer-upper-school-forces-out-seven-over-drugs-c29wgvsnl

Then there is this:
www.latymer-rape-culture.com/

What's next?*

@pkim123

I agree that the idea that a school would publicly weigh food (even in the case of an eating disorder) is insane. However, you're pretty lacking in even-handedness when it comes to LU.

The rape culture issues are endemic, not even remotely confined to LU, or even particularly worse there. If you're really interested and concerned, why not start a thread asking current and recent parents if they're happy with how the school is handling things? And the link you posted about the drugs-- I mean, the head acted swiftly and forcefully. What else would you want? And, by the way, if you believe SPGS girls don't use drugs in about the same percentage as LU students, you're completely deluded.

OP, I assume you've made a decision by now, as I think the LU offer acceptance deadline is Monday, and I hope you and your DD are feeling happy and confident with your decision. For what it's worth, my DD did rowing, so lots of opportunity there . Plenty of her friends did other sports and they seemed to have plenty of fixtures, but I can't speak to it in more detail. As others have noted, the fact that the playing fields aren't on site is something to keep in mind.

You are right, I was mistaken. Very sorry.

Grandjany · 09/03/2022 12:12

So the story behind the food weighing is that my friend’s daughter had been getting very skinny and the school was monitoring HER food. There have been concerns over her ability to handle the pressure at the school as she is moving up it. Her mother is a really nice person and she is working on managing her daughter’s expectations.

pkim123 · 10/03/2022 18:10

@Grandjany

So the story behind the food weighing is that my friend’s daughter had been getting very skinny and the school was monitoring HER food. There have been concerns over her ability to handle the pressure at the school as she is moving up it. Her mother is a really nice person and she is working on managing her daughter’s expectations.

Okay, so what we know is that one child had their food measured for a specific reason. That make sense. And I would hope any school helps any children with their health requirements. Well done SPGS.

Innocenta · 11/03/2022 16:26

That's exactly what I thought it might be!