Why on earth would anyone reject SPGS??

[newsibling123]

I've been reading through many threads with mums wondering between SPGS and G&L.

While G&L is a great school, why on Earth would there be a conflict in choosing SPGS, they applied in the first place, its not like they got cold called by the school and their DD offered a place!

If we applied to SPGS, we'd put G&L as back up, but if we had two offers there's no question we'd choose SPGS. The only way I can imagine conflict is if G&L offered a scholarship, or DD really didn't want to go SPGS, even then we would try and show her what a brilliant opportunity it was.

I know one chooses the best school for the DC, etc etc, but I can't imagine any scenario, all things being equal, how G&L would be 'better'. If DD was heavily tutored and parent was worried she'd struggle at SPGS now they have offer in hand, then G&L doesn't come to mind as an alternative to that! One of the less intense GDST schools or somewhere with broader selection, less high academic like Portland or More House maybe?

Don't mean to offend anyone here, choosing school is tough, but I just don't get this at all...It's like getting a place at Oxford and choosing Durham

Regarding the 8 week term, some of the most academically inclined students actually prefer to take their time and read intensively around each topic. No way is there time to do that in a 8 week term. It means 8x3 = just 24 weeks of teaching and 28 weeks of holidays a year. Most students do stay 9 weeks per term at least but the intensity of it is just not everyone’s cup of tea. It is geared towards the professors so they have more time to write their own papers and the colleges can rent out more rooms in the holidays if they need to. However, it essentially feeds into the intense banks and corporate law firm culture of very intense high paced work with no sleep followed by down periods. I don’t particularly like it for students. Some of the top boarding schools in UK are the same - very intense short terms and far too long holidays. Very up and down.

Haven't read all the responses, but this is a bit of a weird question and I'm confused by the almost defensive tone!🤔Schools and the best fit for a child depends on multiple factors - what you think to be the 'best' school, even if they appear quite similar on many levels, is simply your opinion. Why are you so flummoxed that other people don't share your viewpoint?

It's going back many years, but a number of girls at my primary school had offers from both G&L and SPGS and chose G&L. I was one of them! Why? Because, in my (and my parents') opinion, it was a better fit more me. Stronger on the arts, less pressured reputation, more liberal-seeming overall. Again, a matter of opinion, different to the opinion of those who chose SPGS. Different strokes for different folks...

Absolutely, each student is unique in terms of what's best for them. Totally agree with you.

Each year, SPGS receives approximately 12 declined offers (you can calculate this from the disclosure from schools that regularly send students to SPGS). Of the 12 declined offers, some will be due to families moving away from London and some will be due to financial and logistical reasons.

Have no ideas of the schools but this made me smile

It's like getting a place at Oxford and choosing Durham
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because that is what my sister did (though it was Cambridge) She had put Cambridge as her 1st choice and then did a happy dance on results day as she hadn't got the necessary grades (not a good look at her very achieving independent school) She only applied to Cambridge as one of her teachers told her she would never be offered a place.

What an utterly ridiculous question!
It is your belief that SPGS is better than Godolphin and Latymer. I am not just talking on academic terms. Success & happiness in life depends on so much more than where you go to school.

Because the environment of G&L is better? SPGS may perform marginally better on league tables but my guess would be this is to do with who they accept rather than teaching quality. My daughter goes to SPGS and says the teachers are not all as good as you’d expect. I have heard better things about the teaching quality from G&L.

Not only that but SPGS has a much worse pastoral environment! Don’t be a parent who values academics over everything else. Your child’s wellbeing comes first!

@SouthKenTuition , I don't think you are doing yourself any favours going through all the G&L threads on MN and making comments. These threads are dominated by parents and they don't need feedback from ex school staff or tutors looking for new pupils.

@SouthKenTuition it's considered really poor form on mumsnet to resurrect old threads, and you have done it at least 5 times just in the last few hours. You are annoying people every time you do it. It's only acceptable if you are the original poster coming back months/years later to give an update. Otherwise it's simply rude and disrupts the genuine conversations happening here by reopening questions that were resolved ages ago.

If you really want to have a genuine conversation about these schools rather than using it as an unsubtle way of promoting your tutoring services (which would also be disapproved of) then start a new thread rather than resurrectting all these zombies.