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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

KGS vs Surbiton High School

22 replies

fullofsurprise · 25/06/2022 01:02

Hihi, I am new in London. I want to seek for comments of KGS and Surbiton High School. My DD is very into all sports in particular hockey yet she is not the county or national level. Her academic is top set in Maths and average or slightly above average in Eng.
How would you compare these two schools?

OP posts:
hockeygrass · 25/06/2022 10:45

Have you visited the sites? The main difference apart from single sex v mixed is that KGS has about 60 places for dd and Surbiton has got 9 classes of dd this September so it's much easier to get into surbiton. Most dd sit the exams for both schools and then decide if they are lucky enough to get a KGS offer.

Original poster
fullofsurprise · 25/06/2022 12:54

is it just the number of cohort intake to make KGS harder to get in? Or KGS really much better than Surbiton High?

OP posts:
hockeygrass · 25/06/2022 13:53

It's a smaller cohort of dd so KGS can offer to the more academically successful during the entrance process. It's best to view the whole process as the school offering to your dd not you making the decision so go into it with an open mind and a good selection of schools with different levels of selection, ie Putney High, KGS, Surbiton High and then either Sutton High or Notre Dame Cobham depending where you live.

hockeygrass · 25/06/2022 14:04

Also you haven't said if you have visited the schools but of all the schools in SW London I would say KGS is the site that some parents hate due to its urban nature in Kingston.

Original poster
fullofsurprise · 26/06/2022 01:07

We have visited Surbiton and we love the atmosphere in the school. Girls there all look very happy. The academic level seems on the up, isn’t it?
Haven’t visited KGS. I just heard the academic and hockey are both great. I don’t know about the school ethos and culture. Any idea?
We love these two school because they appeared to be very sports in particular hockey focus.

OP posts:
Whatswrongwithmarjorie · 26/06/2022 08:36

Surely the main difference is whether you want co-Ed or single sex?
Both academically good but KGS better in league tables. Kgs all in one building while surbiton you need to cross roads to get between sites . Both bus children to their sports grounds . Surbiton definitely larger but that can impact sports teams - realistically if you aren’t in the A B or C teams you won’t get many games with other schools simply because not many other schools take as many girls as surbiton do
both good schools with good transport links.

do you want a large single sex school or a small co-Ed school……

hockeygrass · 26/06/2022 09:04

Lots of dd get offers from both schools and make the decision once the offer letters are in front of them. In my case I'm a parent at Surbiton and my dd wouldn't have got into KGS so I didn't consider it. I have another dc who got an offer from KGS but went to a more academic single sex school. It's best to keep an open mind as it's a very long drawn out process and anything can happen on the day your dc sits the exam.

swgeek · 26/06/2022 09:22

Sports wise they are both great - I imagine Surbiton more competitive due to large number of girls. That can be good or bad of course.
Education wise I think it is quite different. KGS seems more traditional in terms of its content / curriculum and very serious about Maths/Science/DT, it seemed to me a very good place for geeky children (DD was accepted but we chose a more "well-rounded" school as it seemed a bit too geeky for her). I wasn't wowed by Surbiton, I had the impression their education is very focused on passing exams and getting good results, the girls talked a lot about homework and pressure to achieve certain results, it had a bit more of a state school feel in that regard.
I think it is a bit odd to compare the two, they are very different schools, if you like one or the other you should probably consider other more similar schools, I don't see how you would really choose between these two and be undecided.

Original poster
fullofsurprise · 27/06/2022 12:24

@hockeygrass can you share more about ur DD's school life in Surbiton? xx

OP posts:
hockeygrass · 27/06/2022 15:51

@fullofsurprise , she has been there a long time so probably not relevant but my main thoughts are it is very big, the teaching is very good and exam / result focused, the 6th form is excellent and unless you are county level you won't get in a top sports team apart from rowing which is fantastic as everyone starts at the same level in year 8.

Original poster
fullofsurprise · 27/06/2022 16:17

@hockeygrass how about amount of homework?

OP posts:
hockeygrass · 27/06/2022 16:34

Sorry I don't really know but I'm sure it's the same as most schools, in general the private secondary schools are all pretty similar which is why parents find it hard to choose when faced with multiple offers and most pupils / parents end up deciding based on the length of journey to the school.

DailySnooze · 27/06/2022 17:02

DD2 is there and higher up. Homework goes in fits and starts. Some terms and periods more intense. Other times less so. Year 7 had the most from what I could see.

They have a consolidation week either side of half term with no homework that week which DD really likes.

It’s a great school and I’m happy to read sixth form is excellent hockeygrass 👍 we’d been considering for various reasons other places for sixth form but I’m keen for her to stay now.

SafelySoftly · 27/06/2022 21:16

KGS far more academic but location is rubbish. Neither school have decent grounds nearby. Worrying that SHS let in extra classes this year, very glad my child isn’t going there!

Original poster
fullofsurprise · 27/06/2022 21:49

Any idea of the boys in KGS? are they well behaved?
How about the opportunity to join clubs in SHS given the large number of intakes?

OP posts:
SpringCalling · 12/07/2022 09:09

My DD got offers from both SHS and KGS this year. She never liked SHS so was an easy decision in the end. it may be you find similar! We loved the teachers at KGS - so much more engaging than any other school we visited, they inspired me!
The central kingston location is a minus - although I suspect it will become a plus as she grows older and the urban vibe is cooler!
SHS over-offered this year and have had to fit in two extra classes from September - I hear there is concern on the pressure this will put, with many more girls in the same footprint. But just visit KGS - you may immediately decide yes or no on that.

uneverknow · 13/07/2022 17:50

My DD got both KGS and SHS, we like both schools. I agreed they are different and they both very good.
My DD chose Surbiton at the end and she will be joining year 7 in sept. The admission experience was so smooth and good. The welcome event was fun and engaging. We feel like SHS is more energetic. The education approach seems more up to day. They not only arranged activities for DD but also a lot activities for parents. We feel like a truly big family even my DD hasn't started her school days there.
KGS is really good too. The staff are patience and friendly. Academic is strong.
It is better to go to school open days for a look cos different kids suitable for different environment.

NoGonnaLie · 14/07/2022 12:56

United Learning run Surbiton High, along with Guildford High which is considered one of the best girls schools in the country. They also run a lot of other schools, both private and state. So yes, they have a lot of experience and resource behind them. unitedlearning.org.uk/about-us/our-schools

Karmacat · 25/07/2022 09:44

I have two daughters at girls only academic high schools and one who wanted coed so we chose KGS. We have been absolutely bowled over by KGS. The sport is outstanding, as is the drama and music, academically she has absolutely flourished. The pastoral care is phenomenal compared to the High schools. One difference that is really apparent is because of the boys it is far less bitchy, the girls and boys mix in friendship groups which is refreshing. Although both my girls are
at the High schools are doing really well, if I had my time again I would send them all to KGS.

tedgran · 25/07/2022 09:52

My DGD1 went there, seemed happy enough, did well but asked to change to her brothers school before starting her GCSE courses, sorry hopless about which year. She went to Ibstock and was much happier and got offers from all the universities she applied for. We never knew why she went off Surbiton.

TheWitchCirce · 01/08/2022 21:29

I'm astonished so many are down on the location of KGS. They won't be 11 forever and the urban location is fab for teenagers getting together at the weekends for the cinema, bowling, shopping etc

The sport & drama are fantastic. The Head really cares.

trader21c · 21/05/2023 07:26

My daughter was at Surbiton - great sports she was in the tennis squad and has played all through University in the team. She did medicine and was extremely supported by the school in the application process. She loved the school throughout and had many opportunities there - it is big though. I wanted a single sex school - that surely feeds into your choice? The head of the sixth form is brilliant …

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