SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023

[EmotiveBubblez]

i myself have been looking for this thread and have been unsuccessful. Saw a couple people mention it over the past day or so on the 2022 one.

so here we go, albeit a bit late.

has everyone visited all the schools on their lists?

how many schools are everyone applying to?

what schools are you applying to?

how is the preparation going?

i know some exams have taken place, how did they go?

wishing all the whirls good luck with preparation and exams, hope we all find the right schools for our daughters.

As I see it an hour commute not only 10 hours a week commuting but also means that some of your friends (if an hour in the other direction) could live 2 hours away! One of the things I like about kgs is that I think they have a relatively small catchment area.

We really liked KGS after attending the 11 plus evening. Thought the Head was very candid and the evening answered lots of questions for us. We're not super local.

Not sure that KGS has a particularly local catchment. We know quite a few people from Wandsworth / Putney and Clapham applying. The train line plays a big role - though not as big as for other schools, like Emanuel, as do the bus lines that pass by the school.

Does anyone know roughly how many get interviewed at KGS?

Hi, just in case anyone is weighing up between LU and G&L, I have kids in both and would describe the main differences (apart from the obvious co-ed v single sex aspect) as -

• option to do IB at G&L
• currently, at G&L they take 4 A-levels, plus EPQ (with option to drop one A-level in Year 13); whereas at LU they strongly advise 3 A-levels max, plus EPQ (unless one is Further Maths or a language they have semi-fluency in anyway).
• G&L make them do all three sciences at GCSE, but at LU they may drop a science for another subject they are stronger in.
• activities week at LU means they go on a compulsory week-long trip every June (often abroad)
• drama opportunities and choirs much more inclusive at G&L
• G&L has hockey pitches on site and they seem to do sport more frequently throughout the week. LU bus then to Wood Green one afternoon per week for team sports. But LU have a pool on site. Both schools have a climbing wall, dance studios and gym. Both offer rowing.
• larger year groups at LU - feels 'busier'
• teaching fantastic in both school, with only the odd exception.
• LU is a very forward-thinking, dynamic school, but tougher socially (in my opinion). G&L somehow seems a much calmer and kinder, more nurturing environment.
• LU has the most far-reaching bursary programme of any London independent (I think it's something like 25% in receipt if some form of bursary at LU, compared to around 10% at G&L).
• Neither school feels academically pressured once they are in.
• if makes no difference whether one school gets 96% 7/9 at GCSE and one gets 92% or whatever because once in the school, this difference is not remotely tangible to anyone and as long as your child is broadly keeping up they will get top grades in either cohort. Past a certain point, it's their happiness in the right environment that counts, much more than exam stats. The same child will do pretty much the same in either of these schools, and others like them.

Anyway, just in case anyone is interested. Good luck!!!

Thanks. Do you have a DD or DS at LU? ta

DS at LU and DD at G&L (obviously)!

This sort of post is super interesting- thank you! My son is not sitting for either of these schools but for those that are I'm sure it's invaluable and so hard to get from the open days/prospectuses. If anyone has similar comments on other schools please post.

Just to add that I would be particularly interested in which schools are academic and also -not sure how to phrase this- democratic in approach to teaching and discipline. I think my son would thrive in a creative, egalitarian learning environment rather than a strict military style one. Obviously most London schools will fall somewhere in the middle....
For example, I think the standard detentions in year 7 for minor infractions that I can see they have in many state secondary schools would not be my preference.

From people I know over the years, Ibstock Place has the reputation for being quite strict and 'rules -orientated.'

Thank you. We are applying there but I did read something about that on here. Definitely something to seriously think about if he were offered a place.

I've got one at LU and one at WHS and a close family member at G&L. Would broadly agree with @Mosaic on LU - although my family member at G&L has found it very tough socially- I think she's been unlucky with her form- has been brutal. She says the teachers are very kind though. The kids at LU, my DCs friends anyway, seem much kinder! But it will depend who your friend's are really! I think they've also tried to make the lower school more inclusive re drama etc. Certainly my child has had lots of opportunities to be involved despite no major talent! It's a much bigger school so will always be easier in the smaller schools to be inclusive I think.

LU and WHS both quite different but very happy with both!

Neither have petty rules and don't give out loads of detentions etc. LU very strict about phone use this year (have to be locked in a special bag all day and can't be unlocked until the end of the day). More than happy with that rule!

Sorry - think I tagged the wrong poster!

Yes, secondaryquandries. Many people love the school, but others find it a bit too rigid in the sense of 'rules for the sake of rules' if that makes sense. Quite a few friends' DC didn't stay on for the sixth form for this very reason. But, I'm sure many others love it.

Sorry, the above post was about Ibstock!

Thank you. Don't think my son would think much of rules for rules sake. He's very independent and fair minded. He's also not keen on pomp and ceremony. Much more up for small groups, 1-2-1, debate, projects etc.

@boredboredbore I do like the sounds
of the mobile phone rule though!!

Same question, is your DC at LU a DD or DS? Curious to hear from DD's at LU. ta

I have a DS at LU. Hopefully my younger DD will go there as well as we now live nearer. We didn't apply for older DD.

🙏thanks for clarifying. Does anyone have a DD at LU who can share their thoughts? ta

Can anyone advise about whether ISEB timings reflect the weighting each subject is given? VR & NVR weigh in at 15 and 10 min less than English & Maths - are results in the latter subject areas of greater significance?

@readingcat my understanding is that the schools are given the data for each section and then it is up to the school how they factor them, also together with any other tests (eg creative writing), interviews and additional information (eg school reports).

Yes, our head told us exactly this re both ISEB and Consortium - that every school will interpret the results of the exam differently (and ditto weight the interviews / school references differently too). The only school I know that's transparent is Tiffin Girls who say second stage exam is 60% English and 40% Maths (the assumption is that's how they weight the results, but who knows!)

Thanks, both, that’s helpful. We are dealing with a spiky profile: excellent VR & English, Maths just good enough, but NVR average or below average. My understanding is that some ISEB schools will accept skewed results, especially if there is excellence in one skills set (and assuming the candidate has performed well in the creative writing, group task etc.), but that others require a strong performance across the board or lay significant emphasis on NVR. Would be interested in others’ thoughts on this.

@readingcat Do you have CAT score results for your DD? Is there a disparity between spatial and NVR?
I've heard the same as you - that some schools are perfectly happy with spiky profiles, esp if one of them is very high, whereas others just look at the average across the board (the latter seems silly to me - does a school really not want a genius mathematician if their English comprehension currently isn't currently quite up to scratch?!)