King Edwards Southampton (KES) or Embley Park?

[JoeyRoey]

We are looking for secondary options for our daughter (currently at a very small nurturing village primary) and weighing up KES and Embley Park. She's academically able (though a bit lazy with working outside school) and passionate about dance and drama, she's also a bit of a sensitive sausage post-COVID.

I liked the new wellness support at KES and the wide range of options (incl GCSE Dance) but wondered if it was a bit 'cold' where EP seems smaller and cosier?

Hoping to hear from some current or recent past parents? Or anyone else further through the decision-making process than we are!

Embley has lovely grounds.

What would be your catchment state school? Are you ruling out state on size, academic, nurturing or extra curricular reasons?

Our catchment school is Westgate and it’s a great option but we fell in love with the breath of option and opportunities at KES. She also thrives around her Co-curricular and I think that’ll be more of a complete package at an independent school with more of her class peers doing the same sports/dance/drama/singing etc etc versus needing to go to independent clubs to ‘augment’ the Westgate experience…

Bibs are you the OP? I'm a bit confused.
If your catchment is Westgate, how long is the commute to KES?
I've always got the impression there is loads going on in Winchester clubs wise, but I can see an appeal in having it all under one roof. Is that really worth 100k+?
Would you envisage staying there for 6th form, or going to PS?

(I'm not anti private, just interested why you'd choose private if Westgate is your catchment.)

Mystery to me (also Westgate catchment). I see kids on my road heading out early to KES, Embley, The Gregg, Stroud... The KES bus leaves about 7.20am. My Westgater walks out the door at 7.50am. But the KES kids get home at 5.30pm whereas mine is back by 3.30pm.

You'll use Peter Symonds, right?

I wasn’t canvassing opinion about private v state thanks. I was asking current or recent parents from Embley and KES for their views on either school.

I'd like to hear the answers to this too

Anyone waiting for entrance results this week for KES/Embley?

I'm a current KES parent and also has one that has been through and left. It is a fabulous school - great teaching, outstanding pastoral care and lots of opportunities to be involved. Yes from Winchester you leave around 7.45am and get home around 4.30 if not staying late.

Locally KES has a reputation of being more academically rigorous, while Embley is seen as more cosy and less academic.

Lots of local state schools are pretty good too.