SW London Private and Grammar - applying for Year 7 in 2023 (Part VI)

[QuiteAJourney]

Following from our previous thread (link below)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4731973-sw-london-private-and-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-v?page=40&reply=123775541

Looking forward to continuing the journey together!

An extra 40 minutes a day of commuting as some of you are weighing up is fairly meaningful. Once homework ramps up, its the difference between having the time to continue to pursue a hobby like playing an instrument or not. While the bus journey can be fun social time for many it shouldn't be taken lightly.

@Workhar I think the reference of losing girls to KCS is about WHS.

Thanks but I believe LEH girls also lose a lot of highly able girls in sixth form.

Thanks but I believe LEH girls also lose a lot of highly able girls in sixth form.

Looking back at all the decision making I actually think the journey is one of the most important factors but it depends on how you work as a family. Had DS gone to Hampton the stress of making sure he made the bus every day would have broken us! As it is, if he misses the 'normal' bus it's fine and he can just wait for the next one! Same with DD- she can get the tube/ bus or mainline train if one of other isn't working. I can also drive her if she has something super early at school or rehearsals that finish at 9pm..
Do not underestimate the journey!

I am not familiar at all with LEH so cannot claim to know how much they lose to other schools or to which ones but given the wording of the original post and the open nature of your question I thought worth pointing out that that 'transfer' from WHS to KCS was the most obvious one (rather than LEH to KCS). In light of the above, I will leave to others to (hopefully more ably) comment.

FHSS lost hardly any students going in to sixth form.
Also I think there is a much more to school than league tables. We didn't like WHS at all, but really liked Putney High. The atmosphere and general organisation and the girls we met influenced this.
My daughter does have an hour commute - 25 minutes walking and the rest the tube (and waiting for one). In sixth form this is acceptable as most work is done in school and with A levels limited out of school activities and done on Saturdays. I wouldn't want this long for lower years.

A lot of single girls school will have a certain percentage going to Westminster or KCS in sixth form. There is also a cohort that goes to coed boarding for sixth form, flex and coming out in the weekends to London. It could be curriculum offered or scholarships opportunities.

If anyone has Bursary place- an amount of Bursary offered- they don’t want for Halliford- possible if they’ve received a few Bursary offerings- please release it ASAP! It’s DC’s favourite and would make such a difference!!!

Opinions on IPS? Am thinking the parking, lack of sports grounds and transport tricky but otherwise lovely? Nice gardens and good Drama?

WHS and LEH lose some girls at sixth form due to the fact that some of them have been there since junior school (age 4 or 7) and by the sixth form they are simply ready for a change. This is particularly because they are all girls schools and they want to experience a mixed school. LEH does do activities jointly with Hampton but the majority is still single sex within their own school.

I completely echo what others say about journey times. They will have to do this journey every day twice a day so the shorter the journey the better. Also for parents attending concerts, parents evenings, sports events, plays. If considering a school coach system consider the fact you might still have to give lifts at weekends or times when coaches aren’t running. A school trip for example where they need to be at school early or Saturday sporting fixtures which could be every week. As they approach GCSEs and Alevels they will have free periods or study leave and living nearer home can be an advantage.

This week I've had to collect DD twice at 9.30pm, twice at 7.30pm and dropped off DS at 1.30am for a trip!

Popping on to say really don't worry about perceived academic differences between LEH, WHS, PHS and other schools. Bright girls do well at all these schools.

DD (1st year Medicine at Oxford) went to PHS and then KCS for 6th form. She had offers from WHS, JAGS and Tiffin. She went to PHS because she liked it most and it offered her a good scholarship. It was also an easy (one bud) commute.

She transferred to KCS because of the academic rigour there - as did friends from LEH, WHS, KGS etc. she was also drawn to the IB. The mixed sixth form offered great opportunities for music and drama and has been a great stepping stone to university. She was also influenced by the fact she had brothers at KCS.

Oh and on the releasing places point, release all places asap. Nonsense to talk about holding onto them for any longer than needed for 'glory'. Have a bit of empathy please.

@Ernern (and any other parents considering Tiffin Girls) - if you have thoughts on Tiffin vs G&L/LEH which you wouldn't mind sharing - that would be great.

Anyone on here weighing up between RGS and Hampton at 13?
I am aware that we are in a very lucky position to be in ( and have released the two back ups)

Transport is similar (bus vs bike and train), results are much of a muchness.

I am worried about hothousing and balance with “fun”/ extracurricular offers as well as how much sport there is. Any experience on here with elder siblings?

my DS has a slight preference for Hampton on an unspecified basis (the brownies were better) 🤔

cheers

In answer to a question earlier on re the pastoral care at LEH. Our daughter is very happy there. Parents of her friends who who have had problems with friendships etc say the school dealt with it well. I agree with previous posters saying all the schools are much the same academically. They are all great! Any girl who gets it should do really well. I would pick on distance and general feel. Having done this process twice now I definitely felt there were several contenders but one school we felt would be hardest to turn down. We went on gut feel and distance when making our final decisions.

@woohooho how long did you have to drive for those drop offs and pick ups? Trying to understand what is common and acceptable.

I think it’s easiest to ask the school about the clubs timetables and any fixtures if relevant and see what’s likely for your child? Then look on Waze and get an estimated time? I’ve got a DD at LEH Juniors and despite living under 3 miles away, at 5pm pick up takes me about 75 mins door to door if I’m lucky. So I’d see the schedule and if any late coaches/public transport can work out with where you live……

Popping onto this thread as we went through this a couple of years ago with DD, we had 5 offers including PHS and LEH, we went with PHS, lots of people said we were mad to turn down LEH but the commute to Putney was so much easier. It has been 100% the right choice.

Any thoughts on PHS vs Emanuel? I like the co-ed thing in Emanuel but on the other hand my DD is from girls' only prep so used to single sex. PHS is easier for us to get to. Leaving above aside, how do they differ academically, pastoral care etc? TIA

Hi, I have an elder boy at Hampton. He joined at 11+ and now in 5th year. He has throughly enjoyed his time so far there, plenty of sport and clubs to choose from. I like the fact they do their clubs at lunchtime so everyone leaves at 4.15 and gets home at a reasonable hour. It is a fast paced academic environment but they do get a lot of support from teachers, workshops, revision etc. I think if you’ve been offered a place there, they have identified that your son should be able to handle the work. Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions. I think the school has a great group of parents, down to earth boys who are all super friendly. I don’t know anything about RGS so can’t comment. I would always look at the travel when deciding on schools too.

Are the admissions teams likely to be working over half term?

@Daydreamscometrue some of them are - WHS mentioned that they would be in an email earlier in the week.

@QuiteAJourney thanks