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!

How is everyone perceiving the change of the LEH head? Any insights would be helpful.

Huge apologies I hadn't spotted you mentioned LEH and St John's previously. You mention the new LEH head isn't currently in post but I believe they are currently at St John's, and the head they have chosen at St John's, although he used to work there as deputy head, has actually been a head since then at Bedford Modern, a decent enough independent school

It will be interesting to see the chance as Heather Hanbury had been deputy head at LU, then head at WHS before head at LEH so she really knew the west London schools market! St John's is a different kind of school so will be interesting to see how LEH morphs under her leadership

ah Was it announced as a temporary appointment then - that explains it more since yes a new head currently in post elsewhere would not be able to start until Sept at the earliest . I guess they decided that an experienced pair of available hands was the best move rather than deputy acting up - I hadn’t realised there was quite so much movement going on in terms of indie heads so I guess it was a good move . It will be hard for those children going back on Monday as it especially as it will be under the glare of publicity .

@cerealchange , St John's currently have an Acting head as RC who is going to LEH left in the Autumn of 2022.

@redrobin75 -intriguing! Do you know any of the history of why she left without a post to go to? Seems an odd arrangement and to have left St John's in the lurch?

Yep it's just a temporary move frok 1st March and then for the 2023-2024 academic year.

So happy Sir Anthony Seldon is taking over from March 1st and providing stability and guidance. He has done a lot of work on wellbeing and also recently on grief so I can't imagine a better appointment.

@cerealchange I believe RC was previously deputy at Guildford High St John’s so she has experience in a very similar school to LEH.

I think it’s great the Epsom have found someone to take over, for the kids at the school, and the teachers, to give them some stability at a terrible dreadful time but Antony Seldon is definitely a bit out of practice! He hasn’t worked in schools for eight years according to Wikipedia and there has been a total change in everything in covid, technology, even things like mental health, addressing racism and diversity. all the heads talks we went to for DD last year made that really clear - a new era for schools, having to manage a lot of new things and I’ve seen the focus on DD’s year 7 is very much on mental health and resilience.

I’m sure he’s a ‘safe pair of hands’, which is what they definitely need right now to reassure parents, but (sorry if this phrase is outdated now) he is most definitely one of the ‘old boys network’ and seen as ‘old school’ now. Maybe that’s what Epsom want as they are quite a traditional school and that will be what he offers. I know he was seen as innovative at Wellington.

Still, there are always changes in Heads and our prep head told us right from the start last year not to choose based on any one Head because they all move around a lot! It’s hard because open days seem to Centre on the head’s talk.

That’s precisely my concern. We were very impressed with the current LEH Head and were gutted to find that she is leaving. Also her leaving St John’s without a new opportunity doesn’t seem right.

@1forward2back , interestingly we were told to check the Head of secondary schools and see what they talked about since schools changes a lot under their guidelines and not always for the good or along your line of preference.

@HawaiiWake i think that’s also incredibly valid - you have to believe in them - but I think what our prep head was saying was not to base the decision solely on that. He used the example of Jane Lunnon at WHS who a lot of people used to choose the school for and then left for Alleyns. That was a while ago now though - DD was in y 4 I think

The current head at SCHS was only ever temporary, much like Anthony Seldon is at Epsom College. A new permanent head starts in September 23 and has been lined up for some time.
I have two girls at SCHS who are thriving. The school is local to us which was a big plus point when deciding where to send them.

Exactly this Epsom want to steady the ship and take an appropriate time to appointment someone permanent. Emma Pattison was seen as progressive and they will want to get someone else to continue with this, but it would be too hard to appoint in a rush. Seems entirely sensible.

We had a very detailed letter from
the school yesterday and we will get the chance to meet the new head at the offer holders session on Wednesday.

It’s a very sensible appointment. He’s hugely experienced but won’t want a long term job. For the next 18 months it’s a good call.

@VickiMent don't turn up a day early! It's Thursday 😉

@cerealchange thanks! I have it right for my annual leave and my diary but keep on saying Wednesday by accident. It is a pity though as it seems quite a few offer holder sessions are on Thursday morning!

Hi dear parents,
My DD has received offers from Francis Holland Sloane and Notting Hill and Ealing schools! We’re based in Chiswick. Would love to get thoughts of experienced parents about these 2😊 Btw. We are also on the waiting list for Godolphin and LEH but not sure how waiting lists move.. So don’t want to keep my hopes high. Great thanks for your valuable comments in advance..

@MaryCU congratulations to your DD. I know families at NHES and they have been very happy .
Have you spoken to LEH and G&L about where your DD is on the wait list . If she is at the top it’s possible she might get a place before you have to pay your deposit - that’s if they already think they will be a bit short on numbers.

Various key points the wait lists can move ( DD left LEH last year so these have a LEH bias but the principles will apply to G&L too :

1. once acceptance day has passed - the schools will then have an initial idea of whether they are full or not - note these schools will have over offered they because know that some will choose other selective schools instead of them so they factor these in ;
2. once state school allocations are out Eg some girls who have paid deposit will get Tiffin places -and also sometimes girls from LEH junior school too - they might choose to forgo deposit for a state place
3. once state school wait lists move - they operate wait lists on a one in one out
4. once full term fees become due - those parents that still haven’t decided will get off the fence to avoid liability for first terms fees
5. i know several LEH girls who got wait list places in June/ July . You just need to decide what you would do if you get such a call - since you don’t tend to get long to decide .

Sometimes schools ( and it has happened at LEH and elsewhere in the past ) have over offered too much and find they have to put an extra class on because they can’t squeeze these extra girls whose places they must all honour into an existing class - they will do everything to avoid this but they might need to extras in to then make up a full class .

when you speak to admissions - make sure they know why you want a wait list place and that it means you will accept quickly should they offer. By putting your DD on the wait list they have decided she will thrive if she goes there so they will want to give an offer to those most likely to accept rather than having to go back and forth to the wait list . Good luck . I’m sure your DD will be very happy at any of them .

Well done to everyone!! Good news here- DS got some lovely offers and his first choice Halliford- which he and we just love- feel it’s such a good fit for him! Any other Halliford parents out there or going to accept offers? We’ve still got a couple of schools in the mix but think that’s the one!

@NYE2023 great thanks for your detailed notes! Appreciate that a lot. Already dropped an e-mail to both schools re waiting list and Will call admission offices this week. Fingers crossed 🤞

Anyone trying to decide between Hampton and LU?

For us it is LU vs KCS.

I thought we would be celebrating which is what we would call a dream scenario a few months ago but find myself stressed over the need to make the "right" decision 😵‍💫.

Anyone able to compare Epsom vs Hampton, vs Latymer Upper? Keen to know if you chose any of these, which and why?