Emanuel school recent experience

[ash86i]

DC (and us parents) are deciding between 3 schools after his 11+. Our top choice at the moment is Emanuel. We like the grounds, the location and the recent A levels, GCSE results and university places. My only reservation is that DC is quite academic and has strong maths, english, science... however not very sporty or into theatre/drama, as in will take part but not passionate about the latters. I would love to hear from parents with DC currently in Emanuel or who have chosen it over others, specially in terms of academic stimulation and challenging in core subjects. Thank you

Well my sister went to one but I doubt that's the one you're talking about. There are many schools with that name

I guess your sister went to the Emanuel Jewish day school in New South Wales, Australia, then, because that's the only other Emanuel School in the world.

Their results aren't great given they're academically selective!

that's because they have a siblings policy requiring a much softer pass mark for the entrance exams.
What are you other 2 choices OP?

We have a DS there in year 7 and could not recommend it more highly. We turned down offers from schools with “better” results such as LU and are really glad we did. DS is very academic, hates sport and, while he loves drama, is going through a bit of a shy phase so not really doing much of that right now. Doesn’t matter in the least, and there are plenty of kids with all sorts of different interests and strengths.

The pastoral support at the school is, frankly, amazing, and the kids themselves tend to have more of a warmth and kindness than we saw at other schools. The school seems to strike a great balance between the academic and the wider child.

Regarding the comment on their results above, that is just demonstrative of exactly the type of thinking we have never agreed with. They are a school which is interested in the whole kid, and have a balance in their intake between the traditionally academic, the creative, the sporty etc. If your child is smart and works hard, there is no reason for them not to get the same excellent results they could at schools at the top of the rankings. However, at a school like Emanuel they have more chance of being happier and more well rounded when they get out the other end. It is not the sort of school where, if you are not good at sports, you are ostracised.

maths and English teaching at a good level - some pretty advanced stuff in maths already, and lots of opportunities for extension work, clubs etc for the high achievers.

other things: grounds are great, and lots of good improvements in the works. Homework at a good level - an hour a night and 1.45 every weekend.

anyway, rave over. We love it.

Thank you so much @newusername99 your DC sounds very similar to mine. Thanks for your detailed replies and glad to know he’s enjoying it.

@beautifulyoungmind our other choices are Latymer or Ibstock, and although Latymer’s standing in the league tables is superior, from our visit and offer holders event it doesn’t feel like good fit for DC and the commute will be a problem. We’re turning down Ibstock.

We've got two DDs there already and just accepted 10+ place for DS. Really happy with the school for so many reasons but mainly that it's lived up to my expectations. I got a great impression from the open day I went to where the school (especially the head) came across as a school that actually likes children, not just results, and wants children to aspire to be their best self.

None of my children are particularly sporty and there's a lot to do if you're not, kids easily find their tribe. The school is really proud of their maths tournaments, spelling bees, lit quizzes, computer and science clubs as well as the drama/music/sports and I feel like there's definitely something for everyone. I also love the number of trips that come about because they're so strong in drama and music. So you don't have to act in plays to go on theatre trips to musicals. The other department that's really strong on organising trips is the Classics department with trips to Italy and Greece as well as Bath.

Hope that helps a little, do post again if you have more questions!

Gosh Latymer is a hard one to turn down - excellent school academically & reputationally and a different league to Emanuel but you know your son best & if you think it will be the wrong fit that's a very sound basis for a decision.
If you are concerned your son is not quite robust enough for LU then just be aware that (I personally think) you also need to be quite robust to find Emanuel a comfortable fit.

Ibstock is a bit marmite & I was never keen on the 2 language GCSE requirements & also turned it down but it's great for the right child who like to follow the rules and have strong structure in place.

@beautifulyoungmind see this is what I don’t understand. What do you mean by a “different league”? I absolutely agree it is a different type of school, with different approaches and, if you measure results by the percentage of kids who get top exam grades, then I can see it would maybe rank “higher”. But, for example, the results in all of these top schools tell you nothing about the quality of the education or how your particular child will fare. Fundamentally if your entrance process focuses on children who perform best in a certain type of academic exam, you are going to have a higher percentage of those kids in your intake, and a higher percentage of top results. But the vast majority of those kids will be very bright and motivated and would achieve anywhere vaguely decent. And anyway here we are taking about 89.4% grades 7-9 at GCSE for Emanuel and 95% for LU. 5.4% difference in these top grades is statistically meaningless, particularly when thinking about the experience of a bright kid unlikely to be in the bottom 10% of their year!
If you like the vibe of the school and think your child will fit, then go for it. We were put off LU by a number of factors, including comments by people we know with kids there, so turned them down, but also know others who love it.

Ignore my maths 😂typing with one hand while cleaning up is not the best idea

Er...

A-level A* to B percentage Results for 2022

St Pauls girls 98.8%
Westminster 97%
Highgate. 95.7%
Latymer 94 %
Emanuel. 93%

Yep, Emanuel's a real dump....that 5.8 % gap between the best A level results in the whole country, is truly shocking....

Re 'different leagues' I have 2 children - one in a highly academically selective school down the road from LU, and one in a school most on here consider a last resort 'back-up' which I chose over Ibstock because it was a perfect fit and he needed a tiny nurturing environment.
Without a doubt my daughter's school is slicker & faster on the teaching. The whole class moves & learns at a totally different level to that which my son's school runs at and she thrives on this whereas he doesn't. They are different leagues in terms of the children they take in (nothing hard to understand about the term) but absolutely right for each child.
All I was alluding to is that both LU and Emanuel are 'busy' schools, my son would not cope in either, but many (not all!) who had entered their child into a selective secondary school admissions process would choose the much sought after LU given the two schools have a similar dynamic.

However, fit is EVERYTHING (and also distance is crucial) so you are making a sound choice. Release the LU offer!

No it isnt- depends on 1 m or 2 but

Lots of Emmanuel schools - Emmanuel College being the 1st and then the MAT
www.esf-web.org.uk/our-schools/the-schools/

Emmanuel community school in Walthamstow

Emmanuel junior in sheffield

Emmanuel school in Oxford

Emmanuel school in Braunstone

Emmanuel C of E in Hampstead

Emmanuel College in Bradford

etc etc

Goes to show that spelling is important...

Exactly!!

None on that list are Emanuel

As has been pointed out, Emanuel's exam results in 2022 were terrific. A school that is definitely 'on the up'!

Thank you all for all the feedbacks. Much appreciated.

We were really impressed with the school after the offer holders event this week and, as mentionned, the recent results as well, thus cementing our choice.

Sorry to hijack on this but we are in a similar dilemma. have a boy who is sporty and academic and likewise has a few other offers - am worried the boys sport is not as strong as other schools - does anyone have any recent opinions on this?

Depends which schools and which sports!

Obviously if you have a Dulwich offer, that would surpass everywhere else on sport! They have the best facilities and number of sports on offer, and are very good indeed at some of them.

Emanuel has very good facilities, is strong in rowing (tasters in year 8, full option year 9 onwards) plus a good range of others and pretty good standards. IIRC, they were in the Vase (2nd tier) for the National Schools Rugby (others like Dulwich and Whitgift are in the Cup - top tier) but all the schools in the area play each other, so plenty of fixtures. They only took to football recently, so I don't know what level they are at. Both boys and girls play cricket in the summer

Sports in Emanuel with teams for boys - rugby, cross country, rowing, football, cricket, water polo, swimming, plus others. Lots of fixtures and opportunities to try new sports. Clubs for athletics, tennis, table tennis, squash and sport fitness, etc.
Football getting stronger due to some kids playing for football academy plus school sports. Rowers, last year girl rowing for team GB and this year boy rowing for team GB.
They seem keen in getting everyone fitness level up.

I never thought someone would turn down LU for Emanuel! Good to know!

i am not sure if you have already made your decision OP. I have a DC in Emanuel, and my child loves the school. Kind children, good academics, lots of sports, great drama. My child never was exceptionally sporty, but has tried new sports in the school and now really likes some of them. Mr Milne is a great headteacher and we are very happy with our choice.

Thanks @Chelseacoffee for the feedback. We have accepted the offer! DC is very excited it was his top choice.

I am happy for you! Great choice! Welcome !!