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

They dont have 13+ option anymore. And they didnt go to waitlist last year either

Brand new Emanuel parent here. So far it seems that there is something for everyone. Academic kids are pushed, so many enrichment clubs for instance, maths, history, literature, spelling bee etc. At the same time, my DC who is definitely not an avid sportsman had to up his fitness level considerably in the space of a few weeks (which we are so pleased with). I’m especially happy that there are so many sports to choose from and practice is open for all abilities. My DC is doing, besides regular curricular sports, swimming, badminton and cross country which I would have never fathomed. DC’s is not particularly art focused but there seems to be a lot of music, drama and the likes as well. So far very impressed with the school.

It is a very good school these days with gcse results similar to Trinity which is also a very good school.
Its worth noting that this years cohort are somewhat unique as they are the 1st that arrived in yr 7 along with Mr Milne and the last to be offered a place under the old system.
Results are only going to go one way which I am slightly sad about as it means there is one leas school for those that a academically good but not outstanding.

I think it's a reflection of the changing 11+ London indies scene, with more parents choosing day schools over boarding, more international applicants and just more prep all around sparking more competition. I might be wrong, this past 11+ season was our first.

Well the one being talked about is Emanuel School. Not Emmanuel ect... 🤔

😂

Hi @goldenbag !

There is a significant difference between an A and an A. And there is a huge difference between an A and a B. So the composite A*-B statistic is unhelpful, especially for super-selective and hyper-selective schools. The leading university faculties also do not like a B at all.

Do you have just the A* percentages for each school?

If such statistics were that important to me, I would also look at the 5-year average for 2015-2019 (before Covid) and the 2-year average for 2022-2023 ('post' Covid).

Emanuel had a change of head about 7-8 years ago - the school was rising in popularity anyhow, but that accelerated following the appointment (Mr Milne has been deputy head at KCS and was seen as the harbinger of a more academic school). The first cohorts with him at the helm will be going their public exams now, and I'd expect to see improvements in that scoreboard consolidated and probably improving further.

Because remember that for many schools, the exam result tables are a reflection on how selective the school was 5 (GCSE) or 7 (A level) years before that.

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a great school, culture, academic. Lovely pupils, staff and head

Just heard that Mr Milne is leaving

Heard it was August 2025. The usual London secondary schools headteachers moving at around 10 years mark seems to be standard such past examples like Wimbledon, FHSS, Putney, SHS, Latymer Upper, St.Paul Girls.

Apparently starting at Dulwich in summer 2025

It's like a merry-go-round. I wonder who will replace Milne.

Mind you, some of them, in their twilight years, go off abroad to Europe or Thailand and head up their overseas branches. One last hurrah. I don't blame them - why not!

Hello parents!
I know this is an old post, but we are struggling to decide between Emanuel and PHS. I would DM but that function seems off.

We love both schools, equidistant to both. The academic offer at both is great. DD would do well at both, DD doesn't mind being co-Ed or single sex. She's in co-Ed primary. Happiness rather than A* all round is important to us.
Any parents held a PHS and Emanuel offer post Covid that could give us "reasons why"
(And not that PHS is higher in league tables or Emanuel has beautiful grounds)

I can only identify @Pigeon25 having a DD at Emanuel, don't know if you also considered girls only?

@GridGal we had considered both schools you mention for our dd and in the end it was between PHS and G&L (I felt Emanuel the boys took over in presence during the offer tour). DD chose G&L in the end and is very happy to be at an all girls school. I think it is a very individual choice. It depends what your dd wants or what she feels suits her best. If she is not sure, you could look at things like distance or what clubs/sport they have on offer that she might be interested in. For example Putney has lacrosse but Emanuel I think hockey for girls (both have netball).

Thank you @SamPoodle123 we had been committed to girls ed, esp. because of wanting to ensure Dd has "space" as you mention, away from boys. But it's not us that has to do the day to day at the school. We didn't apply to WLondon schools, but if you can share why it was G&L rather than PHS?
DD really doesn't seem to mind single sex or coed and wants to go to both schools Dd would miss hockey but would like the better gymnastics offer at PHS (not elite in either)
So tricky! Thank you for your insights.

@GridGal we just left it up to dd and she just felt G&L was more for her. Dh was very keen on Putney and I was neutral. I think if she does not mind either way then you make the decision for her. If you feel single sex is better suited for her go for PHS. For our dd we felt single sex was better. For ds we are neutral. But are learning towards LU over Dulwich because of distance.

Very different schools, in pupils culture, GCSEs choice and sport.
Emanuel, netball, hockey, cricket, rowing, volleyball, athletics, swimming and water polo. Last year a girl got running scholarship to Princeton. Team GB rowing. Very inclusive of school sports and multiple choices.
Putney, we know top tennis players playing in regional and lots of competitions.
Netball it seems WHS seems to have a stronger presence in the last few years.
Know families in both schools and they are happy but Putney have quite a few leaving at 13+ and Sixth form for coed options.

We chose Emanuel over all girls' gdst (not PHS but a couple of others where we had scholarship offers) and it's worked so well. The school was always my favourite but I tried not to push it too much, and DDs made the final choice. I definitely never had the impression of girls being crowded out by the boys and I don't think my DDs have ever felt sidelined by the boys and they've flourished academically. I know some worry that girls don't do as well in mixed education but that's not been our experience, and definitely not what I've seen on prize days, exam results etc. I also see a lot of gender balance in STEM participation at A-level.

From my own experience of going to an all girls' school, I think it left me very pro-co-ed (applied to gdst because I didn't really know the system and friends recommended those schools!); I like that my daughters are achieving in that environment which is what normal life will be.