Ibstock vs KGS??

[Nottoolongtogo]

Would be grateful for any thoughts for my daughter as this household is facing lots of decision turmoil!

We live closer to IPS (~1 mile), vs a 20 min-ish bus ride to KGS.

She is athletic (runs fast, great at climbing) but not particularly great at team sports, quite enjoys hockey but hates netball with a passion (although I think it’s because she doesn’t know the rules and is lazy/stubborn about learning them)…

Which brings me to her personality - she’s fairly quiet but comes out of her shell when she feels like it and on her own terms. She is pretty stubborn and won’t take authority or really listen unless she feels something make sense and agrees with it. The head at school thinks that Kingston would be a better personality fit and I also feel this is the case IF IPS is as strict/structured as I’m led to believe.

But I can’t ignore the fact that IPS is a dream commute with wonderful space and facilities and my daughter enjoyed both offer holder days and is struggling to choose between the two!

Any input very gratefully received! Xx

I was also told that IPS is very structured. I really liked IPS for its stunning facilities (it’s hard to pay the exorbitant fees of an independent when the facilities and space is not great). Academics wise, they both seem similar to me. Personally, I would go for the safer and shorter commute.

We looked into both schools as part of the 11+ process. We initially really liked IPS but both the admissions process and the comments from other parents put quite a few questions on in our mind around the 'warmth' of the place. But overall still a very nice school...but we loved KGS.
Academically, KGS is stronger, especially in maths (and girls participation in STEM subjects is higher than usual in co-ed schools). Interestingly, although art and music are strong at IPS (and one of their 'selling points') they are as strong if not more at KGS. Sport definitely stronger at KGS.
We came very close to choosing KGS (we ended up choosing WHS). The logistics played a strong part in our decision not to accept the offer - if you can make the travel work for you, I would recommend it over IPS.

It'll take about 20 mins to walk, so the bus journey isn't really going to tie up that much more time on normal days (but roadworks, delays, strikes - what's the fallback?)

My DD started at kGS last September, can't speak to Ibstock though. Regarding the bus, last night she said to me "I can't wait to get the bus tomorrow". Wierd I know, but ties in with the enormous change that will happen come secondary. She already arranges to meet up with friends in Kingston outside of school time, getting a bus is already as natural as breathing. She was not on any prep school teams, but does play hockey and football at kGS so it is great for sports and encouraging all to take part. She did house drama last month, mixing with all years to put on a 20 min show. It's been great.

Thank you for all of your comments, I really appreciate it. For me the travel is not a big deal as it’s so accessible by public transport, the bus goes from <5 min walk from my house to right outside the school and I know lots do it. I can’t help feeling that when they are older they would like hanging out in town, whereas it’s not so practical to do that if at IPS.

When looking at the academic results and options there seems to be little to separate the two significantly even though I think traditionally KGS seems harder one to get into.

I am leaning towards KGS but my daughter Ibstock (as she already knows others going but none at KGS), I need to figure out whether it’s worth overruling her and dealing with potential resentment or not. Wish me luck!!!

@Nottoolongtogo Like you, as per my previous post, I would favour KGS. But I completely sympathise with the need to have your DD on board.. have you explained to her that IPS is more of a 'teacher-led' / rules-based approach? From your description of her personality, that is unlikely to appeal to her.
Also, if she enjoys hockey, KGS is amazing.
I firmly believe that when the decision is between 2 good schools, like in this case, the DC should have a say. But the parents should provide them relevant information that might otherwise be overlooked in favour of more obvious factors (e.g. friends going there)

@QuiteAJourney yes I have explained to her about how it is more strict/structured and she says she doesn’t mind, but honestly I don’t think she fully understands it as it all seems a bit too hypothetical to her!

She told me she likes Ibstock ‘1/14th’ 😂 more than KGS so the margin seems small! We will have to spend the next day or two talking about it more I expect. She did say she trusts me to know all the stuff that grown ups pay attention to!

I know she could be perfectly happy at IPS but the fact that there has been such a mixed reception of the school on here has made me see it as a bigger risk/unknown quantity as the head tries to change things for the better vs KGS who has an established head (and he alluded to the fact he’s sticking around given his child is there).

I don’t think there is enough in the travel times to really separate it.

I have a DC in y9 at KGS and they love it. Academic standards are high, sports are great and they take pastoral care seriously. It’s a bit more informal than some other private schools which I personally like.

IPS - I know children there and it’s a mixed bag. Some are really enjoying it. But a few seem to have problems (but perhaps all schools do??) with a common theme around the school being too formal / structured and don’t like challenge if your child doesn’t neatly fall into that.

I don’t like their admissions process and tbh that put me off the school - particularly that exam at the beginning which seems unnecessarily hard.

DD experienced racism in the dance school of Ibstock, and it was brushed under the carpet. Luckily she wasn't part of the main school, and has since found a lovely dance school where she is thriving.

Hi, we too have offers from KGS and Ibstock for our son. We live a lot closer to Ibstock, next to Sheen Gate. Commute to KGS would be 45min by bus, with a change in Richmond.

Our son loves science and DT. He is fascinated by the idea of being part of the E-car club at KGS. He wants to join the DT club, but would prefer to have the freedom to design and build his own things, not just follow instructions.

On the other hand, commute and facilities are much better at Ibstock for us.

Does anyone have feedback about DT / science at KGS vs. Ibstock?

Many thanks.

@DaddyTries KGS is very strong in DT, as is in Art and Maths. Quite a few students leaving for top engineering degrees every year.

KGS deadline is tomorrow at midday? We really liked the admissions process with KGS. The Head was very charismatic and candid. We didn't find the process anywhere near the same with Ibstock.

Thank you to everyone who has provided input, I am very grateful and we have decided to go with KGS! Good luck with your decision @DaddyTries, you don’t have long (and the form for KGS is a slight faff!).

@Nottoolongtogo Congratulations on your decision! A lovely school!

DT is strong - at gcse there are 3 options for it due to its popularity

Sorry that’s at KGS btw

Congratulations! What cat score are you looking at to get into KGS roughly? Where is it ranked regards reeds / St. John's etc? Is it a super selective or not?

Thank you for any input - I totally missed this Co- Ed school 🤪 maybe it's possible for yr 9.

Thank you

@Ilovechoc12 I would say around 125+ although they don't look at CATS, v strong in Maths and science. Harder to get into than St John's and higher academic profile but not superselective. They do have 10 places at 13+ for those applying in y8.