Page 20 | SW London Grammar and Private year 7 entry 2024

lolo99 · 2023-09-27T18:31:09+00:00

Not sure if this thread has been started but if not, I would like to share experiences, tips and generally talk about schools and their pros and cons and processes to ease the anxiety and pain for us parents :)

Grasshopper12345 · 02/12/2023 19:32

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11plusstupid · 02/12/2023 19:43

Iffiyas · 02/10/2023 21:13

I wonder what is there to be gained by badmouthing a school here?! As everyone said, the school has to be right for the child

This

Toolongawait24 · 02/12/2023 20:17

We spent some time going through problems for the Creative problem solving part of the consortium test - last year was the first one and Atom didn’t have tests for that, so we practiced from the SPGS comprehension papers (not English but the third paper). Also as other posters say, go through the weak points and maybe do one for just going through exam technique.

HeavensToBetsy1 · 02/12/2023 22:00

The times parent power list can be such a blunt tool! I know for many it's important but can I please urge some caution around taking it as a belweather? I say this as someone who has navigated this system on more than one occasion and worked in a super selective.

School is 7 years of development, learning (not all academic), sport, drama, art, mistakes, trips and fun. Yes those A level results are important at the end but please please choose schools that are-

A decent commute.
Have great pastoral care.
Offer a subject set that makes sense for your DC (modern languages/Latin/greek etc- the right fit)
Have an established Head and SLT (without too much staff movement).
Great facilities appropriate for your DC.
Offer a good, broad range of subjects in sixth form with an established leadership team in the sixth form centre (experienced careers staff, great Uni links, UCAS prep etc etc).
Run sports teams up to D or E so that everyone gets a go.
Feel right for your child.
Are affordable.

The times parent power is interesting, but it's a sideshow, the variation between a school in 3rd and a school at 43rd won't be that great in terms of numbers of A*'s but not once does parent power take into account children's happiness, their ability or agency to be in the school play, play in the D team, feel safe enough to raise an issue with the Head (whose door should be open for that), write a piece for the newsletter or stand up in assembly. That stuff is the measure of a good school.

Here ends my ted talk!

Stay strong people.
X

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 22:12

HeavensToBetsy1 · 02/12/2023 22:00

The times parent power list can be such a blunt tool! I know for many it's important but can I please urge some caution around taking it as a belweather? I say this as someone who has navigated this system on more than one occasion and worked in a super selective.

School is 7 years of development, learning (not all academic), sport, drama, art, mistakes, trips and fun. Yes those A level results are important at the end but please please choose schools that are-

A decent commute.
Have great pastoral care.
Offer a subject set that makes sense for your DC (modern languages/Latin/greek etc- the right fit)
Have an established Head and SLT (without too much staff movement).
Great facilities appropriate for your DC.
Offer a good, broad range of subjects in sixth form with an established leadership team in the sixth form centre (experienced careers staff, great Uni links, UCAS prep etc etc).
Run sports teams up to D or E so that everyone gets a go.
Feel right for your child.
Are affordable.

The times parent power is interesting, but it's a sideshow, the variation between a school in 3rd and a school at 43rd won't be that great in terms of numbers of A*'s but not once does parent power take into account children's happiness, their ability or agency to be in the school play, play in the D team, feel safe enough to raise an issue with the Head (whose door should be open for that), write a piece for the newsletter or stand up in assembly. That stuff is the measure of a good school.

Here ends my ted talk!

Stay strong people.
X

Great post @HeavensToBetsy1. Thank you.

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 22:17

as one PP pointed out earlier if they might have a more lenient sixth form cohort last year due to various reasons.

@PreplexJ can you provide reasons for LEH doing so badly on A levels? Huge underperformance across the board, all STEM and other subjects too. Terrible results really.

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 22:22

Roundstone · 02/12/2023 16:04

I have a DD at LEH in 6th form, I think there were a few kids really impacted by anxiety and the like- unsurprising given this was a year group heavily impacted by Covid (no GCSEs and A level exam concessions) . It's evidence of the positive in that even if girls were struggling they
got them through (unlike quite a few schools who don't let kids stay on for sixth form if they don't make the grade which is pretty stressful on top of stressful GCSEs). I dearly wish I could send my other two there but they are DSs! So there you go! She's had a first class education with a heap of opportunities for drama music etc and it's been so so supportive. You would be mad to discount any school because one year it has a blip- look at any school over the last five/seven. Its GCSEs anyway you want to look at at 11+. You DD/DS might decide they want a change for sixth form anyway.
Also I hasten to add that mental health issues happen at EVERY school. Sadly 😔 if you see a U or a D or whatever on grade results there is probably contextual information there.

I don't buy this.

They have had two years like any other school and same issues like any other school, on a comparative basis they have done terribly.

You are right they may have failed on the pastoral care, not necessarily a lower performance cohort. The pressure is just too much and they did not manage to show these girls the positive side of the process. Plus all the damage you have to recover from. Really daring situation.

PreplexJ · 02/12/2023 22:26

@Coronateachingagain I can't - I just refer to what you quote above.

But as I have asked on the other thread you commented on the same, do you think their A level result will be worse again next year?

Dallasdays · 02/12/2023 22:30

How does one search by subject in the Times guide?

PreplexJ · 02/12/2023 22:39

Dallasdays · 02/12/2023 22:30

How does one search by subject in the Times guide?

I don't think times have that, their league table is not granular at that level (based on how they classify coed school)..

At least I don't know how to find it.

A lot of school website will publish individual subject details.

PreplexJ · 02/12/2023 22:51

@HeavensToBetsy1 if you have time to navigate through the first few pages of this thread you will see a few PPs with similar Ted talk on disfavoring the attitude towards league tables.

Yet you can see the most repeated questions on this thread are mums asking how to access the latest league tables...

Original poster

lolo99 · 02/12/2023 23:02

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 22:12

Great post @HeavensToBetsy1. Thank you.

Show quote history

All of this

OP posts:

HeavensToBetsy1 · 02/12/2023 23:02

Hey @PreplexJ, maybe ease up a bit? It's not a zero sum game, other people can have opinions too.

BonjourCrisette · 02/12/2023 23:34

HeavensToBetsy1 · 02/12/2023 22:00

The times parent power list can be such a blunt tool! I know for many it's important but can I please urge some caution around taking it as a belweather? I say this as someone who has navigated this system on more than one occasion and worked in a super selective.

School is 7 years of development, learning (not all academic), sport, drama, art, mistakes, trips and fun. Yes those A level results are important at the end but please please choose schools that are-

A decent commute.
Have great pastoral care.
Offer a subject set that makes sense for your DC (modern languages/Latin/greek etc- the right fit)
Have an established Head and SLT (without too much staff movement).
Great facilities appropriate for your DC.
Offer a good, broad range of subjects in sixth form with an established leadership team in the sixth form centre (experienced careers staff, great Uni links, UCAS prep etc etc).
Run sports teams up to D or E so that everyone gets a go.
Feel right for your child.
Are affordable.

The times parent power is interesting, but it's a sideshow, the variation between a school in 3rd and a school at 43rd won't be that great in terms of numbers of A*'s but not once does parent power take into account children's happiness, their ability or agency to be in the school play, play in the D team, feel safe enough to raise an issue with the Head (whose door should be open for that), write a piece for the newsletter or stand up in assembly. That stuff is the measure of a good school.

Here ends my ted talk!

Stay strong people.
X

This is a really good post and covers nearly all of what I was thinking about when I was choosing schools (the sports teams were not important to us but in actual fact DD's school seemed to run them up to F or G, never mind D, it was literally that anyone who wanted to play in a match could do so). There are some specific circumstances in which league tables might be important (over a number of years, not just one year) but they are not always as important as the stuff you've mentioned.

Re LEH, this is pure supposition but I am guessing that a) their lockdown learning offering did not work well and b) their pastoral care fell down at this time leading to negative effects on exam results later on. It is a shame for the girls but I'm sure it will work out OK in the end for them (they are clever girls with parents who will support them, in the main). The lockdown thing was unprecedented and it took enormous amounts of work and dialogue in DD's school to make it actually work for the children. What they started with wasn't how it ended up because it was a very complex process and just running school online wasn't actually the best fit in the end. There were a lot of accommodations that had to be made, and I can completely see that if it hadn't been so flexible and if the school had not sought out our (parents' and children's) opinions and feelings so consistently, there would have been problems stored up for later on. I am not necessarily right; I'm sure there are other interpretations. But I would not be surprised if this is what is at the root of the unexpected dip in results.

I don't have any children there, and again this is purely a guess.

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 23:51

PreplexJ · 02/12/2023 22:26

@Coronateachingagain I can't - I just refer to what you quote above.

But as I have asked on the other thread you commented on the same, do you think their A level result will be worse again next year?

I am going by the results. As for the future, who knows, you a parent? You seem invested. Results were shocking and that's the jist of it. How these girls are getting through this one, they will, but looks a bit unfair.

PreplexJ · 02/12/2023 23:57

Coronateachingagain · 02/12/2023 23:51

I am going by the results. As for the future, who knows, you a parent? You seem invested. Results were shocking and that's the jist of it. How these girls are getting through this one, they will, but looks a bit unfair.

Show quote history

No I dont have any children at LEH, how about you?

I'm invested purely because I have opinions on a specific poster who is invested seeking negative about this particular school this particular dip as a future indication of the result.

I agree is tough for the girls, similar to all those who went through the self grading process in the past few years.

Coronateachingagain · 03/12/2023 00:01

No connection to LEH whatsoever. I hope the school are soul searching, all that pressure for those results. Just to generate more pressure. Can't imagine. Can you? It doesn't seem to bother you that much.

PreplexJ · 03/12/2023 00:06

Coronateachingagain · 03/12/2023 00:01

No connection to LEH whatsoever. I hope the school are soul searching, all that pressure for those results. Just to generate more pressure. Can't imagine. Can you? It doesn't seem to bother you that much.

It really doesn't bother me that much.

But having seen how these schools and data game involved I have to say based on the GCSE result (the one they took it for real not self grading) I can not imagine the A level result of the School can be worse.

I can't image also, is the pressure on the schools at the top of league tables, how they can maintain their positions year after year.

BonjourCrisette · 03/12/2023 00:32

This thread has apparently now reached full meltdown. Corona and Preplex are bickering. Best of luck to all the genuine posters who are going through the process because I don't think you're going to get much sense out of the thread now.

PreplexJ · 03/12/2023 00:37

How can an argumentative thread exist without you?

Bon nuit @BonjourCrisette

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 03/12/2023 04:08

my grandaughter is in grade 5, and her parents are beginning on the sw tutoring/prep journey (she's at an indi school).
and as a canadian i too can easily see how tables and stat's can be manipulated and that the real goal should be a healthy and happy young person. i'm not convinced that 2 years of prep (pushing ahead on subject matter) then maybe to get a breather at the mid to end of year 6 (after the entrance exams are written), only to start again on the hamster wheel for grade 7 and forget this gcse nonsense is at all helpful at developing a lifelong love of learning.
i'm big into convincing my son-in-law what @PreplexJ has suggested: decent commute being top priority, excellent pastoral care and a wide variety of fun.

ThePlacesYouGo · 03/12/2023 06:07

@CurlsnSunshinetime4tea It was @HeavensToBetsy1 who made all the excellent points you like, not PreplexJ.

PreplexJ · 03/12/2023 07:24

@CurlsnSunshinetime4tea it is indeed @HeavensToBetsy1 raise the easy commute point in this thread. I do agree that is a high priority point to consider when you have the offer from the school.

The other thread you open when we did have conversations about commute issues that highlight how different posters (also poster in this thread) take on this https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4925433-independents-close-to-or-easy-access-from-oval-underground-stationsw9

In terms of excellent pastoral care of a school, it is also a great point but probably it is harder find out and it could be hit and miss depends on a lot of circumstances.

Independents close to or easy access from Oval underground station/SW9 | Mumsnet

The parents are only interested in independent options from a home close to the Oval station/Kennington Park. Currently they bike or drive to Clapham...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4925433-independents-close-to-or-easy-access-from-oval-underground-stationsw9?page=1&reply=130122144

farfallarocks · 03/12/2023 07:25

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HighRopes · 03/12/2023 07:26

HeavensToBetsy1 · 02/12/2023 22:00

The times parent power list can be such a blunt tool! I know for many it's important but can I please urge some caution around taking it as a belweather? I say this as someone who has navigated this system on more than one occasion and worked in a super selective.

School is 7 years of development, learning (not all academic), sport, drama, art, mistakes, trips and fun. Yes those A level results are important at the end but please please choose schools that are-

A decent commute.
Have great pastoral care.
Offer a subject set that makes sense for your DC (modern languages/Latin/greek etc- the right fit)
Have an established Head and SLT (without too much staff movement).
Great facilities appropriate for your DC.
Offer a good, broad range of subjects in sixth form with an established leadership team in the sixth form centre (experienced careers staff, great Uni links, UCAS prep etc etc).
Run sports teams up to D or E so that everyone gets a go.
Feel right for your child.
Are affordable.

The times parent power is interesting, but it's a sideshow, the variation between a school in 3rd and a school at 43rd won't be that great in terms of numbers of A*'s but not once does parent power take into account children's happiness, their ability or agency to be in the school play, play in the D team, feel safe enough to raise an issue with the Head (whose door should be open for that), write a piece for the newsletter or stand up in assembly. That stuff is the measure of a good school.

Here ends my ted talk!

Stay strong people.
X

Now a few years in, and I couldn’t agree more.

I’d just add two things that people making choices this year might want to consider. The first is music - are there plenty of non-auditioned bands / choirs / groups so that there is the equivalent of D and E teams in sport? My experience is that’s it’s really important for DC to have a chance to participate, if they want to, even if some of their peers are at an amazingly high level compared to them. Having lots of groups of various levels makes this possible.

The second is fit, one element is where your child will sit in the cohort. It’s hard to tell, but some children do best as a big fish in a small pond, and others the opposite. You’ll know what will suit your DC, but sometimes other parents will raise their eyebrows at your choice and that can be a bit undermining.