La Sainte Union

[Modelmumnation]

Does anyone have recent input on LSU? It seems it was quite popular up until rather recently, but it’s taken a dive. I went to the open day and liked many aspects of it, but it also seemed a bit off. There wasn’t any buzz and I felt many of the girls looked bored. However, I liked the curriculum options and that there are lots of school trips. Also, whilst we live relatively far away and are not Catholic, it seems DD could still get in.

Anyone?

I wanted to follow up on this thread on year later! I went to the open evening tonight and had the same thoughts I had at the open morning last year. DD who is now in Y6 came with me and absolutely loved it, but I’m still not convinced. Still looking for recent input please!

It used be a good catholic school but I heard it reputation has gone down. Apparently, St Michael's is much better.

St Michael's is a Catholic grammar school though and also requires a certificate of Catholic practice so no good for the OP who isn't Catholic.
OP - I knew of a couple of girls who are there and apparently they are happy but I don't know them/their parents very well, so it was more a vague, how are they getting on rather than an in depth discussion on the school.

They seemed to do well in A levels this year, although they are part of La Swap. They haven't released their GCSE results yet. Where do you live OP - what other options are you considering?

Is there a reason you're not going for Parli?

If OP lives relatively far away, I presume it is because she is unlikely to get in. LSU is under-subscribed so she can get in from anywhere.

@Verite1 is right on all accounts! I like Parli a lot, but we’re probably too far to get in and we are not Catholic, so no St Michael’s for us. DD did the exam for Henrietta Barnett, but it doesn’t look good as she ran out of time in the last section. She’s also doing the governor’s exam at Mary Mags, the language exam at Grey Coat Hospital, and possibly the music exam at Camden School for Girls.

You may as well try for performing arts scholarship at St Marylebone as well then you have covered all bases. I will be interested to see how you get on as we will be in a similar position in a couple of years. Parli would be my first choice but I think we are unlikely to get a space.

Mums of girls in my DS's primary went for St Marylebone and Camden school for girls, then Parliament Hill. (We live nearby but I only have sons)

@Verite1 i considered St Marylebone but didn’t register DD for the performing arts exam as that’s not really her thing. Also didn’t like the lack of sibling policy, given I have a second DD and would like at least the option of them going to the same school. DD2 would probably rather die than get on a stage!

What are your other options?

I know that they were concerned about falling school roles and the subsequent lack of funding back in 2021. Up until a few years ago it wouldn’t have occurred to me that a school could close, but we have seen it with various primary schools in Camden. The Catholic Primary schools seem to be quite hard hit.

It’s a Catholic school that accepts and encourages non Catholics because it’s undersubscribed. Local families have two other very good girls schools nearby. Closure would be my concern. Particularly as you’re in it for the long term with a hope for a sibling space.

That's a very good point -- thanks for bringing this up. Closure had not crossed my mind, but it makes sense. Both LSU and Hampstead School felt extremely empty when I visited them during open mornings last year. They use this as a positive in terms of "small class sizes," but I do see how this could be an issue in the long run.

We are also looking at Mary Mags, as well as Grey Coat, and St. George's. Harris Academy St Johns Wood will be our banker. I really liked Parli, but we've been out of catchment the past few years, so I think it's unlikely DD will get a spot. She also tested for Henrietta Barnett, but I doubt she passed due to running out of time, and she's currently signed up for music aptitude as CSG, but the chances of her getting that are so slim that I'm not sure if we'll bother. We'll visit the school next week and if she really likes it we'll give it a go.

I would be very happy with any of those options, but unfortunately we are out of catchment for all 3. LSU is probably the only girls' school DD could get into.

The performing arts spaces at St Marylebone consist of either dance, drama, choral or music. So if you are going for music at CSG surely it would be worth trying for music at St M as well? I'm trying to figure out where you are, but if Harris SJW is your local school, you can't be too far from St M?
Is SMSJ in Hendon an option for a music place and an easy journey? not a school I'm very familiar with, but seems quite popular.
UCL, Hampstead, St Augustine, Haverstock and Harris SJW are all undersubscribed so depending where you are there is quite a choice of banker schools.

I’m curious as to why Harris is your banker? I’m guessing from your list of schools that you are on Camden/Westminster borders?

I'm in NW6. I checked UCL, Hampstead, St Augustine, Haverstock, and Harris last year and I think Harris was my top choice + a number of children from DD's primary would be there, which I think would be nice. Marylebone is definitely commutable but doesn't dance, act, or sing. She plays piano, but not to a particularly high standard (working on grade 2 at the moment). And, like I said above, the fact that there is no sibling policy put me off a bit as well. Regardless, the deadline to sign her up for the Marylebone exam has passed, so no use reconsidering!

More and more schools are becoming undersubscribed. UCL used to have a tiny catchment area and both Hampstead and William Ellis were oversubscribed, though never as popular as the two girls schools. I suppose the negative ofsted reports haven’t helped.

Rolls are falling so fast that pretty much all schools are chasing kids. Hampstead won’t close, but LSU maybe could (strange foundation tho, so I think it won’t). I don’t really rate it. Haverstock is good and improving. Remember that last offer distances extend a LOT after offer day so you will always have better waiting list chances than you think.

I visited UCL, Hampstead, St Augustine, Haverstock, Westminster Academy and Harris SJW last year and decided to go with Harris as the banker. It's the closest and a number of people from DD's primary will be there. I've heard so much terrible feedback on UCL and didn't really like it or St Augustine at the open morning. Hampstead seemed so empty and lacking buzz, though I did think the new deputy head seemed really good so I hope it's on the up and up. Haverstock and Westminster seemed like just sending her on a much longer commute for not a massive gain. However, if we're still uncertain in a month or so, maybe we'll reconsider one of these again. It just seemed like too many possible banker options that I didn't want to drag DD around to all of them, so I've just made the tentative choice of Harris for the time being.

Yes, I'm in Camden/Westminster border in NW6.

I checked with Parli about the last offer distances last year and it was 1.37 miles (vs 1.04 on offer day). We still live nearly 2 miles away, so I think it's highly unlikely DD will get in, but we will probably still rank it in the top spot unless DD passes one of the selective/semi-selective exams.

i know something for certain, if you don’t sit the CSG banding test, apply and sit the music tests, then your DD stands no chance at all! What have you got to lose? And once the banding test is sat your DD is in the waiting list. If you’re prepared to move her mid year in year 7/8/9. Same goes for all the options really.

LSU has a beautiful building in gorgeous grounds. If you stay on the waiting lists for all your other options your DD might not be there for year 9 into GCSE years.year 9 is probably the last time I’d move because many schools start teaching gcse content then. Even if they don’t say so explicitly.

I think you should avoid UCL. How about QPCC?

Nothing to lose, just another exam for DD to sit! And the one she’s least likely to be successful at.

Yes, avoiding UCL.

I looked into QPCS but it doesn’t seem like we’d have a chance based on their entrance criteria. They only accepted 12 children based on distance last year and we’re over a mile away.